Jeriah Mast indicted (again)

[JohnH]

One wonders what the spiritual state is of someone who wants to set a precedent that the federal government can’t prosecute you for sexually based offences if money wasn’t involved.

Particularly when, in his case, money wasn’t involved. He embezzled CAM funds to pay off victims and their families. Some of us might even call that a form of prostitution: he literally paid children and their families in exchange for unspeakable acts.

[temporal1]

i have long wondered if and how defense attorneys can sleep at night?

.. God have mercy if He’s able.

[Pelerin]

Former Ohio missionary pleads guilty to molesting 2 boys in Haiti

[mike]

Former Ohio missionary pleads guilty to molesting 2 boys in Haiti

Interesting. A 25-33-year prison sentence would be most of the rest of his life. And it also means finally pleading guilty in court to at least some of the crimes committed in Haiti, although it doesn't mean going back to face justice there. Serving time in a US federal prison would probably be the least severe of any imaginable punishment, including serving in a US state prison, and if his previous time served is an indication, it could be reduced based on good behavior.

[JohnH]

Former Ohio missionary pleads guilty to molesting 2 boys in Haiti

Interesting. A 25-33-year prison sentence would be most of the rest of his life. And it also means finally pleading guilty in court to at least some of the crimes committed in Haiti, although it doesn't mean going back to face justice there. Serving time in a US federal prison would probably be the least severe of any imaginable punishment, including serving in a US state prison, and if his previous time served is an indication, it could be reduced based on good behavior.

That's good news if it means he may be closer to eventual repentance and reconciliation. Admitting having done wrong is a very important first step.

Mast was arrested on federal charges last November, shortly after he received early release for a sexual abuse conviction in Ohio state court. Mast was formally indicted in December on four federal charges of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place.

I was surprised by this. He's was being released that quickly? Wow.

[anndet92]

Former Ohio missionary pleads guilty to molesting 2 boys in Haiti

Interesting. A 25-33-year prison sentence would be most of the rest of his life. And it also means finally pleading guilty in court to at least some of the crimes committed in Haiti, although it doesn't mean going back to face justice there. Serving time in a US federal prison would probably be the least severe of any imaginable punishment, including serving in a US state prison, and if his previous time served is an indication, it could be reduced based on good behavior.

That's good news if it means he may be closer to eventual repentance and reconciliation. Admitting having done wrong is a very important first step.

Mast was arrested on federal charges last November, shortly after he received early release for a sexual abuse conviction in Ohio state court. Mast was formally indicted in December on four federal charges of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place.

I was surprised by this. He's was being released that quickly? Wow.

Keep in mind that the number of boys he abused is much higher than 2. We may never know exactly how many.

I wouldn’t be so quick to see this as repentance, although I hope for the sake of his soul, he repents.

[joshuabgood]

Pleading guilty is a right step.

[barnhart]

Pleading guilty is a right step.

True but it is quite independent of repentance. It could also be motivated by fear of a worse outcome.

[JohnH]

Pleading guilty is a right step.

True but it is quite independent of repentance. It could also be motivated by fear of a worse outcome.

Could be, but it’s better than not pleading guilty when he knows and everyone else knows he did it.

[mike]

Pleading guilty is a right step.

True but it is quite independent of repentance. It could also be motivated by fear of a worse outcome.

I've wondered for a long time how a legal guilty plea should be related to real repentance. Are there instances where real repentance for a crime does not necessarily mean a guilty plea should immediately be forthcoming? Or must real repentance mean an instantaneous plea of guilty in order to be genuine?