Pete Newman Goes to the Slammer. Like, Forever.
The ex-Kanakuk Kamp counselor, Pete Newman, who also happened to be a child molester, was sentenced yesterday to two consecutive life sentences plus 30 years. Don’t let the sliding cell door hit your butt, Newman.
If you care to hear it, here is his apology.
By Merritt Patterson
Jun. 10, 2010 | 10:43 am | 29 Comments | Comments RSS
29 comments to "Pete Newman Goes to the Slammer. Like, Forever."
My heart breaks for the victims and their families. For them, the journey toward recovery is just beginning.
he is headed to the slammer.
then straight to Hell.
Progress!
Personally, I am glad that Newman is going away now for a very long time. He can repent in prison.
Been grasping it straws lately? To seriously suggest the state would have him sign a “probationary agreement” is a joke. He could possibly have been put on probation by the state if charges had been brought against him back then and he was sentenced to probation…In case you have been living in a cave for the last YEAR the fact is that multiple parents brought concerns about Pete to camp leadership over several years. He signed a probationary agreement with them in 2003 after they had him evaluated by Joes good friend Gary Smalley. They did this knowing he was behaving inapproprately with young boys and rather than terminating his employment and removing his access to OUR kids who were entrusted to them they PROMOTED him to a director position at K-Kountry which gave him even more freedoms to have access to kids.. They did not follow their own policies. I for one am SICK of people still defending thier actions. WAKE UP people! Until they recognize the role they played in giving Pete the perfect hunting grounds at Kanakuk and until parents ask them the hard questions, how are we to know they are now competent enought not to make the same mistakes! I am not saying what they did was necessarily criminal, that still remains to be seen, but is was defnitely seriously lacking in judgement in the protection of kids, which should be one of their first priorities considering the type of business they are running. Quit making excuses for them!
I did write Joe personally and he would not directly answer any of my questions about these issues which was heartbreaking to us since we have been a camp family for two generations, and my guess is you will probably have the same experience. However, the 2003 improper conduct that pete was placed on probation for by Kanakuk was addressed during Pete’s trial and his own expert witness admitted it under oath. There are clips of this exchange on the internet that you can view for yourself. Also, the Taney county DA is a good source of information regarding whether camp had any prior knowledge of improper conduct, camp leadership knew there were issues even prior to the 2003 incident, not necessarily criminal but they knew there were improper actions by Pete. I was able to get more questions answered by the DA’s office than by Joe himself which was a huge disappointment to me. As far as your question of it happening on camp grounds or during camp terms, The probable cause statement that was released when pete was charged stated there was abuse at the K-Dome and on camp grounds during father son retreats at a minimum. Our own personal experience with Pete was the fact that he left camp grounds, with our son, alone, during his camp term. We did not find out about this until we started having these conversations with our son when the truth finally came out about Pete’s “personal family crisis” as Joe called it. This is a complete violation of camp policies which were not ever enforced with Pete for some reason. Based on the nature of how prolific pete was with his manipulation and abuse, and the fact that he plead guilty to a limited number of charges, most likely to keep from going to trial and having more of the truth come out. We have probably only scratched the surface of the extent of his abuse on and off camp grounds. You are so correct that unfortunately this is part of the world we live in, no matter where our kids are…the tragic part of this is that in this instance, some kids did come forward, and parents did raise the flags, but they were ignored and the fall out from those decisions have been life changing for countless kids. I do not want to see camp crash and burn over this, because when all is said and done they have done so many wonderful things for so many families…but it would sure give some of us alot more confidence if they would admit the part they played in this tragedy…otherwise how can we be sure they have learned anything from it and are equipped not to allow history to repeat itself on their watch.
PN was no “rainmaker” for kamp, let me asure you. Kamp is it’s own rainmaker & has the years + happy kampers to back it up. It’s the total experience, the sports, the coffee cake, the I’m Third Speech, trip, honor cabin, superdeal, com-pe-ti-tion, the blob, & the incredible spiritual uplift that gets kids through the pressures of the upcoming school year. THAT’S why we all want to go back year after year & look forward to it. NOT because of one person, like a PN. It’s awesome to hear Joe White speak & back in the day it was Spike White. Love that man. But no one went or goes to kamp because of Joe White either. Come on.
Shame on anyone to insinuate there was some sort of cover up or better yet, a promotion, handed out after concerns over conduct. We all know what Kanakuk Kamp represents & what it stands for. To think anything else is absolutely bogus.
“the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him.”
We need to be merciful and forgiving to Pete. Let none of us pass judgement on another sinner. No matter the magnitude of his sins. Remember to love and pray for Pete, his family, and the people this all has affected. We need it.
Joe White KNEW what was going on with Newman in 1999 and decided to promote him, instead of fire him, as he should have when the first incident of him riding naked on four wheelers with young boys who were also naked came to light.
Then we have the 2003 incident where Newman and a group of young boys “streaked” through the camp. White and other leaders at the “Kamp” continued to not only let Newman pray with young boys….but prey on them as well.
The problem I have with White and Kanakuk is that they continued to employ Newman for years(even sending him to stay in the homes of some of the boys he molested to recruit other kampers)AFTER they had him sign a probationary agreement acknowledging his inappropriate behavior with young boys all in the name of PROFIT…not a Prophet!
http://crimesceneinvestigations.blogspot.com/2011/03/federal-lawsuit-filed-in-texas-against.html
I do love knowing that this summer Kanakuk Kamp terms are completely filled. I LOVE seeing the bright and happy faces of all the kiddos having the time of their lives this summer. I know this is true because I’ve seen it with my own eyes, in cabin messages to the parents, and in their activities.
If I could live at Kamp I would. I guess watching the classic I’m Third speech given by Joe White this past Sunday, on You Tue will have to suffice. It’s still the best place on earth.
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