RELIGIOUS ED LEADER PLEADS GUILTY, 5 GIRLS RAPED AT CHRISTIAN CHURCH
and/or www.mantra.com/jai
5 girls molested at Christ United Methodist Church
By Brad Zinn/staff
bz...@newsleader.com
Friday, January 29, 2010
Staunton - A former Staunton church director who molested five young
girls in his office and in the hallways of Christ United Methodist
Church pleaded guilty Thursday in circuit court to seven counts of
aggravated sexual battery.
A grim-faced Steven B. Joplin, 60, stared down at the defense table
in the nearly empty courtroom as assistant Staunton prosecutor Anne
Reed detailed the allegations against him.
Reed said Joplin began molesting the girls, who ranged in age from 10
to 12, in September 2008. All of the incidents took place at the
church, located at 1512 Churchville Ave.
One of the children, a 10-year-old, told authorities she was molested
at the church shortly after returning from a family reunion. The girl
said she went to the church to attend a cooking class but was called
in the office of Joplin, the church's director of Christian
education. Reed said Joplin had the girl sit on his lap, where he put
his hands up the girl's shirt as they viewed a computer screen.
Two other victims said Joplin came up behind them in a hallway and
reached up into their shirts. Two additional victims said they too
were fondled in Joplin's office while sitting on his lap and looking
at the computer.
On Aug. 12, one of the girls who was fondled in Joplin's office
immediately reported the incident, telling her mother that Joplin
"was a child molester," according to Reed. Joplin, of Middlebrook,
was arrested days later by Staunton police.
Reed said Joplin told police his marriage had been under strain and
that he made a "poor decision." Following Thursday's hearing in
Staunton Circuit Court, Reed had high praise for Investigator Chad
Nestor of the Staunton Police Department, whose diligence in pursuing
Joplin paid off with a swift arrest and a talkative suspect.
"Which included a confession from Mr. Joplin," Reed said.
There was no plea agreement in place for Thursday's guilty pleas, and
Reed said she was satisfied Joplin took responsibility for his
actions "as it spares these young girls from having to go through the
trial process."
Joplin, who faces the possibility of 140 years in prison, remains
free on bond. A sentencing date has not been set.
More at:
http://www.newsleader.com/article/20100129/NEWS01/1290330
Jai Maharaj, Jyotishi
Om Shanti
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P. Rajah
Wednesday, May 20, 2009,16:39 [IST]
Rajesh Krishna
It seems to be trouble season for the 'god men' in Gods own Country,
Kerala. The swamis who earlier went to Himalayas to attain salvation
have now chosen jails for peace of mind.
A court in Kerala today sentenced self-styled Godman Swami
Amrithachaithanya alias Santhosh Madhavan to 16 years rigorous
imprisonment for raping two minor girls.
The case against Santosh Madhavan, who was an alleged to have carried
out transnational financial frauds, was that he had sexually abused
three minor girls and a young woman.
He is the first Malayalee criminal under GOD-MAN skin to go
international and wanted by Interpol since 2004 for fraud committed in
the United Arab Emirates.
He has been organising "spiritual" events in the Kochi and advertising
himself in full-page advertorials in vernacular dailies for over a year.
The police, who raided his ashram last year recovered porn CDs, tiger
skins, and foreign liquor.
Madhavan, a godman-cum-fraudster had been luring minor girls into his
fold promising educational aid, and many victims, including the
identified rape victim, had been used for making pornographic videos.
Madhavan, in his avatar as the white-clad swamy, founded Shanthitheeram
trust in his own name and his parents. The godman, a matriculate who
claims to have learnt astrology and philosophy, roams around in a
Mercedes Benz and invests the swindled money in building projects across
the state.
The court concluded that the godman had sexually abused two minor girls.
These were the girl who stood firm in the court and another who changed
her statement. Despite the change in the statement of the girl, the
court accepted as proof the CD containing visuals of the sexual
relationship between Santosh Madhavan and her.
Santhosh Madhavan was also accused of sexually persecuting at least
eight minor girls using an orphanage he had been running as a screen.
Santosh Madhavan had been astrologer to several elite personalities and
was also close to the top brass in the Police Department.
http://news.oneindia.in/2009/05/20/god-man-lands-in-jail-in-gods-own-country.html