COLUMBUS, Ohio - A former pastor was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison for receiving child pornography videos he bought over the Internet, the U.S. Department of Justice said.
David Waser, 58, former pastor of
Newark's Second Church of Christ, ordered 11 child pornography videos in 2006 by sending a $130 money order to an address listed on an Internet advertisement, authorities said. The ad had been posted by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service as part of an investigation into trafficking of child pornography.
A postal inspector who posed as a letter carrier delivered the videos to Waser's home in Newark, about 30 miles east of Columbus, and obtained a search warrant immediately afterward. The inspector found the package opened and one of the videos inserted into a VCR, the government said.
Church members removed Waser from office after his arrest.
Waser pleaded guilty in March to receiving child pornography. He faced federal charges because the videotapes were sent across state lines.
U.S. District Court Judge George Smith on Wednesday also ordered Waser to register as a sex offender after serving the 10-year prison term and to receive treatment for sexual addiction.
Waser's wife, Judy, 54, is awaiting trial on child pornography charges. Prosecutors allege she knew the videos were coming to the home, something her attorney has denied.
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Minister accused...
"Don't talk to strangers". Perhaps I should add "especially if they are clergy."
makes this story unusual to me is
that the Newark and Licking County
area is very conservative, not the
kind of place where you would expect to find porn, let alone a
minister with porn.
I've often wondered if Fundamentalism..which in my day was
very hush-hush about human sexuality, treating it as almost
something shameful..results in
so much sexual frustration or repression that people can be
driven to extremes, such as porn.
very hush-hush about human sexuality, treating it as almost
something shameful..results in
so much sexual frustration or repression that people can be
driven to extremes, such as porn......
For the most part I would agree, however, even if I were willingly or forcibly forced to abstain from sex, it would never enable me to entertain the thought of having sex with children! Sexual deviants find it all to easy and enticing to take refuge among the mindless. I'm glad that this practice is brought to the forefront by the media and these predators are being caught and exposed.
Noell
"I've often wondered if Fundamentalism..which in my day was
very hush-hush about human sexuality, treating it as almost
something shameful..results in
so much sexual frustration or repression that people can be
driven to extremes, such as porn."
Lorena comments
That definitely has to be part of of the reason. I would like to add another possibility.
Most child molesters--or child pornography lovers--were sexually abused as children. The incredible suffering caused by the abuse left the person chattered and, therefore, vulnerable to the gimmicks the Christian cult.
Combine the guilt and shame of a person who was sexually abused as a kid, with the guilt trips of Christianity, and you get a completely screwed up person.
Contrary to popular belief, churches are far from being a safe place for anyone--let alone children.
You are so correct. At least I'm not screwed up in a perverted kinda way.