Deacon from Nampa (Idaho) Adventist Church Arrested and Charged with Sex Crime
by Monte Sahlin
By AT News Team, December 19, 2013
A deacon from a Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nampa, Idaho, was arrested last week and booked into the Canyon County Jail, according to the Associated Press and newspapers and television news programs in the Boise area. He is charged with "lewd conduct with a minor under 16 years of age" and has evidently admitted to wrong behavior, according to police reports filed with the court. His name is Alexander G. Garcia according to news reports and court documents.
It is unclear which local church in Nampa was the site of the alleged events. There are two local churches in the community affiliated with the denomination's Idaho Conference; an English-language congregation with 394 members and a Spanish-language congregation with 263 members. Nampa is a suburb of Boise and the location of Pacific Press, a major institution of the denomination's General Conference.
According to reports of police detectives filed by the prosecutor and made public by the news media in Boise, on Sabbath, July 20, lured a 12-year-old girl into the storage room at the church during an afternoon potluck. He told her that he had something "cool" to show her. The girl later told police that in the room Garcia touched her inappropriately. She left the storage room and told her grandmother what had happened.
Police talked to the family and the child in July. Although it is unclear the precise date of the police interviews, a local blogger has said that "prosecutors said church officials had been very cooperative throughout the investigation."
Police detectives interviewed Garcia on August 20. He admitted being in the room with the child and said he did hug and kiss her, but did not consider that inappropriate behavior because that was something he did all the time. Later he admitted to misbehavior. "Garcia said that in 30 years he had never taken anyone into the room and he knew nothing good would happen when he took [the girl] into the room," the detective's report stated. According to the Idaho Statesman, Garcia "went on to claim that Satan was also in the storage room and may have taken control of his body."
A preliminary court hearing has been scheduled for December 24. The Humanist Examiner reported the incident as sexual abuse of a child and local newspapers have reported that if convicted, Garcia could face life in prison.
A retired church administrator told Adventist Today "this kind of thing happens too often. That is why it is so important for pastors and church boards to insist on the screening of volunteers working in church offices." The North American Division Working Policy requires that church members who work with children in local church ministries and other programs be screened through an appropriate background checking organization and that church officers promptly report any incident that involves inappropriate behavior.
Screening is a valuable and necessary tool, but it can only catch previous offenders. Every offender has a first time that will not be caught by screening. Prompt reporting is also valuable and necessary, but it does not prevent the first offense. Careful supervision of young people is still needed. Even at church parents and other responsible adults need to pay attention to where our children are and what they are doing.
And we need to instruct children at home, at church and at school, on what is and is not appropriate behavior, how to avoid it and how to respond to it. This may not be the most comfortable topic for parents and teachers and pastors to have to discuss with young people. Most of us prefer to talk about pleasant topics and avoid the unpleasant ones. Not very many parents, teachers, pastors or children are comfortable or even willing to initiate these conversations with children and youth. Sexuality in general is a taboo subject in church (and in many homes and church schools). Our children may talk about it with their friends, but seldom with adults.
I have initiated and/or participated in various discussions of these subject with Jr High SS classes. They will not initiate the conversation and they may not be confident enough to say very much, but invariably they listen very closely (albeit perhaps uncomfortably). And sometimes they will comment or ask questions privately afterwards.
I have been to "safety" seminars conducted by our "risk management" people. The subject of how to educate children in safe behavior was never raised. The focus was entirely on regulating the behavior of the adults, because that is what triggers the lawsuits. One person asked about whether there was any initiative to support and help the victims. The reply was this is the responsibility of the local congregation not the conference. In other words, we only take responsibility for things we can be sued for.
I wish our "Sabbath School" and "Youth" people would focus some serious energy on this subject. But instead they are focused on how to teach the "nice" parts of the Bible. The "unpopular" parts of the Bible actually have a lot to say about sexual conduct involving adults, abuse of children, etc. But we skip over these in our Sabbath School curriculum, and in our semons, because we do not want ot upset anyone. In a world where young people are bombarded with sexual messages in the media, our silence is inexcusable.
Parental supervision is too often lacking at church social events especially and also at potlucks. Too often kids run around as though it were a holiday. Parental control as well instructions about staying in sight is a must.
Maranatha
Its unfortunate that this happened.The temptation to behave this way to young people is there especially those of us that teach them.However,we must be aware and flee as bible put it.
All children ministries teachers must avoid this.
Wow. The temptation to behave "that way" to young people is NOT THERE for victory living Christians and if it is then you should resign yourself from the post immediately.