Up in Spokane Monday, youth pastor James Ritter case started with opening statements. Ritter is accused of using a webcam to entice teen aged girls from his church to engage in sexual behavior.
“There are people like this, out there, like the suspect, who will go to any and all lengths to befriend people and use the computer to draw them into conversations that then become something they shouldn't,” Spokane Police Sergeant Brad Arleth said.
Ritter's virtual sessions tuned into as many as a dozen alleged actual sexual encounters with a teenaged girl. What is troubling about his case is that his Church new about his web cam behavior and allowed him to continue in his role as a youth pastor. The church paid for Ritter to attend five counseling sessions after parents complained about his behavior. His church eventually fired him.
Ritter was not an ordained minister but worked full time as director of Christian education at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 7307 N. Nevada St. He was fired a week before he turned himself in on Dec. 22, 2005, to face six counts of sexual exploitation of a minor and one count each of communication with a minor for immoral purposes and sexual exploitation of a minor.
Something tells me Ritter is on his way to the big house. I'll post the verdict when it comes in.
