Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Methodist pastor acquitted of indecent assault

It does not happen often enough. I remember a case last year, and one the year before.  I write a lot of posts about truly evil people who prey on the innocent. Why I find one who is innocent, it give me hope.

Michael Clair Garvey stood trail for indecent assault and institutional sexual assault against two woman. A third alleged that Garvey offered her money to pose nude.  He is specifically alleged to have fondled a breast, administered an unwanted tongue kiss, and rubbed his groin against the buttocks of a woman filing papers.

Blair Hindman, the attorney for the Rev. Michael Clair Garvey, said he believed the most persuasive evidence in the two-day trial was testimony from the Rev. Garvey's wife and his former family practitioner that the pastor suffered from erectile dysfunction and low testosterone.

The Rev. Garvey, 59, is pastor of Coolspring United Methodist Church in Coolspring and Ramseytown United Methodist Church in Knoxdale and has continued to serve there since charges were filed in August 2007.

What I find troubling is that he was allowed to continue as a pastor while he awaited his trail. A paid leave of absence is the appropriate course of action in a case like this.

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You are probably right about having him go on paid leave. I am wondering what will happen to him now within the community he lives in and how it might affect his life if he moves. I know some states have laws that require anyone charged with a sex crime to go on their sex offend list. They might say if found innocent they will be removed. I have had things that were suppose to be removed from my driving record not removed other then when it comes to reporting to insurance companies. Once you are on some list I doubt you ever get removed no matter what they say.
I think I'd rather be accused of being an axe murderer than a sex offender. I hope he really is innocent. Even so, there will be some who will continue to insist he's guilty. I'm not sure I'd give two cents for the rest of his life, either way.

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