A No Contest or Nolo contendere plea is a clergy sexual abuse case is so disappointing. The defendant admits no guilt and can ultimately deny the charges. The upside is that if the plea deal was just, he still does time. Youth Pastor Brian Neiswender will have to wait until July 20 to find out about his sentence. Actually, I’m sure he knows already since it was a plea agreement.
Brian Neiswender was accused of inappropriately touching teenage girls while working at the Christ Community Church in Kingston. At a hearing in August, three of his alleged victims testified that between 2004 and 2006, Neiswender touched them inappropriately during youth group meetings and private music lessons.
I wonder if they teach pastors about inappropriate touching in divinity school? Or is it just assumed that budding pastors learned their moral lessons from the bible by osmosis?