Deep Thoughts: Youth Pastor Ben Boysel arraigned

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Youth Pastor Ben Boysel arraigned

Van Wert is a pleasant little place. I know several people who claim it as their home, including one woman who attended Trinity United Methodist Church, the scene of this latest crime. Youth pastor Benjamin R. Boysel stands accused of sleeping with 4 girls from his youth group. Each girl was under the age of 18 at the time. I’m a little confused here as the age of consent in Ohio is 16. I wonder if that means each girl was under the age of 16 or was it something else?

Possibly Ohio 2907.03 Sexual battery.

(9) The other person is a minor, and the offender is the other person’s athletic or other type of coach, is the other person’s instructor, is the leader of a scouting troop of which the other person is a member, or is a person with temporary or occasional disciplinary control over the other person.

I find it disturbing that “pastor” is not listed as one of the possible offenders in the code. By now “pastor” and “Catholic priest” should have their own section.

Boysel pleaded not guilty and was released to his parents. I think he has a fair chance at not being convicted. If the girls were over the age of 16 and consented to the relationship, it will be difficult to prove rape. Of course, it’s still not right sleep with the children in your youth group, no matter the age of consent.

And… no mention of the incident of the church website.

Technorati Tags: Clergy Sexual Abuse,Rape

Comments (25)

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Baconsbud 96p · 785 weeks ago

You know that the church isn't going to let others know they allowed this guy to be a part of their church. I'm not sure how it is in Ohio but know in many states the age of consent only applies to people who aren't in a position of authority over the minor. When the act involves someone in a position of authority over the victim, age of consent doesn't come into play. I could be wrong but have heard of cases where teachers have been prosecuted for having sex with 18 year olds simple because they were in positions of authority over the student.

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TexasHeather · 785 weeks ago

Hopefully since he was in a position of giving religious instruction he will fall in the "instructor" category of the offender code, so that the age of consent won't be a huge issue.

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baseball fan · 785 weeks ago

read the complete statute and you'll find the specific citation regarding clerics. The age of consent is 16 in Ohio, but if the other person is a minor (e.g. <18) and it's someone in a position of authority over the minor, then it's sexual battery.

(12) The other person is a minor, the offender is a cleric, and the other person is a member of, or attends, the church or congregation served by the cleric.

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geesh · 784 weeks ago

delete this. deep thoughts? really? If you have to speak your mind do it on something else. there are some things that don't need to be up for conversation when your not even involved.

7 replies · active 739 weeks ago

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Baconsbud 96p · 784 weeks ago

So what gives you the right to decide who can talk about what? You are just afraid of the truth I figure.

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Mojoey 107p · 784 weeks ago

What should I post on? What would be acceptable to you? What would be off limits? Geez...if you don't like something, don't read it.

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Aaron · 782 weeks ago

I know this is a pretty late post, but this guy was my youth pastor and the girls as well. They were all under 18 at the time and manipulated by Ben. He had a charisma about him that people would follow, which was good and bad at the same time. By no means let his actions reflect what the church is. He deserves to be in prison for what he did and that is not what the church is about.

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Ben · 770 weeks ago

I'm afraid u r wrong. This church is about this. If they weren't they wouldn't have let it go on for so long.

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Kim · 762 weeks ago

I attended this church to and aaron they did let this go on so get ur facts straight ya Ben was wrong but god forgives and this hurt all of us but its not our place to judge people do wrong and if ur the aaron im thinkning of you have done wrong too i have and everyone has so if ur gonna speak do what ur speaking.

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Anonymous · 745 weeks ago

I'm one of the girls. The church did let it go on as I myself contacted the head pastor (Pastor Burden) and told him what was happening. He said he didn't believe me, and the battery continued.

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Anonymous · 739 weeks ago

I am truly sorry for what you went through, both the battery itself and then to not be protected from the one person who should have helped you (the Pastor). I am actually working hard on this matter, and would really appreciate an opportunity to speak with you in a strictly confidential manner. Would you kindly respond to this post, or e-mail me? I have established an e-mail address that I am able to post on public sites that I use to then "weed-out" the junk that may come with such a posting. I will check it frequently for your response if you are willing. The address is: vermontmommi@yahoo.com. Thank you for sharing, I do hope to help in this matter.

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Lyn · 778 weeks ago

Sorry to say but this is what several people of the church is about! Several higher ups in the church including the minister himself knew that Ben was doing very wrong things with the youth, but did nothing about it! I know because i informed him of it!

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Disillusioned · 774 weeks ago

I dated Ben when I was in high school, and I know that he definitely had a history of dating girls who were younger than 18. Granted, at the time he was in his early 20s (21-23 yo), but the girls he dated at that time were 15-16 yo. He was definitely charismatic and all the girls loved hanging around him. I'm glad he is behind bars and can't use his position to proposition girls anymore.

2 replies · active 733 weeks ago

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OhioGirl · 762 weeks ago

Ok see this is wrong because he was a good guy a hipocrit but what you people dont relize is this really freaking hurt us youth in the youth group, god forgives

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ann · 733 weeks ago

"...and all the girls loved hanging around him..."
He didn`t rape anyone. Those girls liked him and wanted it. It all came out because he was naive enough to be more than 1 girl at a time!
Not saying it wasn`t wrong to sleep with the girls, just saying it wasn`t a crime, cause not a single one of them would have told anyone if she would have known, she was the only one. Happens all the time, doesn`t it.

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Grace · 771 weeks ago

It is very sad when such things happen in the church of God. It is truly inexcusable. But life has it's paradoxes. How do you think his parents who raised him on the right path feel?If Ben is truly repentant now, will God refuse to forgive him? Those are the deep thoughts I think.

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Matt · 770 weeks ago

God will forgive Ben. But the leaders of the church who allowed this to go on under their nose...they can be forgiven too but they will be judged more severely.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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OhioGirl · 762 weeks ago

i completly agree to this and i was there so ya!!!

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Angie · 769 weeks ago

I used to know Ben. He has not been proved guilty. He has a beautiful wife and no reason to commit such a crime. He might be innocent and falsely accused. Perhaps thought should be given to that.

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Baconsbud 96p · 768 weeks ago

What does having a beautiful wife have to do with something like this? How many people have been married to someone but when the truth comes out they were only married to hide what they really were? Being married to someone beautiful doesn't mean that every thing at home is the way he wanted it.

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OhioGirl · 762 weeks ago

I attended this church and Ben was my youth pastor he was married and we had some problems with the girls at a missions trip but i did not think it was anything this serious and when it came up it all made sense i seen it all and it hrut alot caz this was the second youth pastor i had sleep with the girls what is wrong with people these days i trusted these people.

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Superman · 757 weeks ago

i also went to this church. after 4 months of being there, and trusting him, he crushed my trust for him and other people.

1 reply · active 755 weeks ago

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ohiogirl · 755 weeks ago

I know how u feel.

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E.T. · 750 weeks ago

Im with Aaron, Ohiogirl and the others that went to church with the guy, although i dont know 100% what happened i would like to. Maybe even talk to him about it. Probably a bad thing to ask if anybody know where hes located?

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gary hall · 698 weeks ago

Ben was once a youth leader in a Phila. church in Miss. Sandtown united methodist church.
As a former member of that church I told the pastor , Jeff Switzer, and others in leadership as well that Ben was doing questionable things with the youth that needed checked into but was told to mind my own business. I knew it was mine and everyones business when sin is involved. Later found out that Ben was dismissed with a good send-off. He was actually caught here as well but swept under the table. I think the ones that didnt care enough to investgate earlier is just as guilty. These people sent a known sex affender to another church with a good recommondation. As for Ben, how can you help someone who was swimming in a sea of water but died of thirst? He had it all in front of him but turned his back on the most important thing in life...JESUS CHRIST.

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