Anti-Mormon
2007-12-01 05:07:08 UTC
Mormon man stalked girl
Herald Sun
Kate Uebergang
November 16, 2007
A MAN of "high standing" in the Mormon Church has escaped jail for his
predatory behaviour towards two teen siblings he met through the
church.
Joseph Carlton Atwater, 53, exposed his erect penis to the girl, 13;
took the boy, 15, out of school for the day; and showed both teenagers
pornographic computer images and sketches, the County Court heard.
The former missionary sneaked into the teenagers' house at night
without their parents' knowledge and entered the bedrooms of their
younger siblings, the court was told.
Atwater gave the girl a condom out of his wallet, sent text messages
trying to lure her to his house, and emailed her on an internet chat
room about how he liked to make love to his wife.
He also drew pictures of naked men and women having sex and gave them
to the boy, later telling police he was "merely educating him in
respect to sexual matters".
Atwater was found out after the teens' mother discovered three
sexually explicit drawings in the laundry, the court heard.
The prosecution claimed Atwater's predatory behaviour raised concerns
he was "building up to something more sinister".
Judge Jane Campton yesterday sentenced Atwater to a fully suspended
two-year jail term and a 12-month community-based order, requiring him
to complete 150 hours of volunteer work and a sex offenders' program.
Atwater had pleaded guilty to one count of stalking the girl between
September and December 2005, and one count of child stealing relating
to the boy.
Judge Campton said Atwater had the support of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints and said a bishop described him as "of
high-standing in the church, devoted to his wife, family and
grandchildren".
A psychiatrist reported Atwater was a low risk of reoffending and
characterised his crimes as a "misguided, uncharacteristic lapse of
judgment".
But Judge Campton said she found it difficult to accept that his
behaviour was without sexual motivation.
"I was not impressed by your evidence in which you appeared to
downplay your role in these events," she said.
"It is totally inappropriate for a grown man to behave in such a
predatory nature with a young girl."
Judge Campton said she accepted Atwater faced exceptional
circumstances, saying he helped care for his ill grandchildren and had
previously been of good character.
She said she had also taken into account the shame and embarrassment
the charges brought with them.
The offending had a "drastic effect" on the victims' family, with the
teenagers' mother describing it as a "soul-destroying experience".
http://www.truthandgrace.com/Mormon.htm
Herald Sun
Kate Uebergang
November 16, 2007
A MAN of "high standing" in the Mormon Church has escaped jail for his
predatory behaviour towards two teen siblings he met through the
church.
Joseph Carlton Atwater, 53, exposed his erect penis to the girl, 13;
took the boy, 15, out of school for the day; and showed both teenagers
pornographic computer images and sketches, the County Court heard.
The former missionary sneaked into the teenagers' house at night
without their parents' knowledge and entered the bedrooms of their
younger siblings, the court was told.
Atwater gave the girl a condom out of his wallet, sent text messages
trying to lure her to his house, and emailed her on an internet chat
room about how he liked to make love to his wife.
He also drew pictures of naked men and women having sex and gave them
to the boy, later telling police he was "merely educating him in
respect to sexual matters".
Atwater was found out after the teens' mother discovered three
sexually explicit drawings in the laundry, the court heard.
The prosecution claimed Atwater's predatory behaviour raised concerns
he was "building up to something more sinister".
Judge Jane Campton yesterday sentenced Atwater to a fully suspended
two-year jail term and a 12-month community-based order, requiring him
to complete 150 hours of volunteer work and a sex offenders' program.
Atwater had pleaded guilty to one count of stalking the girl between
September and December 2005, and one count of child stealing relating
to the boy.
Judge Campton said Atwater had the support of the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter Day Saints and said a bishop described him as "of
high-standing in the church, devoted to his wife, family and
grandchildren".
A psychiatrist reported Atwater was a low risk of reoffending and
characterised his crimes as a "misguided, uncharacteristic lapse of
judgment".
But Judge Campton said she found it difficult to accept that his
behaviour was without sexual motivation.
"I was not impressed by your evidence in which you appeared to
downplay your role in these events," she said.
"It is totally inappropriate for a grown man to behave in such a
predatory nature with a young girl."
Judge Campton said she accepted Atwater faced exceptional
circumstances, saying he helped care for his ill grandchildren and had
previously been of good character.
She said she had also taken into account the shame and embarrassment
the charges brought with them.
The offending had a "drastic effect" on the victims' family, with the
teenagers' mother describing it as a "soul-destroying experience".
http://www.truthandgrace.com/Mormon.htm