He was 13. More:Former Kanakuk counselor Peter Newman named in new sex-abuse lawsuit. The first time former Kanakuk camp director Pete Newman was reported for being nude with kids was in 1999 the same year he became a full-time employee at the Branson-based Christian athletic camp and a decade before he confessed to abusing multiple underage boys he met through Kanakuk and related ministries. After a few moments of silence, Fusch said, Green replied: It was an isolated situation and itll never happen again.. Thats when Caroline, who asked not to be identified by her full name, said she learned first-hand how the camp responded to reported abuse. And like, competitive. Jones told a friend about the 1985 incident, who confirmed her account when contacted for this story. Excuse you! And I said some mean words, she said. I had a towel around my shoulders and just the bathing suit on.. White said he spoke with Newmans wife after chapel and we were laughing about that statement but I could tell inside she wasnt laughing about that so much , I feel like you need to make sure Pete has some very sincere goals about the time hes spending with his wife and his daughter and perhaps they need to be reassessed.. () I didn't even want to think about my past. (Another former Kanakuk staff member, Vicki Morgan, confirmed that nude inspections were conducted in the past). He worked there from 1995 until he was fired in2009. Another prohibition, spelled out in Kanakuks 2008 employee handbook, specified Gold Bond powder could only be used for legitimate reasons presumably the purposes listed on its container: relieving itching and controlling odor. And, you know, some of these kids go for a month. Growing public awareness of controversy linked to Kanakuk camp began early last year. When she asked what was up, Hoffpauir remembersreplying, "Hang on a second.". He currently resides in Branson, Missouri, with his wife, Debbie Jo. Korte, the former camper from Nebraska, said she was frequently in one-on-one conversations with her counselors about the personal details of her sex life, as they asked her how far she had gone with her boyfriend and whether he pressured her to have sex. The organization issued a statement on the eve of publication, saying, in part: In addition to questions about Pete Newman, you have now asked that we give an account for things which allegedly occurred 30 or 40 years ago, and for allegations of concerning activity between minor persons that attended Kanakuk. Dygert's wife, Chelsea, "is very passionate and has a lot of righteous indignation about what Kanakuk has allowed to happen, and how they've covered it up and continue to cover up their negligence," he said. More:Kanakuk camper says she was told to apologize, denied call home after reporting abuse. But Green would never face charges. "She's not doing well. Most of their employees are members, leaders, sometimes pastors at local churches. Newman was in his mid-20s. On Feb 4., a separateanonymous plaintiff sued Newman for the same amount of money. ", Hoffpauir now says, "I hate it with a passion" that Newman performed the marriage. Attached to the lawsuit filed by Logan is a sworn affidavit signed by a former supervisor at Kanakuk. WebSample Page; ; Thirteen is an impressionable year for any child. Home; Features; Services; About; Contact; Login; Get Free Demo; pete newman kanakuk wife So that's how it started out.". Kanakuk leaders also have described convicted child molester Pete Newman as a lone predator but he wasn't the first or last abuser connected to the camp. (Notably, former KanakukcounselorLee Bradberrywas convictedof second-degree statutory sodomy, sexual misconduct and two counts of child molestation for abusing three underage male campers in 2011. WebSample Page; ; Sign up! In 2018, Newman was found liable for $10 million in damages, but was later released from a garnishment.) "The investigation by law enforcement that resulted in the prosecution of Pete Newman did not result in any criminal or civil charges against Kanakuk leadership or staff," they added. In a July 6, 2001 message printed on Kanakuk Kamps letterhead, Newmans supervisor, Cunningham, warned Newman to use extreme caution in his alone time with children.. Newman reportedly hadnaked conversations with campersand engaged in mutual masturbation and"hot tub Bible studies" with boys, as the News-Leader reported during his 2009 trial. Reach News-Leader reporter Gregory Holman by emailing gholman@gannett.com. His parents sent him to what they thought was a group sleepover in a gym known as "Barn 13" on the Kanakuk campus. Kanakuk CEO Joe White also responded to the calls to release victims from NDAs in his first public letter on the issue. Others quickly became accustomed to it, providing fertile ground for a predator like Newman who used nudity and discussions about sexuality to groom his victims. Nothing happened to you?' He died in a car crashwhile apolice investigation was ongoing. She's just, she's trying to figure it out. Mr. A flyer for the Ignite men's conference slated for Liberty University from March 17-18, 2017. The explanation that I was given was that Kanakuks ministry to the counselors is just as important as their ministry to the campers, Horn said. 2023 www.news-leader.com. Ed Ringheim, a Kanakuk counselor in the 1990s who later volunteered with the Kanakuk-affiliated KLIFE program in Florida, was convicted in2012 of seven sex-related felonies involving underage boys. To do these things with someone meant that we trusted each other and that we were close this bonding became really powerful for me, even if it was unhealthy bonding.. ", "And it was Pete," Hoffpauir said. He and his wife Lois live in Colorado. Former Kanakuk camp counselor Peter Newman is already serving two life sentences, plus 30 years, at the Jefferson City Correctional Center. WebThe USA Today piece, Survivors, ex-employees say Kanakuk Christian camp ministered to its sexual predators , reveals several new cases of abuse of children at the hands of Kanakuk staff and even other campers spanning decades, apparent dismissals and cover-ups of cases, and gross mishandling of reports that from the evidence available Robert John Morgan, a former pilot for Kanakuk CEO White, pleaded guilty in 2004 to sexually abusing a young girl and remains on Missouri's sex offender registry. It wasnt right.. For me it was a trust thing. Kanakuk leaders also have described convicted child molester Pete Newman as a lone predator but he wasn't the first or last abuser connected to the camp. Like Hoffpauir, Dygert says he accompanied Newman on speaking engagement trips linked to Kanakuk. went the bracelets. WebKanakuk actively concealed what they knew about the sexual abuse being perpetrated by Pete Newman and induced victims and survivors into settlements and NDAs, said Robert Thrasher, one of Yandells attorneys, in a news release. Former Kanakuk counselor Michael Horn said he was working at the camp in 2002 when he and another counselor witnessed a third counselor sleeping in a closed sleeping bag with a shirtless child straddling thatcounselors bare chest. 2023 www.news-leader.com. Dygert said, "We know people who've never told anyone. In one testimonial, CEO White described Newman as the most thorough relationship builder with kids in Kanakuk history. Fuschs parents met Green when they picked their son up from camp and were impressed. Since the 1970s, under the leadership of White and his wife Debbie-Jo, Kanakuk has become one of the largest Christian camps in the world. ", Kanakuk alsosaid it developed a "comprehensive Child Protection Plan" because of the "tragedy.". One of its two main campuses sits on 42 acres near Lake Shore Drive, across Lake Taneycomo from the lights of downtown Branson. While Caroline was discussing the groping incident with Chancey in 2016, she recalled that hebrought the boy into the meeting. "That ministry" Kanakuk "should have caught on.". Newman was "just a fun dude," Hoffpauir said:"He invited me to hang out with him. Newmans supervisor recommended he be fired in 2003, after receiving reports that Newman swam and played basketball with children while he Kanakuk issues new statement on camp child sex abuse; survivor calls it 'disgusting', Survivors, ex-employees say unreported abuse at Kanakuk camps in Branson spans decades, Kanakuk camper says she was told to apologize, denied call home after reporting abuse, Kanakuk's statement provided in response to the News-Leader's questions, From the editor: How we reported stories about sex abuse at Kanakuk Kamps, Branson men, both 34, describe Kanakuk sex abuse, call for camp to be held accountable, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. That camper, who did not want to be identified, said she reported the incident to Kanakuk leadership. We are committed to our vision that todays young adults are the Christian leaders of tomorrow, and we will continue to advocate for their safety as they grow in friendships, faith, and confidence. She didnt think much of it at first. Just really screwed-up stuff.". The connection is so deep, and that loyalty is so strong, that you'll essentially kind of do whatever to keep that relationship. Joe White had a meeting about the Gold Bond parties and shut them down after it was documented in an incident report, Clark said. It was a turning point in my life. Carolineand one other girl gathered the courage to relay what happened. More than a decade later, Ringheim volunteered with KLIFE in Orlando. Shaffer said the camp reassigned Ringheim to maintenance after the complaint. That's the No. It only stopped, Hoffpauir said, when he and Madison began seriously dating. shaka wear graphic tees is candy digital publicly traded ellen lawson wife of ted lawson pete newman kanakuk wife. Branson resident Evan Hoffpauir said that in 2009, former Christian sports camp counselor Peter Newman, now a convicted sexual predator,called himwith a prayer request. He added that Newman "already established in my brain that this masturbation stuff was not wrong, because I wasn't lusting. I stuffed it. I talked to Keith.". In 2003, he was promoted to assistant director of K-Kountry and in 2006 he was promoted to director. Rather than firing Newman, Kanakuk leaders gave him additional authority. The Turner Report: Pete Newman from 2008: Kanakuk kounselors will just suck your kids right up to heaven The Turner Report This blog features observations from She's blaming herself. On that first night of abuse, Dygert said Newman told him, "'This would be one of the best bonding things we could do.' Counselors monitored us in the shower while they sat on a bench. It wasn't until years later that I learned that good man was a pedophile and the people needing the prayers were the countless victims I spent my summers with, not Pete.. In hindsight, I can definitely see how Physical Inspection would have been a pedophiles playground, and I'm glad it was done away with some time in the late 80s or 90s, Cunninghan wrote. Increased responsibility for our camp's 14-acre property, 2.) The 1999 incident wasnt the last. He wrote his phone number on my hand and said, 'Hey, let's hang out sometime.' "'Dygert, you're one of my best friends. Kanakuk, meanwhile, did not directly respond to inquiries from the News-Leader for this report. '", He added, "Now, looking back, I know no grown man should be hanging out with a little kid like that.". But ininterviews with dozens of victims and former camp employees reporters working for the Springfield News-Leader part of the USA TODAY Network learned how camp leaders have repeatedly disregardedred flags and prioritized ministering to those accusedof wrongdoing, instead of seeking justice for victims. Jody Jones was an 8-year-old camper at Kanakuk in 1985. A reporter attempted calls to four phone numbers linked to Staples in public records databases. I knew he knew.. So this isn't sexual. Shaffer said that at one point during his tenure he and other counselors learned that amother had made an accusation Ed (Ringheim) had been sexually inappropriate with her son., Shaffer recalled that his supervisor told the counselors Ed crawled into bed with the boy because he was homesick and was attempting to comfort him. The supervisor encouraged the counselors, he said, to continue to support and love Ed and to pray for him.. On June 9, 2010, Newman, then 34, pleaded guilty in Taney County court to eight charges of sexually abusing six children in connection with his role as a counselor Whites daughter concluded his problems stemmed from watching rated R movies. Twodozen of them now regularly communicate by text message, Hoffpauir said. The News-Leaderleft three detailed voicemails on the phone line linked to Staples' Branson-area counseling practice. 25 Feb/23. The letter demands Kanakuk admit thatnumerous allegations of sex abuse by people linked to the camp are true. And at that point, I was like, OK, this is weird. Kanakuk guidelines also said counselors should avoid any talk about anything related to sexual relationships, including boyfriend/girlfriend stories. But former campers say they could not escape these conversations because the camps emphasis on sexual purity insinuated sex into everyday camp life. So I did masturbate by hand and he did too, under the water. The more casual attitudes toward nudity at Kanakuk where communal showering and physical inspections of unclothed campers continued into the 1990s and early 2000s, former staff members said made some campers uncomfortable. "I would say it was helpful for the first year or so, because I was able to just express my thoughts and feelings with someone who I at that time trusted. We are unable to do so, as these concern people who are no longer employed at Kanakuk and/or concern confidential matters that Kanakuk is not authorized to disclose without parental consent., More:Kanakuk's statement provided in response to the News-Leader's questions. There's no one to blamebut Pete and Kanakuk. That just destroyed her, and my family was shocked.". One of those boys was among the victims when Ringheim was convicted of sex crimes in 2012. And so he's like, how big is your circus tent? Please consider subscribing to support vital local journalism. Linda Turley represented Joe Alarcon along with his wife, Brandi, and son, Ashton, in a settlement with Kanakuk in April 2013. "These are the most affluent kids in the country," he said. Like Price and Newman, Green was popular. WebNewman's guilty plea did not end the problems for Kanakuk officials. Hoffpauir grew up in Branson. We went together, stayed in the cabin together. The contract also called on Newman to stop spending a lopsided, inordinate amount of time with kids.. Records in Newmans criminal court case document sexual abuse that took place in Kanakuk cabins, in the pool, in the showers, in the gym, on father-son retreats, in the homes of campersand on a mission trip to China. This guy has a raging love for God and it spills over constantly to the kids at kamp.. "And the counselor was like, the camp's reaching out to victims, and don't worry about that. ", The lawsuit adds, "During each of these activities Defendant Newman falsely represented to the young Plaintiff that these behaviors were okay or normal and were not 'sinful'. Joe and his camp, Kanakuk, have been sued by Multiple former campers claiming that he and the Kanakuk camp 'abuse survivors' call for independent investigation into sexual assault accusations, that were reportedly flagged for Kanakuk leaders in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2006, recently issued an open letter to Kanakuk and its owner, Kanakuk issues new statement on camp child sex abuse; survivor calls it 'disgusting', were first published last year by The Dispatch, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. And she realized, oh no, something had happened. All rights reserved. The camp developed its Child Protection Plan in 2009,after one of its directors was arrested and charged with abusing children hed met at camp andthrough related ministries. In his 1996 book Pure Excitement, White describes a conversation with a 15-year-old camper who confessed he frequently masturbated and lusted after girls. "His logic was like, it's OK to masturbate," Hoffpauir explained. Dygert helped out around the camp and eventually served as a Kanakuk counselor himself, for four years. After a few minutes we got out of the hot tub, and he took me home. "We graduated college, we spent about 10 years away from Branson, just being free and clear of everything this town has to offer. When heentered the room, kids chanted his name, Fusch said. And it no longer felt likecounseling.". After showering with the boys once or twice, my co-counselors and I would wait and even take turns. Newman pleaded guilty last year in Taney County court to three counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy and two counts of enticement of a child. A day later, Fusch told his parents, who alerted police and met with a Dallas detective who specialized in investigating sex crimes. An in-depth investigation released in March 2021 by former ACLJ and Alliance Defending Freedom senior counsel and National Review author David French and his wife for the online journal The Dispatch revealed a number of victims of Kanakuk were under non-disclosure agreements which were signed as part of legal settlements. The bill, H.B. Survivors and family members of victims of sexual abuse at Kanakuk camps testified at a hearing before the Missouri House Judiciary Committee regarding a bill proposed by local state Rep. Brian Seitz to change laws to help survivors of childhood sexual assault. It was during that Thanksgiving visit that Fusch said he woke one night and could tell that Green had been reaching into Fuschs underwear from his adjacent trundle bed. Home; Features; Services; About; Contact; Login; Get Free Demo; pete newman kanakuk wife Kanakuk leaders have described convicted child molester Pete Newman as a lone predator but he wasn't the first or last abuser connected to the camp. Please consider subscribing to support vital local journalism. Any victim can reach out to Kanakuk by emailing us at victimsupport@kanakuk.com or access several independent victim advocacy organizations such as ChildHelp.org or Rainn.org, which can provide access to local support services, reporting assistance, and educational resources. We will never stop being sorry for the pain inflicted on victims and their families. Evan Hoffpauir and Keith Dygert, both 34, of Branson, Mo., survived child sex abuse by former Kanakuk sports camp counselor Peter Newman. Pain inflicted on victims and their families a garnishment. point, I was like it... Branson, Missouri, with his wife, Debbie Jo on Feb 4., separateanonymous! 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