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Page: Profile: Wren's Nest News Local
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Article: 21281
[Pagan]
Date Posted:
10/21/2009
3:50:54 pm EDT
Wvox Stats
Views: 3,405
RSS: 16,186
Comments: 19
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Neighbors Concerned That Wiccan Is Sex Offender
Author: Kate Ramunni Source: Connecticut Post (CT)
Title: NEIGHBORS CONCERNED THAT WICCAN IS SEX OFFENDER
A Greenfield Drive man's plans to hold a Wiccan autumn celebration at his home last month never materialized, but his neighbors are still concerned about the intended use of the home he is building after learning that he is listed on the state's Sex Offender Registry.
Robert de Maille vonSchmidt is building a colonial at 14 Greenfield Drive.
Von Schmidt is chairman of the Coven of the Spiral Light, a Wiccan coven headquartered in Groton. But on its Web site, they refer to Von Schmidt's home as "consecrated ritual grounds," and the coven has held events there over the last year, though one scheduled for September was moved to another location after a story appeared in the Connecticut Post about the neighbor's concerns.
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Community Thoughts: There are 19 comments posted | Reverse Sort |
| Odd Thing..... | Oct 23rd. at 11:47:14 am EDT
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Thorin (Newaygo, Michigan) - Email Me
I find it rather odd that he uses an alias for his "Coven", and his REAL name on the Sex Offender list! IMO, this means the guy has something to hide.....and gee....look......he was "playing" with a 13 y/o girl.
This is just like the guy in our small town who opened a Music Store and give private lessons to kids......well....turns out.....he spent 7 years in prison for molesting a 15 y/o when he was the Band Teacher in a nearbye town! Sorry, but the state should keep a better eye on guys like that!!!
[RANT OFF]
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| Still Skeptical On This One... | Oct 23rd. at 11:24:20 am EDT
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Friday Scott (Middleton, Wisconsin) - Email Me
You know, I've read the legal codes required, and I'm still not ready to blanketly assume the man's guilty of anything horrible by what's been presented: I also suspect the article would state so if he was. Rather, it seems we're left to imagine the worst, which just happens to suit the hostile neighbors' case.
These are serious allegations flying around. Sexual molestation is a grave charge to level on someone, especially in the course of them finding their right to worship in their own home thrown to this public circus.
The fact is that the statute may encompass inappropriate touching, but it also says:
"Id. To be found guilty under the "any act" provision of section, all that is necessary is general intent to perform the act that resulted in the injury; it is unnecessary for court to instruct jury that there must be evidence that defendant intended to harm victim ------or knew that victim was in the area and would likely be harmed. 84 CA 263. -------
Subdiv. (2) : Lack of actual injury to morals of the victim is not relevant, as actual injury to morals is not an element of risk of injury offense"
Pretty darn vague. It's again, as possible that someone decided this vague 'injury to morals' statute could be used to prosecute a Wiccan ritual or something like it, on the basis a child was around somewhere.
We need go no further than the Net to see that some people believe that mere exposure to the idea that Pagans aren't Satanic or something inherently harms the morals of children. Some people feel perfectly justified calling Social Services if people have a perfectly-ordinary public festival and children are around.
I'm therefore unwilling to assume the man's guilty of actually being indecent toward a child. If he is, we certainly don't want to see him teaching Wicca, or whatever he may think Wicca is. But.... That charge could as easily have been just more of the kind of harassment that we're seeing directed against him now.
I'd suggest more information about the case before throwing the guy to the wolves. Strongly condemning the abuse of children doesn't mean assuming guilt makes kids any safer.
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| And It Harm None - Forgiveness | Oct 23rd. at 10:25:27 am EDT
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jim (orlando, Florida) - Email Me
So, this guy is a registered sex offender (with a 13 year old, no less) - I'd say that was definitely harming someone.
So did he convert AFTER he was convicted? What has he done to make amends?
One of the things I've always liked about Paganism is that there is NO automatic forgiveness of sins.. If you do something wrong, it's on you and that threefold rule will come back to bite you.
On the face of this article, there are some open questions that would make me question his sincerity (sorry for the pun) ....That said, if he wants to zone the property a church, and hold rituals (with the caveat that no children could ever attend) , then ok.... and his neighbors have no say in the matter.
"I am free because I know that I alone am morally responsible for everything I do" - Heinlein
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| This "man" | Oct 22nd. at 8:55:50 pm EDT
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Rosemary (Oneonta, New York) - Email Me
is a predator. Period, end of story. Don't protect him and throw his victims to the wolves.
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| Say What?! | Oct 22nd. at 5:56:08 pm EDT
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Aisling Kelledia (Dallas-Ft.Worth area, Texas) - Email Me
"Any idea how old this guy was, when that girl seduced him?"
Arawn, the guy's a registered child sex offender, whether you believe the system is perfect or not.
Why are you blaming the victim?
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| Sorting Through Meaning | Oct 22nd. at 5:47:37 pm EDT
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Terry (Irvington, Virginia) - Email Me
It still seems as if neighbors who dislike pagans are reaching for any means to harass or restrict this otherwise typical wheelchair, listed as such in a city public notice:
#709-1 Robert de Maille von Schmidt of 14 Greenfield Drive, Shelton, CT for a certificate of approval for a 6’
deep by 42’ long front porch addition to be located on the property of the applicant at 14 Greenfield Drive, R-1
zone, and which requires a reduction in setback from the street line from the required 40 ft. to 37 ft. Application
states on the right is Mary & Daniel Peck, in the rear is Jan Rudzibski and on the left is Manuel & Olinda Afonso.
I would hope that with an aging population, most such applications would be routinely granted, unlike in some older neighborhoods where such construction could pose real fire code or sidewalk safety or parking issues, and not just a cosmetic setback change of 3' out of 40. Some CT cities use stagger setbacks of 30, 40, and 50 feet for a 40 foot average, but that's really designed to illegally prop up the tax base to fund police and schools, unlike 15' side yard setbacks that are designed to meet 3 hour Fire Code separation standards.
It appears this pagan may have a UConn physics degree, and be the primary developer of a fiber optics coating patent for an employer that's one of the major national developers of advanced fiber systems. There's also evidence he competed in SETI related projects.
[Web LINK]
[Web LINK]
And, it appears he was licensed as an EMT, until pressured to not renew in 2006. But, what does his listing as convicted under CGSa 53-21 (2) really imply or mean?
[Web LINK]
[Web LINK]
According to that statute, it doesn't necessarily mean he did anything to actually harm any minor, and may involve any range of near genitals touching that could have reflected some innocent action, or might just reflect a misrepresented medical or pagan ritual incident that isn't legitimately a sex crime at all. Or, it could be a plea deal for some real and more serious crime. Possibly someone paying $50 with a written request for state police records, and then doing court records retrieval, could document more, though not necessarily.
At least this isn't an ex post facto violation of Constitutional law as is common in sex crime registers, where some absurd conviction before such registrees existed resulted in a later reporting obligation. That has in Connecticut resulted in some gays being so reported, for later repealed (rather than overturned in other states) gay bashing law convicting 19 year olds for having boyfriends and doing things that would not have been prosecuted had they liked girlfriends. There are also cases of plea deals after malicious complaints or as divorce extortions, where falsely accused persons have pled due to fear of greater penalties in trials for which they couldn't afford adequate counsel. There are many severe defects in legal process related to prejudice or less than valid legal proof issues in such laws, and sex crime registrations cannot be taken to mean someone was subject to a valid conviction that didn't violate various standards of legal rights or process.
All that aside, how is it even relevant in this case, versus being used to excuse a lynching attempt based on religious prejudice?
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| Home Meetings | Oct 22nd. at 4:54:26 pm EDT
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Ahr-Ohn (Bridgeport, Connecticut) - Email Me
It's entirely Christian, to hold relligious gathers in your home, and many other religions opt for such meeting places. Some might have a religious obligation to meet in Cemetaries, or hospital basements, as other christians have done. Given that Wiccans are going to follow rules, between the Gods and themselves, uhm, we might ask them not to use the middles of public intersections?
This is about a Zoning Variance, to comply with a federal law, that doesn't have to be complied with, not about a zoning variance to perform any religious ritual.
Any idea how old this guy was, when that girl seduced him?
Arawn Graalrd
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| Plea Bargains | Oct 22nd. at 3:38:20 pm EDT
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Finn (San Marcos, Texas) - Email Me
It is very likely that this conviction was due to a plea bargain. He was probably originally charged with far more and the details are probably rather lurid. It suffices to say:
1. The man is a sex offender.
2. The crime involved children.
3. He uses a different name for his religious organization which allows him to endrun the point of the registry.
I don't think churches or temples belong in private residences (or at least not buried in residential areas) in the first place. It doesn't matter to me one bit why the neighbors are uncomfortable with the situation. It is unfortunate that we under the pagan umbrella are so lax that their digging for dirt found an entire swamp. It is embarassing that someone with an official title also has this kind of record.
I'll go a step further. I think the neighbors probably got a bad vibe from this person to start with. I think they didn't like him. I think their personal reaction to the man probably fired up any latent anti-pagan feelings. Now the two go hand in hand. It is unfortunate but as long as the pagan umbrella remains the wild west, all of us are going to be associated with every desperado and snake-oil salesman that manages to leave a mark.
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| Risk Of Injury Or Impairing Morals | Oct 22nd. at 1:42:55 pm EDT
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karrie9 (Kenosha, Wisconsin) - Email Me - Web
Here's his conviction page (listed under Robert Vonschmidt, not Robert von Schmidt or Robert Von Schmidt) : [Web LINK]
He was found guilty of a 53-21 (2) Injury or risk of injury to or impairing morals of children on 28-SEP-2000.
Here's the penal code: [Web LINK]
"Sec. 53-21. Injury or risk of injury to, or impairing morals of, children. ... (a) Any person who ... (2) has contact with the intimate parts, as defined in section 53a-65, of a child under the age of sixteen years or subjects a child under sixteen years of age to contact with the intimate parts of such person, in a sexual and indecent manner likely to impair the health or morals of such child ... class B felony for a violation of subdivision (2) of this subsection."
I think that's the right section.
Anyway, the girl was 13. That's sound very much like pedophilia.
As for touching vs. penetration...
The "It's Not That Bad" Fallacy
There is no way to predict how abuse will affect an individual. Forget the "sliding ruler mentality" -- fondling may be as traumatic as full penetration because trust was broken and the same core dynamics and dysfunction are put into motion. The child grows with fear, some form/degree of isolation, distrust, dishonesty, and perhaps changing boundaries (chaos) . Trust and related issues affect every nook and cranny of a person's life. It's that core. That's the damage.
Tragically, society compounds the damage when any indication that "it wasn't that bad" leads to bewildering denial/denigration of the former victim's suffering/healing and stark minimization of the abuse.
However, I still have to say "not enough information" because the story can appear very different, or not, when reading the actual case.
But it doesn't sound good.
Oddly he wasn't listed on either Shelton's or Durby's registered sex offenders pages, at least not the ones I was looking at...and they had an old address of his? I dunno.
Talk amongst yourselves, I'm allowed only two comments.
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| What The Heck Is "Risk Of Injury?" | Oct 22nd. at 11:37:57 am EDT
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Friday Scott (Middleton, Wisconsin) - Email Me
As I see in some other comments, care must be taken when people make vague statements about 'sex offenders'.... It doesn't *mean* they're a predator or pedophile or rapist: it *should,* as that's what these registries were intended to do, but that's just not how it works.
There are people in some states registered as 'sex offenders' cause they were persecuted for being adult gay couples under sodomy laws.
'Risk of injury' is a pretty vague charge. Sounds an awful lot to me like part of a witch-hunt, ...Skyclad ritual on his own property? Maybe they needed some pretext to bust him, and said some thirteen year old neighbor *might* have gone and seen.
We don't know.
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| Hmmmm | Oct 22nd. at 9:44:42 am EDT
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karrie9 (Kenosha, Wisconsin) - Email Me - Web
The bold faced creedism and flap over the structure and involvment of Wicca started way before it came out that this guy was a registered sex offender, am I correct?
I hope their use of creedism as a social weapon isn't wiped clean off the slate because the guy has a record.
Sadly, they seemed to find out that he was a registered sex offender because they were digging dirt on him because he was Wiccan.
Are they likely to overlook offenders within the ranks of their religion?
As for the Wiccan group linked to this offender, what the hades? It's not like Pagans aren't concered about abuse!
Somehow I don't think an abuse victim or potential abuse victim is going to care what religion the perpetrator is.
Just one of my pages on abuse
[Web LINK]
Advocate Web
Information on abuse perpetrated by professionals/clergy in positions of power, authority, and trust.
[Web LINK]
MoonDragon's Domestic Violence
Resource Page (excellent)
[Web LINK]
I couldn't find "Robert Von Schmidt" on either of these:
State Registered Sex Offenders Page: [Web LINK]
National: [Web LINK]
Anyway, lot's of prejudice and mixed issues involved.
Out of time, gotta go...
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| Tolerance Only Goes So Far.... | Oct 22nd. at 6:05:15 am EDT
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bigcat (peoria, Illinois) - Email Me
I agree with one poster that a kid's situation might not mean the same as an adult, and that it is possible to go overboard in labelling. However, it is well to let the past speak for itself whenever possible.
People are prone to doing things without thinking from time to time, but that shouldn't haunt them. However, to me, real deviancy,those kind of people who have been known to actively seek out children or unconsenting individuals to harm should be given the boot and should neither be tolerated or trusted as far as one can spit.
What cannot be tolerated is that these offenders use Paganism to get away with cr*p-and the bad light in which it puts the rest,
which makes it all too easy for fear and paranoia to exist.
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| Is It Safe To Say... | Oct 22nd. at 4:49:06 am EDT
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Roy Linford Adams (Buxton, Maine) - Email Me
That the Pagan community has a zero tolerance for sex offenders?
My first reaction is “Kick this guy to the curb” and I expect most here would agree on that. BUT, a point was made earlier that it is a case-by-case basis. Here in America, our sex offenders list is a disgrace. A relative of mine was listed on the Maine registry at age 14 because he “played doctor” with a 4 year old relative when he was 10. It was a complete lack of supervision by the parents on both sides but should he be labeled with this the rest of his life?
The article isn’t pulling up for me to read so I have no idea what his exact offense was. For all I know he had sex with a 17 year old when he was 19 (I myself am guilty of it and I’m not ashamed because I’ve been with her for 15 years and we’re expecting our first born) . BUT, if this guy was driving around asking kids if they wanted to get in his car for candy, I saw he publicly strip him of any association of being a “Wiccan”.
I personally witnessed a group kick out a member when they found out he had a past. (I’ve posted this on other articles) He and his wife were hand fasted by a Pagan group in Kalamazoo during their start of summer party. And the next year when I returned, I found out they were both given the boot, no questions asked. Just pack your junk and leave!
Weather the Pagan community has a zero tolerance or a 15% tolerance, one thing I know for sure is we are not obligated to “forgive” child molesters and let them back into our realm. And we especially don’t cover their evil deeds up and send them to go practice with another group. I guess that’s where we do have a zero tolerance. Once we know without a doubt that someone’s guilty of such a heinous crime, they better not show their face around any more.
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| If You Are Concerned | Oct 22nd. at 12:08:55 am EDT
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Nova (Hudson Falls, New York) - Email Me
Now dont get me wrong I think sex offenders deserve whatever horrible punishments that they get for the rest of their lives. But the artical says that there was "a risk of injury to a 13 year old girl" and that could implay a lot of things, not many of them good, but perhaps not what actually was reported. I dont know I wasnt there. But to try and deny the man his want of building a church based off that sketchy report just because they are concerned? Paranoid if you ask me, but there concerns are justified. But how about they dont base they'er judgment on paranoia and fear. But instead, if they are concerned just stay away and out of his buisness. Hes not forceing anybody to go over there for candy or milk and cookies. Oh and also he diddnt have an amusment park built infront of his house or dress's like Peter Pan.
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| I Don't Know About The Law In Connecticut... | Oct 21st. at 9:39:53 pm EDT
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Wicked (Bakersfield, California) - Email Me
... but here in Califofnia one can become a registered sex offender for reasons that have nothing at all to do with posing any danger.
The college student who streaked the local golf course way back when streaking was a craze? Registered sex offender. She is in her 50s now, and this has followed her for years and ruined her life.
The neighbor guy who had a few too many beeers before the high school football game and took a p*ss under the bleachers? Registered sex offender. Now in his 30s, he can't find and keep a job.
The teenage boy who once slapped his girlfriend's sister on the rump? Registered sex offender. Same wreck and ruin of his life.
When I hear that someone's name can be found on the sex offender registry, I want to know what got it there. Because there are some serious creeps and pervs out there -- repeat rapists, fixated pedophiles -- that I want to keep as far from me and mine as possible. Because there are some people who got caught up in our state's criminalization of stupid who are not at all dangerous. And because both the truly dangerous and the basically harmless are on the same registered sex offenders list.
We need a change in the registering laws -- like that is going to happen -- to make sure that the really dangerous are clearly identified and the basically harmless don't suffer for it. But the child protection and women's issues lobbies won't have it. If anything the laws and requirements are becoming more stringent. I say this as a feminist and a child welfare advocate.
Putting all that aside, it is totally cr*ppy PR to have someone whose name is on a sex offender registry be the front person for any group -- and that the group in question is one perceived as marginal and minority and wierd and 'off' by the mainstream majority makes it worse.
Just one crone's opinion. Due to variations in materials and craftspersonship, yours may differ from that shown.
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