Author Topic: Lawsuit against Love Demonstrated Ministries gets refiled  (Read 1633 times)

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Offline Ursus

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Lawsuit against Love Demonstrated Ministries gets refiled
« on: January 14, 2009, 01:30:48 PM »
There used to be a substantial thread or two on this topic the first time Love Demonstrated Ministries and Charles Flowers was sued about this, but it got lost with a DB wipe in early/mid 2008. The following article is from San Antonio Express-News, as opposed to previous coverage from the Corpus Christi Times (or Corpus Christi Caller or something similar, I can't remember); nevertheless, the same rabid mob is furnishing sarcastic gems in the Comments section regarding the girl who got dragged behind the van: "Maybe she should have got an old fashion belt spanking then... Its a 'Green' option uses no green house gases."

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Web Posted: 01/14/2009 12:25 CST
Pastor is hit with suit over alleged dragging

The San Antonio-area pastor accused of dragging a 15-year-old girl behind a van at a Christian boot camp in 2007 is being sued in Bexar County by the girl's mother, Frances McClintock.

The suit, filed Monday in state district court by attorneys Carl J. Kolb and Terry Martin, seeks at least $2.5 million in damages. McClintock dropped an earlier lawsuit in Nueces County and refiled it in San Antonio.

The suit names, among others, Pastor Charles E. Flowers and his former training assistant Stephanie Bassitt, who initially were charged with second-degree felony aggravated assault in the alleged dragging of Siobahn McClintock behind a van at the Love Demonstrated Ministries' camp 10 miles west of Corpus Christi in Banquete.

The charge later was reduced to a Class A misdemeanor, and a mistrial was declared when jurors couldn't reach a decision in May. Kolb said the McClintock family continues to be affected by the "outrageous" experience. "We wouldn't treat our dogs that way," he said.

Flowers' attorney Jimmy Parks Jr. called the lawsuit "ridiculous."

Portions © 2009 San Antonio Express-News.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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Offline Ursus

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Re: Lawsuit against Love Demonstrated Ministries gets refiled
« Reply #1 on: January 18, 2009, 10:53:13 AM »
More details from the Courthouse News Service website:

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Thursday, January 15, 2009  Last Update: 10:54:49 AM
Christian Boot Camp Accused of Abuses

SAN ANTONIO (CN) - Love Demonstrated Ministries International tied a rope around a girl who has "special needs" and forced her to try keep up with a van at its "Christian Boot Camp," but she couldn't and was dragged and injured, and the camp refused to give her medical care, the girl's mom claims in Bexar County Court.

The mom claims the camp inflicts a litany of abuses upon the children in its care.

"Nowhere in any of the Defendants' literature, on any of their Web sites, or during the orientation was anything said or presented about using corporal punishment in any form," the mother says. "No one even suggested that the camp staff would be pinning the girls, forcing them to do exercises if they physically were unable to do so, forcing them to participate in physical activities if they were injured, failing to provide basic first aid and/or medical care, pushing their face in the mud, spraying water in their face as they were forced face-down in the mud, dragging them across fields, kneeling or lying on top of them to the point that they could not breathe, or [would] tie them to a motor vehicle and drag them. If this had been disclosed by any of the Defendants, Plaintiff Frances McClintock would not even have considered enrolling her minor daughter ... in CBC (Christian Base Camp)."

In a meticulous, 48-page complaint, the mother describes the "physical abuse and torture" of her daughter.

She demands punitive damages for numerous charges, including assault and battery, negligent misrepresentation, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and clerical malpractice. She is represented by Carl Kolb.

Here are the defendants: Love Demonstrated Ministries International Inc., Faith Outreach Center International Inc., Charles Flowers, Janice Flowers, Stephanie Bassit, James Hudson, Trina Cardenas, Monica Rodriguez, Juan Tijerina, Crystal Tijerina, Krystal Montana, Richard Jackson dba New Beginnings Christian Center, Fred McCulloch, Betty McCulloch dba Freedom Bible Research Institute, and A Free Church aka Body of Christ Camp.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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Offline Ursus

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New Charges Pending For Boot Camp Dragging Case
« Reply #2 on: May 30, 2010, 10:03:00 AM »
I'm not sure what ended up happening to the refiling of the case as noted above (over a year ago), but ... this is recent news below:

There are some pics of the girl's injuries shown on the accompanying news video coverage.

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New Charges Pending For Boot Camp Dragging Case
Posted: May 28, 2010 9:39 PM
Updated: May 28, 2010 11:08 PM




News video coverage: http://www.kristv.com/player/?video_id=4650

CORPUS CHRISTI - Nueces County district attorney plans to re-file charges against two boot camp instructors accused of dragging a teen back in 2007.

Charles Flowers and Stephanie Bassitt are accused of tying a 15-year old girl to the back of a van and dragging her down a road in Banquete.

Officials say these are pictures the girl's injuries.

Back in 2008 felony charges were dismissed after a mistrial was declared because the jury could not agree on verdict.

Prosecutors say Flowers and Bassitt will be charged with misdemeanor assault.

If convicted they face up to a year in the county jail and/or a $4,000 fine.

We're told teenager is expected to testify in the new trial.


All content (c) 2002 - 2010 KRIS and Synapse. All Rights Reserved.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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Offline Ursus

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DA's office to refile assault charges in boot camp case
« Reply #3 on: June 02, 2010, 11:05:42 PM »
caller.com CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS
DA's office to refile assault charges in boot camp case
By Mary Ann Cavazos
Posted June 1, 2010 at 5:33 p.m.


 
Flowers (left) and Bassitt

CORPUS CHRISTI — The District Attorney's Office plans to refile a case related to allegations that San Antonio-based boot camp officials dragged a teen behind a van in Banquete.

Charles Flowers, 49, and Stephanie Bassitt, 23, originally were charged in 2007 with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

They were tried in 2008, but a judge declared a mistrial after jurors were unable to reach a verdict. Some of the jury notes indicated they were split in favor of acquittals.

Prosecutor Mike Gordon said Tuesday he had the case formally dismissed in April because he plans to refile the case as misdemeanor assault.

The Class A misdemeanor is punishable by as long as a year in county jail and as much as a $4,000 fine.

Flowers, who founded Love Demonstrated Ministries, International with his wife, and Bassitt, a former staff member, were accused of using a rope to tie a 15-year-old girl to a van on June 12, 2007, and then dragging her behind it.

During their trial, the felony charge was lowered to misdemeanor assault after the judge ruled that the van couldn't be considered a deadly weapon based on the indictment's wording.

Gordon said that ruling prevented him from retrying the two on felony charges.


Scripps Interactive Newspapers Group | 2010 The E.W. Scripps Co.
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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Offline Ursus

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Re: DA's office to refile assault charges in boot camp case
« Reply #4 on: June 03, 2010, 10:37:41 AM »
Interesting comment left for the above article, "DA's office to refile assault charges in boot camp case," lol:


HomeFries writes: June 1, 2010 8:36 p.m.
    Great...play up the juvenile in need scam, create a 501 (c)3 non-profit status agency, think up a snappy name, find some financial backers with more money than common sense, give yourself job titles worthy of your inflated salary and then drag a juvenile down the road to demonstrate your excellent communications skills. Is this a great country or what?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Guest »
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