---

---

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 23106 • Posted: Monday December 29, 2008  

---

Self-proclaimed Messiah faces up to 18 years behind bars

The New Mexico cult leader convicted of sex crimes against a child is scheduled to hear his punishment on Tuesday.

Earlier this month, Wayne Bent was convicted of molesting one of two teenage girls who climbed into his bed naked.

Bent is the leader of “The Lord Our Righteousness Church.” It’s a cult based at a compound in Union County.

Bent’s attorney argued that the encounters weren’t sexual, but religious ceremonies.

The self-proclaimed Messiah could be sentenced to up to 18 years behind bars.

After he was convicted, on December 15, Wayne Bent was allowed to return to his compound until sentencing.

The cult leader has sadi he probably wouldn’t eat if he were locked up again. His son, Jeff, explained:

“He says he’s finished with his work. … He has nothing more to do here,” Jeff Bent said after the verdict was announced in a courtroom in Taos.
[...]

Jeff Bent said he believed it was the “end of the road for the world” because of his father’s conviction.

He sidestepped questions about whether the 45 or so church members would fast if Wayne Bent did while he was in prison. Church members had indicated last week that they would.

He also refused to say what would happen to the sect if Bent were imprisoned.

---

What You Can Do From Here

---

Read More Articles On These Topics Categories: Lord Our Righteousness Church, Michael Travesser, Strong City, Wayne Bent Tags: Lord Our Righteousness Church, Michael Travesser, Strong City, Wayne Bent Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article Subscribe Religion News Blog RSS feed [What is this?] RSS by topic: Lord Our Righteousness Church, Michael Travesser, Strong City, Wayne Bent Read Another Article Previous entry: Hate group’s website uses Martin Luther King name to attack him Next entry: Young Muslims Build a Subculture on an Underground Book RNB Homepage with latest headlines Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults Find Related Books Lord Our Righteousness Church Most Popular Today Megachurch founding pastors Randy and Paula White to seek divorce Randy and Paula White: Divorce shakes evangelical empire Jane Doe in Warren Jeffs case no longer seeks anonymity, shows photo The End of the World Cult: Michael Travesser Escape from polygamy: Ex-plural wife alleges rampant abuse in FLDS unions Televangelist Joel Osteen shuns lavish lifestyle Juanita Bynum, Thomas Weeks willing to reconcile? A church accounting: Joyce Meyer’s $23,000 toilet, Scientology, and more… At Warren Jeff trial, an inside look at his church Police: Girl died as parents prayed instead of seeking help

---

Share This Article

---

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:

• Post a link on your blog or website:
  
• Send in an email or IM:
  
• Post on a forum:
  

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.