Prison chaplain at ICE facility in Pennsylvania accused of sexually abusing immigration detainee

[highplainsdem]

Source: Independent

A Baptist chaplain at a privately-run ICE lockup in Pennsylvania is facing accusations of sexually abusing a detainee over the course of more than a year, beginning shortly after he gained her trust by gifting her a Bible.

Pastor Mark Melhorn, 67, engaged in "extraordinary misconduct” at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center “under the guise of providing pastoral services,” according to a federal lawsuit obtained by The Independent.

-snip-

On numerous occasions, Melhorn approached Doe and placed his hands on her head as if he was praying for her, but instead ran them down her body suggestively, according to the complaint. From there, it says things got worse until Melhorn one day entered Doe’s cell and allegedly sexually assaulted her. He then warned Doe not to tell anybody about what had happened, because “even if she did, nothing would happen.”

Doe in fact reported Melhorn – twice – to higher-ups at Moshannon, the complaint says. And, according to the complaint, nothing happened.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/ice-immigration-prison-chaplain-abuse-lawsuit-b2816820.html

[RockRaven]

1. Not only abuse (again) at the confluence of cops and clergy, but bonus points

for cops doing nothing about it/covering it up...

[Irish_Dem]

3. How many of the detainees are being raped by those in charge of them?

Military, guards, medics, pastors, govt employees, etc.

They know nothing will happen to them.
The detainees have zero rights and no voice.

[CanonRay]

2. Baptist of course

although the Catholics are a close 2nd

[Justice Brandeis]

7. Often it's the "youth pastor" who is the culprit

nt

[malaise]

4. Duh!

It’s a gathering of vultures

[Martin68]

5. The Epstein Administration is in full swing!

[FBaggins]

16. The assaults occurred during the prior administration

[Martin68]

28. This administration is clearly dedicated to protecting Epstein's guests from prosececution, and this post is more

evidence that there are pedophiles among Trump's Supporters. Are you suggesting the previous administration was in cahoots with Epstein?

[Aviation Pro]

6. What the fuck is wrong with these people?

Rhetorical question, they’re taking their lead from the fucking chief pedophile.

[sdfernando]

8. NOT a Drag Queen! /nt

[Norrrm]

9. It's almost mandatory that republicans/pastors blame drag queens/trans/others.

[twodogsbarking]

10. Trump Bible?

[sakabatou]

11. *pretends to be shocked*

[Wiz Imp]

12. As soon as I saw the headline I knew it would be at the Moshannon Valley facility.

That area is as bad as any part of Alabama or West Virginia or Oklahoma.

[Evolve Dammit]

13. "Pastor" huh? Anybody can be a pasture. Charges pending??

[lastTexasDem]

14. Ohh ohh wait...

I think I have this one on my bingo card …🤪🤪🤪

[soldierant]

15. In other news,

Water is wet.

[Hornedfrog2000]

17. They probably specifically asked for the

Rapiest priest they had.

[FadedMullet]

18. How happy the new youth pastor must have been to find out that the young girls were actually "locked up in cells".

Much easier than having to plan and lure them away to someplace private.

[Joinfortmill]

19. Absolutely outrageous, but not surprising. I hope there is a hell.

[2na fisherman]

20. Why there must be separation of church and state

Such phony clerics feel free to impose themselves on the most vulnerable. And they think they are entitled to give the lambs of their flock a "benediction in the rectory" under the guise of becoming united with them in body and soul. Pastors like that turn rape into a Satanic sacrament. And they get a tax-free ride too.

[Grins]

21. "For Jesus!" of course.

"...sexually abusing (her) over the course of more than a year, beginning shortly after he gained her trust by gifting her a Bible."

The book of the damned!

If what you get from the Bible is that it's totally cool to bone a minor, you're probably reading it wrong.

It gets worse:

"The social worker told (Jane) Doe that she was obligated to report the allegations, under the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act, and that she was glad she spoke up “because (Chaplin) Melhorn had done things like this before.”

Sweet!
Now why didn't the social worker report him if he had done this in the past?

[AZ8theist]

22. A "pastor" sexually abusing vulnerable people....

I've never heard of that....

[El Mimbreno]

23. And like this is a surprise?... nt

[NBachers]

24. And it ain't his first time

[jfz9580m]

25. K&R

Zero tolerance for sexual harassers..

[Norrrm]

26. Remember? Trump only hires the best people.

[Orrex]

27. Has Trump promoted him yet?

[republianmushroom]

29. Beware of the 3-C'.