….Daniel L. Monk, 47, last known address 1025 Kelly Drive, Hebron, will serve six years in prison after Marcelain sentenced him to consecutive three-year terms on two counts of sexual battery — both third-degree felonies — and to a concurrent six-month term for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Monk pleaded guilty in January to the charges.
The girl’s father said Monk used his position of authority as then-pastor of Soul’s Harbor Pentecostal Church, 12180 Lancaster St., Millersport, to take advantage of her.
“You destroyed the girl my daughter once was,” he said. “You took something away from my 16-year-old daughter that she will never get back.”
Between June and September 2010, Monk had sex with the girl at her Hebron residence, Licking County Assistant Prosecutor Dan Huston said. Monk told police he had counseled the girl before becoming a father figure and later a “boyfriend.”
On Aug. 28, the Hebron Police Department received a call from the girl’s mother, saying she had noticed an inappropriate relationship between her daughter and Monk, Hebron police Lt. Larry Brooks said. Monk had sent her hundreds of text messages and met her at odd hours of the morning, according to court records.
In asking for a six-year sentence, Huston said he thinks Monk is a risk to reoffend in the future and he abused his position to develop a relationship with the girl.
“This man was, in fact, entrusted with the safety of (this girl),” Huston said. “He victimized her in her time of need.”
Monk’s attorney, Matthew Dawson, said Monk is “very remorseful,” and the incidents happened because Monk wasn’t in a right frame of mind. Before the relationship with the girl, Monk had begun a 40-day fast, during which he lost 100 pounds and quit his medicines — such as Vicodin — cold turkey….
In handing out the sentence, Marcelain said he wanted to make sure Monk couldn’t repeat the offense again and hoped to dissuade others in his position from doing the same…..
I have a question.
Abusers often find Jesus while in jail. Perhaps their conversion is real but it seems to me that a lot of jail-house conversions are just that…..Finding God plays well at the sentencing.
Here’s my question. What about Christian pastors, deacons, Sunday School teachers, Church bus drivers, and every-day run of the mill members of the Church Christians….Since they are already saved,born again, spirit filled, washed in the blood, sanctified, Christians, what can they do to gain a lesser sentence?
They can’t find God because they did their evil acts while God was with them. Remember the Scripture says “I will never leave you or forsake you.” While Christian men and women abuse, rape, and corrupt others, God is there all the time.
Makes me wonder about God, a God who stands by and does nothing while people, in His name, destroy the lives of innocent children and adults.
The money quote in the Newark Advocate article is:
“Instead of praying for her — p-r-a-y — you preyed on her — p-r-e-y,” Marcelain said to Monk.
Very true Judge Marcelain.