(Previous posts about Richard Mick: Black Collar Crime: IFB Pastor Richard Micks Second Rape Trial Declared a Mistrial and Black Collar Crime: IFB Preacher Richard Mick has Rape Conviction Overturned and Black Collar Crime: IFB Pastor Richard Mick Faces New Trial, Out on Bond and Black Collar Crime: IFB Pastor Richard Mick on Trial Again for Rape.)
The third time is a charm for the victims of Independent Fundamentalist Baptist (IFB) pastor Richard Mick. After two contentious mistrials, Mick’s third trial began last week, ending in a conviction on one count of rape and eight counts of gross sexual imposition. On Tuesday, the former pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Sandusky, Ohio was sentenced to life in prison. He will be eligible for parole in about ten years.
The Sandusky Register reported:
His [Mick’s] first trial, in 2016, ended in a conviction after his then-attorney K. Ronald Bailey refused to participate in the trial, citing grievances with decisions of the trial judge, Roger Binette. Earlier this year, Bailey received a one-year law license suspension for his conduct in the trial.
Mick received a life prison sentence, but in 2018 an appeals court overturned the conviction and granted him a new trial.
Mick’s second trial started in 2019 but it didn’t make it to a jury’s verdict. After several days of testimony, the defense announced to the trial judge, Tygh Tone, the prosecution didn’t give them a piece of evidence — a police report — during pre-trial discovery. Tone declared a mistrial.
After Mick’s sentencing, the Sandusky Reporter reported:
Visiting Judge John Haas sentenced Richard Mick, 59, formerly of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Sandusky, to life in prison plus three years.
Mick, of Castalia, was convicted by a jury last Friday on nine felony counts — one count of rape and eight counts of gross sexual imposition — following a weeklong trial in Erie County’s Court of Common Pleas. Those charges relate to two victims, both of whom were children at the time of the offenses.
If released from prison, he’ll also have to register as a sex offender. Mick’s attorney, Chris Maher, said Mick should be eligible for parole in about 10 years.
None of the victims made impact statements Tuesday in court, but their families did.
The brother of one victim told Mick that he “(doesn’t) believe anyone is born evil.”
“I don’t believe you were born wanting to commit these crimes,” the brother said. “I cannot imagine what kind of life led you to what you’d done. Let your victims have peace. Be honest to your friends and family about what you’ve done.”
The father of a different victim also spoke, telling the judge to keep Mick in prison as long as possible.
“He’s broken man’s laws, he’s broken God’s laws,” the father said. “We can only address man’s laws here.”
As has long been the case, Mick continues to have people believe he is innocent. One church member stated:
He is loved and will continue to be loved and supported. [she said, before turning to face Mick] I love you, pastor. You will always be my pastor.
Mick’s brother added his support:
That I’ve ever known, he’s never done any wrong. I don’t really know what else to say but he’s a good man.
Ah yes, Mick is a beloved pastor, a good man who has never done any wrong. Well, besides raping and sexually assaulting children. What’s a few minor indiscretions among friends, right?
Bruce Gerencser, 66, lives in rural Northwest Ohio with his wife of 45 years. He and his wife have six grown children and thirteen grandchildren. Bruce pastored Evangelical churches for twenty-five years in Ohio, Texas, and Michigan. Bruce left the ministry in 2005, and in 2008 he left Christianity. Bruce is now a humanist and an atheist.
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Ah, yes, they’re all “good men”–including the priest who abused me.
About time justice came to him.
Born again pastor goes to eternal glory after raping children. Victims who reject this doctrine go to eternal torture. God is love
I am weeping tears of joy and heartache right now. Joy that he is going away forever (I hope he is not granted parole in 10 years). Heartache for his victims that had the bravery to go through this damn trial three times. These are brave people. Damaged by him and his acts forever. Those who were put in his trust. Those who were in positions of total vulnerability were horribly abused by this man.
This is a victory. A great one. It also carries with it a legacy of great harm.
In a ‘faith’ system that is designed to harm human self and others, it is not surprising at all to hear people say they will love the pastor forever and that he is going to the Cross just as Jesus did… How messed up can you be? Just listen to an IFB preacher. Try Stevie Anderson on for a good tight fitting Jesus.
Wow. So glad to hear this jerk will be on ice, at least for a while. If fellow inmates get wind of what he did, Mick’s won’t ever see parole. It sure is hard to get the attitudes of those who day that such a creep is loved,will always be loved, and will always be their ‘pastor’. No wonder people say the Americans are crazy !