A Virginia Beach pastor previously accused of soliciting sex from a minor says “enough is enough.”
During a recent service, Rev. John Blanchard returned to the pulpit to address his congregation. Blanchard was among 17 men accused of solicitation of prostitution after an online sting operation by law enforcement.
Blanchard was the senior pastor at Rock Church International in Virginia Beach at the time of his arrest.
The Chesterfield County Police Special Victims Unit said the suspects believed they were soliciting sex from minors through online and social media platforms, but were actually communicating with detectives.
Court records show that the person Blanchard was texting prior to his arrest was posing as a 17-year-old girl.
The charges against Blanchard were withdrawn, or nolle prosequi, ahead of the criminal trial in October. Nolle prosequi means prosecutors could potentially bring those charges again.
Ummm, wow. Do I believe that this man could be the victim of a campaign of lies directed at him by the State and LEOs. Hell yes I believe that is possible. If the State wants to destroy a person, for any reason, this would be one option they could and would use. Nothing is so damaging to a Pastor these days than an underaged sex scandal. Used to not be true, but it is today.
Do I believe that the State is targeting this man to destroy his congregation or his Church organization in general? That I have a harder time buying into. Why would the State of Virginia want to destroy a Protestant Christian church? Is there something about this Church organization I am not familiar with? Are they viewed as a cult of some kind? Tax dodging charlatans? Something that would invoke the wrath of the State?
Smear campaign goes without saying. Regardless of what this man did, or did not do, there is going to be a smear campaign. He is apparently a prominent member of the community being accused of solicitation of an underaged girl. That’s more than enough for the cops and DA to launch a headline grabbing smear campaign. That kind of publicity is worth millions, and they’re getting for free. They would smear anyone accused, rightfully or otherwise, of this…but if this guy was an accountant at the power company, nobody would care much. Few people care what the local Jiffy Lube manager gets up to after hours, even if it’s this. A senior Pastor of a large congregation…oh yeah…tell me more!
Guilty or not, convicted or not, this guy is going to get, “Special treatment”. Assuming his congregation forgives him, he’ll keep his job and his place in their community. The State may go after him like an avenging angel, but he’ll be supported by the faithful through all that. They’ll even support him in prison if needed. Keep his commissary account topped up, care packages, visitations…push for appeal and/or early release, pay for his defense. I suspect that “Nolle prosequi” decision was based at least in part on fear of how his Church would respond.
However, if they do not forgive him…he is doomed! Nobody does petty vindictiveness like Christians! They can cast stones like Nolan Ryan when they want to, and they just might want to.
Either way, good for him or bad, he will not get typical treatment.
Sheeesh, internet news. I note the hyperlink to a story about “the removal of the bust Dred Scott..” below the story. You figure that means a double mastectomy or just another iconoclastic outcome wrought through the unfettered application of the database? Steve Lehto at Lehtoslaw @YT covers: Judge who didn’t disclose a conflict of interest…Won’t be overturned on appeal- by Reuters.com. Worth a listen and out of the Fed 5th Circuit on appeal &>15 min.
What he is guilty of is poor judgement and betraying the trust of his congregation.
Pastor means he’s not Catholic, but still hopes to be forgiven. Cops posing as teens is not different than posing as professional interpersonal needs agents. What’s ironic is the fact that in prison culture tree jumpers and candy bar trolling are recognized as Obvious predatory connotation. Meanwhile state agents, more or less, behave similarly in that they seek out others by pretending to be who they’re not….Nice people.