Strong City Leader to Remain Behind Bars

Maren Tarro [ Thu Oct 29 2009 5:33 PM ]

Maren Tarro

Strong City appears as a small clutch of mobile homes in northeastern New Mexico.

In another setback for Wayne Bent, his petition for an appeal bond has been denied. The New Mexico Supreme Court’s decision came on Monday, Oct. 26, and, according to defense attorney John McCall, “the Supreme Court did not issue findings in its ruling regarding why Mr. Bent should be denied an appeal bond.”

McCall explained the significance of this saying, “The federal courts have consistently required that findings should be made by the courts when denying an appeal bond as this is a crucial issue affecting the defendant’s right to due process.”

Bent is the religious founder of Strong City, which is in northeastern New Mexico. He lay naked with teenaged girls as part of a healing ritual and says he didn’t touch them in a sexual manner. He was convicted on two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor and one count of criminal sexual contact with a minor last year. He filed an appeal early this year. (I spent time at Strong City earlier this year).

Jeff Bent, Wayne Bent’s son, expressed his frustration in an e-mail to the Alibi, writing, “For whatever reason, the courts are unwilling to deal with the fact that my father has very substantial grounds for a reversal and that he should be home while the issues of his conviction are revisited through the long process of his appeal. The Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals were not even willing to justify their actions in writing.”

Wayne Bent’s reaction to the court’s decision reveals his own frustration. In a phone call yesterday to his son and church members Bent told them, “I have no confidence in the state for it has already proven it’s inability to read and understand plain English. “What is it about, ‘No, he did not touch me sexually,’ that you don’t understand?”

Bent has refused to take food for the past 60 days and is under a court order to be force fed. The forced feeding consists of Ensure and Glucerna being put through a tube in his nose. Bent was fed in this manner for a week. Unable to tolerate the tube feeding, Bent has since agreed to drink the Ensure and Glucerna on his own but refuses any other nourishment.

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, Bent’s attorney filed a brief in chief with the New Mexico Court of Appeals. The brief details the defense’s arguments for overturning Bent’s convictions. The brief raises 10 issues including grand jury selection, a one-week time limit imposed for the trial and resulting limits on defense witnesses, denial of a religious defense and lack of evidence. The brief can be read in full on the Strong City website.

The state has 45 days to file a response. However the Court of Appeals is not required to wait for the state’s response in order to make a decision. Jeff Bent does not foresee the court taking this route. Speaking to the Alibi by phone last night Jeff, who sounded tired and strained, said, “We’re not expecting any help in that way.”

Jeff expects the court to make a decision in late winter or early spring.

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Public Comments (2)

- RK
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A few points to consider... [ Thu Oct 29 2009 8:40 PM ]

The Appeals Court and the Supreme Court did issue their findings by agreeing with the first court to hear this case, the State Court, who issued their findings on May 26, 2009. If they had found new evidence or reason for releasing Mr. Bent they would have said so and done so. But they didn't! That's the way it works, end of this part of the story.
Mr. Bent's actions and words about the Government of our Country (right or wrong), including the Judges, all the Courts, Law Enforcement and CYFD -that's iffy - seem to make the courts think that he would not abide by any terms of release and might be a threat to the safety of the community. Being cooperative can make a difference in how you are treated. Calling the people who hold your Appeal in their hands "The Beast" might not have been a good choice of words. You reap what you sow!
On the Strong City website they count the days of his fast, up to 60 now. Is it considered fasting if you are drinking liquid nourishment? I wouldn't think so! I could sip liquid broth all week and drink juice and that's not fasting. That's just my choice of food. He sounded a little out of it at the hearing about whether he should be force fed. He rambled on and on and it ended up being mostly about how the food service just can't get his dietary needs right and how he needs to see his family. Well, excuse me, but prison isn't BK, you can't alway "have it your way." And when you started your fast, you lost your very generous visiting rights. Does your family still live in a house close to the prison or did they go home since your visitation rights were cut back (I'm guessing they were cut back if you're in the Prison hospital)?
In the Brief in Chief, his Appeal lawyer says that the female witnesses, some of them the seven virgins, some of them his multiple wives, were not allowed to testify because of time constraints. First of all there were still 2 weeks left in December for the trial to continue if necessary. After reading that most of the witnesses were character witnesses, why subject the jury to 12 people saying the same thing. And there were several witnesses for the prosecution who did not testify, so it wasn't just an "out to get you" from Judge Baca.
As for none of the seven virgins testifying, that might have been a good thing. What were they going to say, "Yes, God told me to go to Mr. Bent's house and have sex with him so that I could be one of the messengers" (virgins, angels or whatever he calls them at any given moment). That's the God's truth; they posted about it all over the internet. Things posted on the internet are not easily erased and definitely not burnable like letters of old.
As well, anyone who wanted to speak for or against him at the sentencing hearing was allowed to do so, including Mr. Bent. As for the very touching video during the end of the trial, perhaps the audio was turned off because of copyright laws? Jeff, the Sheriff deputy, you should know that all music, plays, etc. are copyrighted and you can't just put together a little movie using someone else's music (in this case "Somewhere" sung by Barbara Streisand) without permission or paying royalties.
You want to bring religion into this case, then bring it on. Bring on the heavy rants against the Papists and other religions. Let's show the jury this quote from the 2008 National Geographic documentary, “Inside a Cult.” Bent stated, “I am the embodiment of God. I am divinity and humanity combined.” Then let his pro bono defense attorney try and convince a jury of his peers that his followers don't consider him their leader, messiah or whatever who will do whatever he tells them to do. I don't buy it and most rational people don't either. That's how some history stories are made, by people following their leader to the grave. New Mexico doesn't need more of that type of thing in their history books.
Let the Appeals Court do their job! Have heart, you might get lucky. If not, then you might want to change your tune and learn about being a model prison immate so you can cut off time for good behavior. So far I'd say your days of good behavior amount to a big fat goose egg!
- truthandjustice
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Excellent Post by RK [ Sat Oct 31 2009 2:40 PM ]

RK this was certainly a well thought out summary of what has been happening regarding Mr. Bent. It would seem in his case these bizarre actions might indeed have influenced the request for bond. I too wonder if calling those that would be proclaiming judgment the "Beast," would be the way to go when you are appealing bond for release?
And this fast that has now gone on for days and days which is in truth drinking a tasty nourishment drink, is that really a fast? Will we be returning to the Strong City site months from now and seeing Day 240 of a FAST? I go back and forth myself between laughing and truly feeling quite sorry for this pitiful character and even more so for his people that must wonder what to make of some of his strange behavior. I know they always claim support but in their deepest hearts I wonder if they do?
What I did find interesting though was the brief filed by Attorney for Wayne Bent, John McCall. Whether the limiting of the trial duration, the number of defense witnesses, some of the possible prejudicial questions of Mr. Bent and or the instructions to the jury being flawed might be enough for an Appeal I certainly do not know. But I did find the brief might raise at least some hope for Bent's side. I will give them at least a B for a good effort.
In the mean time because this could take a very long time what can we expect from Mr. Bent? Will he remain in the hospital smiling happily while he gets his milkshakes instead of beans? It just seems that the original purpose for the fast has gone so far off point that what remains is a bit of a sham.
Wayne's people are you still with him on all this?
Last edited [10/31/09 2:42 PM]