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Activists press Stafford abuse case
Small group descends on courthouse steps to seek justice for man molested as a child
Date published: 7/26/2008
BY KEITH EPPS Members of a national group against sex abuse came to Stafford yesterday to show support for a county man who was sexually abused as a teenager by a minister. A handful of members of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests were at the Stafford Judicial Center yesterday to lobby for a stiff penalty for the Rev. George Lowe, who has pleaded guilty to two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child. Lowe molested Ben Marsh multiple times in 1984 and 1985, starting when Marsh was 15. Marsh, who has said he wants his name used, was also on the courthouse steps yesterday. "Rev. George Lowe was my pastor and I trusted and admired him," Marsh said. "He betrayed this trust. His betrayal changed my life dramatically." Lowe will be sentenced Aug. 25 in Stafford Circuit Court. Becky Ianni, the Virginia director of SNAP, said her group hopes Lowe gets the maximum sentence and urged any other victims to come forward. "We are here today to urge Judge [Gordon] Willis to impose a stiff sentence on this admitted child molester," Ianni said. "We strongly believe he could molest again." Lowe, 71, was the pastor at Mount Hope Baptist Church in Stafford for 43 years until he was removed following his arrest. He is well known in the community and had a good reputation. Marsh first made his allegations years ago, but authorities decided there was insufficient evidence. The case appeared dead until last year, when police got Marsh to wear a wire and talk to Lowe about what had occurred years before. During the taped conversation, Lowe made incriminating statements about his earlier activities. SNAP members were handing out fliers about the case until a Stafford deputy informed them that soliciting was not allowed on public property. Among those handed a flier was George Marzloff, Lowe's attorney. Keith Epps: 540/374-5404
Read more stories about Stafford Date published: 7/26/2008
Brave and Courageous
(posted by
snapmg
, July 29, 2008 12:03 am)
I just wanted to say how brave it is for Ben to be going forward with this. And I too am questioning the whole illegal to solicit. It isn't soliciting to try and reach other people. Way to go Ben.
Thomas Paine illegal too?
(posted by
Mojomama
, July 26, 2008 8:48 am)
These people were handing out informational fliers on public property -- how is that illegal? There is no ordinance prohibiting this. The US Constitution gives everyone the right to free speech -- especially on the public square.
The ACLU and the Rutherford Institute would agree.
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