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Youth minister convicted of having sex with teenage boy
CORRECTION: A headline in Thursday’s newspaper incorrectly referred to Jennifer Michelle Brennan, who was convicted of three charges in connection with sexual relations with a teenage boy, as an ex-pastor. The story referred to her as a former youth minister. Her former position at a Stafford church was youth director.
Date published: 9/16/2010
BY KEITH EPPS The former youth minister at a Stafford church was convicted of three charges yesterday in connection with sexual relations she had with a teenage boy. Jennifer Michelle Brennan, 37, of Spotsylvania was convicted of using a communications device to solicit sex from a minor, child neglect and unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor. She will be facing a maximum penalty of 16 years in prison when she is sentenced Nov. 22 in Stafford Circuit Court. Brennan entered Alford pleas to the charges, meaning that while she doesn't admit guilt, she acknowledges that the evidence is sufficient for convictions. In exchange for Brennan's pleas, prosecutor Eric Olsen dropped 17 related charges. According to the evidence presented by Olsen, Brennan was the youth minister at St. Matthias United Methodist Church on Deacon Road when the incidents began in January of last year. As part of her job, she provided counseling to the 15-year-old boy with whom she eventually had relations. During the first incident, in a parking lot after a concert, Olsen said, the boy told Brennan that he couldn't do this to his girlfriend. Brennan convinced the boy he wasn't doing anything wrong and they proceeded to touch and kiss each other. Olsen said the encounters became more heated after that. He said Brennan had "serious" sexual contact with the boy at least 10 times over the next couple of months. Most of the meetings occurred in Brennan's van in Target and Walmart parking lots. On one occasion, Olsen said, Brennan took the boy to her home while her husband was away on a business trip. Both the boy's father and grandmother noticed the amount of time Brennan was spending with the boy and asked her why he often got home so late. She told them she was his counselor and that what they talked about was confidential. "She used her position at the church as a shield," Olsen said. Olsen said Brennan once left a youth group function to have sex with the boy. He said they frequently talked on the phone and sent text messages to each other. The boy eventually told his girlfriend what was going on and the information got back to church officials. He said the church took immediate action. Brennan, meanwhile, started what Olsen described as a "campaign of lies."
She is a wolf in sheeps clothes! Again she was found guilty! Bail was revoked! She could of gone on trial! Did she? No! She had the so called best criminal attorney around. Yet they pleaded out! It was her teams job to present evidence at the trial. So it was her choice to not share her side. She entered an Alfred Plea but in the end when the judge asked her after reading the charges she said guilty. Everyone is innocent into proven guilty. WWJD
troubled! I've raised 3 & none had any trouble. ' Angst' and 'trouble' are 2 very different concepts. My point has always been to let ALL of the facts be known before making judgements. I find it frightening how people can judge without hearing ALL of the information. You (along with shadowfax) are far too emotional for a logical exchange. Seems that an Alford plea was Brennan's best option, I shudder to think of sawa & shadow sitting on a jury. Revisit this topic in Nov., when Brennan's side is heard
Well if she didn't make a guilty plea deal she could of told her side of the story..Straight up she was 35 he was 15! She was his church youth counselor! She was there to help and teach the youths! She drove the child around! He was always dropped off last! Really what else is there to say? Now every kid in that group learned 1 big lesson she was a liar, pervert,adulteress,and mother! Shame on her!
How nice for her and her "supporters" that she doesn't have to register as a sex offender. If she had different genitalia she would have been signed up already. HER morals are at question here, not his. She is sick.
15 yr old boy vs a 37 yr old married authority figure. Just love the double standards around here. Boys are just as capable as being messed up emotionally for life with cases like this as girls are.
So what if she had supporters, they just want to believe she's not capable, not based on facts..She's probably bipolar. If you read news you realize people are capable of much worse. Did you expect a boy whose name isn't release to drag all his friends & supporters into the courtroom when he's just trying to have a normal teenage life? If you were his age would you want all of your friends/family to hear all the disturbing details? I know the family, he's no troubled hoodlum so learn the facts. 15 vs 37.
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