Federal Lawsuit Filed In Texas Against Kankuk, White And Newman:



Peter "Pete" Daniel Newman (DOC mug shot)

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 A federal lawsuit has been filed in Dallas, Texas, against Kanakuk Kamp Ministries, Kanakuk Heritage, Inc., Joe White and former camp director Peter "Pete" Newman.

In February of last year Newman pleaded guilty, without a plea agreement, to two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, three counts of second-degree statutory sodomy and three counts of enticement of a child that took place at the sports camp based in Taney County.  He was sentenced last June to two life sentences, plus thirty years.

The federal lawsuit in Texas was filed by the parents of John Doe I. The father of the boy says he made the decision to send his son to Kanakuk after seeing Joe White speak at a Promise Keepers meeting at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas.
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Kanakuk Kamp owner Joe T. White

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Jane and John Doe say their son attended the camp during the summers of 2005, 2006 and 2007 when he was aged 10 - 12.

Court documents filed with the Texas lawsuit say that Newman was allowed to work at Kanakuk Kamps for almost a decade after incidents of Newman's nudity with minor campers and inappropriate behavior came to the attention of Kanakuk Kamp owner Joe T. White and others at Kanakuk Kamp in 1999.
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In the probable cause statement used to charge Newman in Taney County in September of 2009 an investigator writes:

"Between 2005 and 2008, Pete Newman became a close friend of  by attending family dinners, sleepovers, bible studies, taking vacations together and writing letters. Pete would hold one-on-one sessions with (the boy) in Pete's hot tub (at Pete's residence) and would request they be naked. Pete would discuss life's struggles with (him) and talk about masturbation. Pete would explain that if (the boy) would masturbate with him in his hot tub then there would be no lust and therefore (the boy) would not be sinning."
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Attorney Linda Turley

Court documents say that as early as 1999, White and Kanakuk Kamps (et. al) knew that Newman was riding four wheelers nude with "kampers," who were minor children, entrusted to the care of the defendants.  Instead of firing Newman, the lawsuit says, he "was placed on probation," by the company.

It also reveals that in 2003 Newman's questionable behavior with young male campers was again brought to the attention of White after he and a group of young boys "streaked" through the camp.  Again, Newman remained on Kanakuk's payroll.

The lawsuit maintains that because Kanakuk and White continued to employ Newman after becoming aware of his inappropriate behavior "they approved of his conduct."

Linda Turley, of the Turley Law Firm in Dallas says, "This case is one in our continuing effort to obtain justice for the victims of childhood sexual abuse.  By shining a light on this very serious issue we hope these Defendants and others will take the necessary steps to keep sexual predators away from children."

Last month attorney's Mike Merrell and G. Rick DiGiorgio filed the first civil lawsuit against the camp, White and Newman in Taney County.

Turley says Kanakuk has actively recruited Texas campers for years at informational meetings, by mail, email and phone. 

Newman traveled around the country recruiting campers for Kankuk and often stayed with the families of young boys who say he abused them not only at the camp, but also inside their homes when he represented the business.

Sex charges were filed against Newman in La Plata County, Colorado following a similar incident with a young boy at Kanakuk's K-Colorado facility (which was sold to White's daughter and son-in-law and has been renamed KIVU) in September of 2008.  Those charges were dismissed following Newman's double life sentence in Missouri.

Authorities in Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama and other states have expressed interest in pursuing similar charges against Newman.

The federal lawsuit says that John Doe I has suffered medical and psychological injuries and will continue to need treatment,  "The childhood sexual abuse of John Doe I in the context of what was purported to be Christian ministry further complicated his injuries and treatment."

The Turley Law Firm won a $119 Million dollar judgement against the Catholic Diocese in Texas for covering up the conduct of a pedophile priest.  Defrocked Roman Catholic priest Ruldoph "Rudy" Kos was convicted of multiple counts of child molestation against altar boys and is serving four life sentences.

The plaintiff's want a jury trial and are seeking damages in excess of $75,000.

First Civil Lawsuit Filed In Kanakuk Kamp Sex Scandal:

Peter Daniel Newman prison mug shot

The first civil lawsuit has been filed in the Kanakuk Kamp sex scandal involving  former camp counselor Peter D. Newman.  It is anticipated that there will be several more filed in the coming weeks.

The Turner Report broke the story today that Newman, who is serving two life sentences plus thirty years in prison for the sex crimes, K-Kamp, Inc. (formerly known as Kanakuk Kamp, Inc.) and Kanakuk Ministries are listed as the defendants in the lawsuit which was filed January 31st.

Attorney Michael E. Merrell (full disclosure he is Taney County prosecutor Jeff Merrell's father) is the local attorney for the plaintiff, listed as John Doe (J. G.), in court filings.  The elder Merrell says he and his son handle different types of law,  "I'm a civil lawyer and he handles criminal cases.  We agreed 12 years ago not to discuss cases outside of the office."

Mike Merrell says he was contacted by Alabama attorney G. Rick DiGiorgio, who is the lead counsel on this case, and asked if he would be the local contact and go to man for a civil lawsuit involving Kanakuk and Newman.

Pete Newman as he appeared in a Kanakuk Kamp brochure

Online court records indicate those served are Newman, Joe White as the registered agent for K-Kamp, and Donald Frank as the registered agent for Kanakuk Ministries.

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In February of last year Newman pleaded guilty, without a plea agreement, to two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, three counts of second-degree statutory sodomy and three counts of enticement of a child in Taney County.

One part of the probable cause statement filed with the charges in September of 2009 offered an insight into how Newman enticed kids at the Christian camp to play naked basketball and take part in nude bible study in a hot tub if they masturbated with him, or performed sex acts on him, it wouldn't be a sin:

"Between 2005 and 2008, Pete Newman became a close friend of  by attending family dinners, sleepovers, bible studies, taking vacations together and writing letters. Pete would hold one-on-one sessions with (the boy) in Pete's hot tub (at Pete's residence) and would request they be naked. Pete would discuss life's struggles with (him) and talk about masturbation. Pete would explain that if (the boy) would masturbate with him in his hot tub then there would be no lust and therefore (the boy) would not be sinning."

One of the boys told sheriff's investigators that he and Newman masturbated together 10 times over four years.  Another victim told authorities that the mutual masturbation led to oral sex when the youngster turned 15.

During sentencing  for Newman last June, Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell asked Dr. Joseph Plaud, the defenses psychologist expert, if he was aware of a situation at Kanakuk in 2003 where Newman signed a probationary agreement acknowledging sexual improprieties with young boys.  Plaud responded that he was. 
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In court documents filed in the civil lawsuit against Kanakuk and Newman, attorney's allege that officials at Kanakuk knew about Newman's inappropriate behavior with young boys as far back as 1999. 
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The plaintiff, who is now 19 years old, says the abuse started when he was twelve and that the Christian based youth camp swept reports of Newman's sexual abuse of campers under the rug and continued to employ him because he generated a huge amount of revenue for the company. 
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In a cost saving measure for the camp Newman often asked families that had children active in Kanakuk's ministry if he could stay in their home while he was plugging "purity" for the camp.  At the time of those visits the families were unaware that Newman was either sexually abusing their children or attempting to groom them for sexual abuse. 
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John Doe - J. G. - says Newman's sexual abuse has caused him emotional distress, at times making him suicidal, and have made him question his sexuality since his first sexual encounter was with a man.  The lawsuit says the camp is guilty of fraud and failing to act as a reasonable person would expect camp staff to act in the place of a parent.  It seeks unspecified damages and attorney's have asked for a jury trial
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Sex charges were filed against Newman in La Plata County, Colorado following a similar incident with a young boy at Kanakuk's K-Colorado facility (which was sold to White's daughter and son-in-law and has been renamed KIVU) in September of 2008.  Those charges were dismissed following Newman being sentenced to two life terms. 

Former lead investigator for the Colorado case Sam  Eggleston said at the time, "Prosecutors here were pleased with the sentences that Newman received in Missouri and don't think pursuing charges against him here would add anything to the sentences he is already serving there."

Because the charges in Colorado were dismissed without prejudice, prosecutors there can refile them at any time.  "Colorado does not a have a statutory time limit for charging someone with any offense involving a sexual assault on a child," said Eggleston.

Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama and other states had expressed interest in pursuing similar charges against Newman.  It is unclear if those states will follow Colorado's lead.
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Mike Merrell says that at this point he and DiGiorgio are only representing one client.  "If there are other victims out there who want to join our lawsuit, we'd be happy to have them.  We discussed filing this lawsuit in federal court but decided to go the state route at this time."

Newman is now housed at Jefferson City Correctional Facility.  The address he was served with the most recent lawsuit ironically is named No More Victims.

Colorado Will Not Pursue Charges Against Pete Newman:

Peter "Pete" Daniel Newman (prison mug shot)

Authorities in Colorado have decided NOT to pursue sexual misconduct charges against former Kanakuk Kamp director Peter "Pete" Newman.
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The warrant for Newman's arrest in La Plata County Colorado was quashed, and pending charges against him were dismissed without prejudice after he received multiple life sentences in Missouri for sex crimes involving young boys who were campers at the Branson based Christian youth camp.

In January, Newman was arrested inside a Taney County courtroom on the Colorado arrest warrant, which was sealed.  In Colorado a defendant is not officially charged with a crime until he or she appears in front of a judge.

In February, Newman pleaded guilty, without a plea agreement, to two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, three counts of second-degree statutory sodomy and three counts of enticement of a child in Taney County.

One part of the probable cause statement filed with the charges gives an insight into how Newman enticed kids at the Christian camp to play naked basketball and take part in nude bible study in a hot tub.

If they masturbated with him, or performed sex acts on him, it wouldn't be a sin:

"Between 2005 and 2008, Pete Newman became a close friend of  by attending family dinners, sleepovers, bible studies, taking vacations together and writing letters. Pete would hold one-on-one sessions with (the boy) in Pete's hot tub (at Pete's residence) and would request they be naked. Pete would discuss life's struggles with (him) and talk about masturbation. Pete would explain that if (the boy) would masturbate with him in his hot tub then there would be no lust and therefore (the boy) would not be sinning."

Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell dropped some charges against Newman in exchange for his guilty plea and his right to appeal any sentence.

Taney County Prosecutor Jeff Merrell

At the time the arrest warrant was issued in Colorado, Sam Eggleston, an investigator for the La Plata County Sheriff's office, said allegations against Newman involved the sexual assault of an underage boy who was a camper at Kanakuk's K-Colorado facility in September of 2008.  

That camp, which is located near Vallectito, has since been sold to the daughter and son-in-law of Joe White (who owns Kanakuk) and renamed Kivu.

When reached by phone this week, Eggleston said, "Prosecutors here were pleased with the sentences that Newman received in Missouri and don't think pursuing charges against him here would add anything to the sentences he is already serving there."

Because the charges in Colorado were dismissed without prejudice, prosecutors there can refile them at any time.  "Colorado does not a have a statutory time limit for charging someone with any offense involving a sexual assault on a child," said Eggleston.

Oklahoma, Texas, Alabama and other states had expressed interest in pursuing similar charges against Newman.  It is unclear if those states will follow Colorado's lead.
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Newman is now housed at Jefferson City Correctional Facility after he was transferred from Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston, Missouri.  He began serving his sentence at Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center.
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At Newman's sentencing in June, Kevin Fielding, a spokesman for Kanakuk Kamps, says he was not aware of any pending civil litigation against the Branson based youth camp where Newman prayed with and preyed on young boys during the ten years he was employed there.

Pete Newman Trasnferred To Southeast Correctional Center:

The former director of Kanakuk Kamp, Peter Daniel "Pete" Newman, has been transferred to the Southeast Correctional Center in Charleston, Missouri, after spending several months at the Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center.

Newman pleaded guilty in February to two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, three counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, and three counts of enticement of a child. Newman admitted he betrayed the trust of underage boys and their parents when he held naked bible study in his hot tub, where he performed masturbation with/or on the boys, performed oral sex with the young men and played naked basketball with the youths.

He was sentenced to two life terms plus 30 years in June (life in the state of Missouri is 30 years) for those crimes. Authorities in Colorado, Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma and other states have been watching what happens in this case and have expressed interest in Newman for alleged sex crimes against children.

There is an active warrant for Newman's arrest out of La Plata County, Colorado. There is no word on when Newman will be extradited there to face similar sex charges against a minor.

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Newman has denied requests to be interviewed.