Former Youth Minister Pleads Guilty to Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor
July 6th, 2009 by Joe Burgess
Jason William Beck, a former youth minister at Pauline Baptist Church, this (Monday) morning accepted a plea to the reduced charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, stemming from his arrest earlier this year for 2 counts of first degree sexual assault.
The church’s pastor, and the girl’s father were both present before the juge, and both stated that they agreed with, and supported the reduced charges.
Judge Bynum Gibson then sentenced Beck to 1 year, suspended sentence, and ordered him to not re-apply for ministerial credentials.
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Posted April 10, 2009
Local Youth Minister Charged with Sexual Assault
Jason Beck, a youth minister at Pauline Baptist Church, was charged in Drew County District Court Thursday afternoon with sexual assault, after allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old girl.
While the age of 16 is accepted as the legal age of consent, the “position of trust” that he was in made the act a felony, such as would be the case with a teacher, coach, or other position of responsibility.
The bond for the case was set at $10,000, and Beck was able to bond out Thursday afternoon.
Oh My GOSH!!! Y come down so hard on the youth minister!! I’m sure he is suffering and have ask God for his Forgiveness for his wrong doing!! But what everyone fail to realize is dat “The Young Lady” might have told him dat she was 21,22, 23, or 24 for that matter. We just never know the conversation that was amongst the two individuals. So y criticize!!! And also. she might have looked very mature for her age & maybe he thought that she was older than she actually were!!! Who knows?? They were both vulnerable at the time!!! And no, i haven”t read all comments…jus browse through some!! Maybe she felt like….he was the only one dat could help her at the time!! Not saying dat he wasn’t wrong!!! But Hey, U never know there situation unless u were a “FLY” on the wall at the time all of this took place!! So stop criticizing these two young people!!!! My Gosh!! As Sad As it is to say….. & many of you might think i’m crazy when i say this”, But “Different Strokes For Different Folks!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So in reality…All We Can Do Is “PRAY ABOUT THE SITUATION!!!
And “NO”ITS not Right BY Law” But whether you all want to face the Fact or Not…..Older MEN SEE young women attractive as well was “YOUNG WOMEN SEE OLDER MEN ATTRACTIVE!! While everyone on here judging & criticizing….if you all are dating & maybe even if you are married,,,I’m sure u r older than the person u are with…or maybe whoever you are dating or married too could be older than you…(VICE VERSUS) But you all….ain’t going to tell that… NOW ARE YOU!! (SINNERS) SOME OF YOU ALL ACT LIKE YOU AIN’T NEVER DID ANYTHING WRONG!! My Gosh!!!
So many responses to this story! Sounds like our community is really concerned, and I can see how they/we should be.
Everyone posting here is doing so for the thrill of gossip, for had it been a layman instead of a youth minister, it more than likely would not even have been reported, and in the case that it was reported, it happens so often that it is no longer news. Look at the way we are raising our children, after all. Go ahead and get defensive, you know you want to, but you also know that many of us are doing something wrong or not doing anything at all as parents, otherwise our children would not be out on Friday night doing exactly what we did… having premarital sex! I thought that part of parenting was the aspiration to become better more knowledgeable parents through the generations, and to use our knowledge from our childhood to better communicate with our own children and instill moral values, but I guess I was wrong.
Anyway, the point I came here to make, the couple that you are all wasting your effort on are 24 yrs old and 16 yrs old. What about the many 30 men in Monticello and surrounding areas who are at home right now plotting and fantasizing and pre-meditating opportunity to be alone with our young children? Why not focus on them? Why doesn’t everyone gather together as one and do something about the TRUE pedophiles in our community and abroad?
The term pedophile means, “an adult who is sexually attracted to young children.” It does not mean a young attractive man who succumbs to the desires of a “young” attractive “woman”.
What about the many 30 men in Monticello, was supposed to be 30plus as in OLDER AGED men, not 30 pedophiles.
Blessed: Are you kidding? What in the world are you talking about? The Youth Minister KNEW this kid was NOT 21, 22, 23, OR 24. The girl was in YOUTH! He knew she was in high school and in YOUTH! He knows the students in his YOUTH ministry! I am not aware of many YOUTH groups with 21-24 year olds in the group!
And to Bonovox! What a mess you have lived through! You may need to look at changing churches or have your church improve on their background checking process of finding pastors if there is such a lack of integrity in your pulpit! Your church might want to do a better job of JUDGING individuals you consider for your pastoral positions before you call them! IT MAY REQUIRE PRAYER AND FASTING IF YOU HAVE BEEN SADDLED WITH SO MANY “FALLEN PREACHER” CANDIDATES! MANY churches do NOT allow unmarried individuals to serve in any capacity of pastor (especially youth) or senior pastors! This is a sad situation with many negatively impacted. Both families and the CHRISTIAN CHURCH family HAVE been given another black eye over integrity issues! We must pray for the involved girl and the former youth pastor! What a nightmare for the families of all involved! I am saddened this occurred and believe the Lord will provide the necessary grace for all concerned and help them through it!
Just remember what you said on this post when something is on here about other situations because he or she is not the only ones who have been caught up in a situation like this and yes others have been publicized. But you know the difference, people weren’t as sympathic to the man like you all are with Jason. I read alot of “stop gossiping”, “stop judging,” “raise your chidren right”, “everyone falls short of the glory of God”. I want you all the remember this when someone get busted for drugs, and some of you all degrade them, their character, and say “get them out of our town, lock them up……” Remember the same fogiveness and love and everyone sins,stop gossiping, and stop judging. I want you all to remember what you said and how you are quick to forgive him. REMEMBER!!!!! All of saying is treat everyone the same because you never know what the future holds
Another thing, I am sorry but there is a need for concern when something like this happens. I don’t care how many excuses you come up with at the end of the day Jason is wrong. I am so sick of hearing it takes two. Yes it does but he should have been the adult in the situation, and by being so involved in the church he knew better. If they were sneaking around, he knew the repercussion of his actions. As for the girl, stop saying it take two, she is still a child, she might not think it, but she is. If I were her parents I would be pretty teed off about people trying to be slick and talk about my child. A child is going to make mistakes. People are willing to forgive him and do not want to talk badly about him, but what about this child? The focus should be on her and how to help her and deal with certain issues. It couldn’t not be my child because it would be trouble.
There should be policies in place to protect ministers (young or old) from temptation. Each church body has a responsibility to their members and ministers to set guidelines. We are all sinners so we can all fall. A minister should not be alone with a member of the opposite sex, period. Even in the act of counseling, there should be someone else involved. Our society is full of sexual sin, this is not just a “church minister” epademic. True, it is very troubling when a Godly leader falls into Satan’s trap; however, God has placed sinner’s saved my grace in charge of our churches. Jesus is our example, He is our strength and our portion.
The lord looks at every sin equal. For example, murdering and lying are equal because they are BOTH sin. We cannot see this like Jesus Christ, because we are NOT Jesus Christ. We are humans, and see with human eyes, not our heavenly Father’s eyes. Being judgmental is just as bad as any other sin. All we as a community should do, and I mean ALL we should do, is to pray for Jason and the families involved. That is the best we can offer. We aren’t the Lord, so why should we judge someone when our own lifes are filled with things we would be ashamed of if anyone ever knew. No one is perfect, but Jesus Christ is, and He is holds the court not us.
1 O lord, you have searched me, and known me.
2 You know my sitting down and my rising up, you understand my thought afar off.
3 You compass my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, see, O LORD, you know it altogether.
5 You have beset me behind and before, and laid your hand on me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain to it.
7 Where shall I go from your spirit? or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there.
9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall your hand lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yes, the darkness hides not from you; but the night shines as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to you.
13 For you have possessed my reins: you have covered me in my mother’s womb.
14 I will praise you; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are your works; and that my soul knows right well.
15 My substance was not hid from you, when I was made in secret, and curiously worked in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Your eyes did see my substance, yet being imperfect; and in your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with you.
19 Surely you will slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, you bloody men.
20 For they speak against you wickedly, and your enemies take your name in vain.
21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate you? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against you?
22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
PSALM 139
God Bless All
Can we just drop this??? It is QUITE obvious that most posting comments here are not aware of ANY specifics of this case. Leave them alone. Let Jason be restored. Let the Pauline 16-year old and her family be restored. Leave them alone and let’s get our own lives!
Jason is one of the nicest guys I have ever met and from what I saw, followed close to God. The girl was brought up with one of the greatest families that I have ever seen. This is devastating news to everyone, myself being a member of the youth group. Yes it was a terrible decision, but we should be behind them 100%. To all of you tossing mud on this situation, think about this “all fall short to the glory of God”. All of this has been traumatizing to the church and most definitely to those involved, but they need help now more than ever. Don’t judge so quickly when you may not know the people involved. Just pray and lift them up.
Let this be a strong reminder to ALL adults working with youth and children in any field. Never be alone with a child in a situation that could be interpreted as inappropriate. Don’t send personal emails to young people. Do it on a public forum or through group mailings. Have another adult in the building if you are counseling privately. Keep the door ajar. Don’t let yourself of the youth think privacy is OK. Keep that relationship professional. And yes, you can be caring and giving and approachable and still have boundries. This applies to adult women with young men, too.
Many posters have been defending the youth pastor and saying that if he wasn’t a youth pastor it would not be an issue. But THAT IS THE POINT. He WAS entrusted with the care of young people, and more specfically, THIS young lady.
Try not to get caught up blaming the victim or dismissing the responsiblity of the adult.
With all that being said, it is still a great idea to pray for both the girl and the youth leader, the youth group and church.
Some one made the comment earlier that none of this should have been on Monticello live. Monticello live is a News website, just like channel 7 or a local newspaper, only difference is you are able to leave your comments on a story for everyone to read.
Im not going to make a comment on the story. But to everyone who is complaining about the comments and the gossip and the judging, if you didnt enjoy it, you would not be reading and commenting on it. If you dont like whats being said, plain and simple, stop reading it.
Joe works very hard on this web site and is doing a great job.
To the writer ANOTHER POINT , PLEASE READ tTHE BIBLE AND SEE WHAT THAT JUDGE NOT THING CAME FROM> JESUS WILL JUDGE AND HE COMMANDS US TO JUDGE RIGHTEOUSLY> YOU MUST REALLY HAVE BEEN DUPED IF YOU DID NOT SEE THIS COMMING> READ THE BIBLE WHERE IT SAYS DO NOT PUT NOVICE PEOPLE IN CHARGE OF OUR LORDS CHURCH> THIS KID WAS A NEW CONVERT (NOVICE) TRY READING THE BIBLE INSTEAD OF QUOTING EVERY OTHER BIBLE READER AND SEEK THE MEANING OF THESE VERSES
With over 60 comments having been posted, this issue seems to have covered every perspective that it can be seen from.
Although some comments did not get posted, it was not because the moderator disagreed with your point of view, but instead that some topics are not appropriate to be publicly discussed, due to legal and moral guidelines.
MonticelloLive thanks everyone for their input on this issue, and will be closing this article to future comments.
Respectfully submitted,
Joe Burgess
MonticelloLive.com