Jessie Ruhl, Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, charged w/ misdemeanor child molestation

[WanderingTraveler]

I think what people are trying to say is that in a case of a child molester, it doesn't matter if the wife is satisfying him or not. "Looking elsewhere" (i.e. cheating with another women) and molesting a child are two totally different things, as well as two totally different desires.

[Elijah Craig]

(03-19-2012 06:39 PM)WanderingTraveler Wrote:  I think what people are trying to say is that in a case of a child molester, it doesn't matter if the wife is satisfying him or not. "Looking elsewhere" (i.e. cheating with another women) and molesting a child are two totally different things, as well as two totally different desires.

Not only that, but even simple infidelity isn't usually about how attractive one's spouse is or isn't. Most often it comes down to the spouses not liking each other, or being too busy to pay attention, or one of them having a sick desire for affection or conquest. Also, good looking people aren't necessarily seductive or good in bed.

Which is why "Bill" wondered if the dude was married or had ever been with a woman.

[Away-From-The-Umbrella]

Update:

http://www.chicoer.com/ci_20430321/child...hicoer.com

Defense is trying to get the case dropped by claiming the charges were filed beyond the one year statute of limitations. Judge has not dismissed this case yet, and set the next hearing for May 8th.

Praying for justice and that this letcherous creep will not be set free on such a technicality. By all accounts he confessed this crime to the church! Evading justice shows he lacks repentance IMHO.

[Mommy2Kids]

Ruhl reportedly ended the relationship when his wife discovered the text messages.


Well, let's give him a gold star for that.

[Away-From-The-Umbrella]

(03-12-2012 06:55 PM)GraceThruFaith Wrote:  Read article here.

I know a little bit about Jessie Ruhl. He attended Golden State Baptist College for a semester or so, then transferred to West Coast Baptist College and graduated there. He played on their basketball team also. His father, Tim Ruhl, is the senior pastor of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Chico, CA. His church has run a youth camp for over 20 years called Mount Zion Baptist Camp. I personally attended that camp during my stay in Northern California at a Fundy church.

Tim Ruhl is a well known pastor among the West Coast IFB camp. He taught classes at Golden State Baptist College for over 10 years, and may even still be teaching there, but I don't know. Additionally, he has a great relationship with West Coast Baptist College as well, considering his four children graduated from WCBC.

Quite frankly, I am surprised that Jessie Ruhl has been charged with molestation, mainly because his wife (as far as I remember) was actually pretty attractive. Why would you cheat on a woman who's beautiful? Right, Tony Parker & Jude Law? Oh well, I hope that Jesse receives justice for his heinous actions.

The original article has been removed (why?) but the comment section remains and is very interesting. The subsequent article remains.

[Misfit Fundy]

Is there any update on this situation?

[Away-From-The-Umbrella]

(07-05-2012 06:49 PM)Misfit Fundy Wrote:  Is there any update on this situation?

UPDATE

Court record:

http://www.buttecourt.ca.gov/online_inde...0657076125

Looks like Jesse Ruhl will enter a plea on 7.31.12

Charges: Misdemeanor (A) 647.6(a)(1) PC CHILD MOLESTING

For a better definition of 647.6: http://www.cmcdefense.com/blog/2012/04/c...-pc-647-6/

I do find it disturbing that there is such a thing as a "misdemeanor" charge related to child molesting. Why shouldn't all such charges be felonies?

(wish I was better at deciphering legaleze)

[Away-From-The-Umbrella]

(07-05-2012 06:49 PM)Misfit Fundy Wrote:  Is there any update on this situation?

Oh, and welcome to SFL, Misfit Fundy.

[lucrezaborgia]

Felony status is reserved for the second or more times.

[Historian]

(07-05-2012 07:09 PM)Away-From-The-Umbrella Wrote:  

(07-05-2012 06:49 PM)Misfit Fundy Wrote:  Is there any update on this situation?

UPDATE

Court record:

http://www.buttecourt.ca.gov/online_inde...0657076125

Looks like Jesse Ruhl will enter a plea on 7.31.12

Charges: Misdemeanor (A) 647.6(a)(1) PC CHILD MOLESTING

For a better definition of 647.6: http://www.cmcdefense.com/blog/2012/04/c...-pc-647-6/

I do find it disturbing that there is such a thing as a "misdemeanor" charge related to child molesting. Why shouldn't all such charges be felonies?

(wish I was better at deciphering legaleze)

The misdemeanor possibility is there to let judges and prosecutors exercise some good judgement based on the circumstances. For example, when you have a 17 year old girl and her 19 year old boyfriend. There's no true molestation going on, but the 19 year old breaks up with her and she decides to get him back by persuing charges. Or her parents decided he's too old for her and want him prosecuted. Or you have someone exchanging photos or texts with a minor online because the minor has lied about his/her age. Of course every state is different in the exact ages (some are under 18, some under 16. Some don't allow charges unless the offender is over 21, or they charge those under 21 as minors unless the victim was significantly younger, etc, etc, etc), and every state defines molestation slightly differently. But ideally you want something under the life-ruining felony charge for law-enforcement and judges to work with on a case-by-case basis.

Of course, in this guy's case the state's charges should be the least of his worries. The Church needs to be disciplining him, too. Not having read deeply into the case, the fact that he's entering a plea of guilty to the misdemeanor could mean several different things:

A. He's guilty of a misdemeanor (didn't actually contact the kid in person, or some other mitigating circumstance the prosecuter is willing to accept).
B. He's guilty of the worst possible crimes, but the state doesn't think it can win, so they bargained (or the parents of the kid involved didn't want any more trauma for their child, so they refused to let him/her testify)
C. He's guilty of the worst possible crimes, or possibly even innocent of everything, but the state can't be bothered the time and expense to prosecute so they pressured him into waiving his right to trial by jury and accepting the smaller charge by threatening him with bankruptcy from legal fees with a long, drawn out trial where they will make extra sure his name is dragged through every mud puddle they can find. Unfortunately this goes on, and it's not as rare as we might all hope.
D. He's guilty of something, and presented this to the prosecutor as a way of keeping it from getting any more public than it already is.
E. He's actually guilty of a misdemeanor–worthy charge, and is truly repentant and seeking to be restored to full fellowship by satisfying justice as a first step. Unfortunately, sadly, this is probably the least likely scenario.