While sexual abuse of children is now in media over priests in the Roman Catholic Church, the abuse is not limited to priests, nor to religious organizations. Pedophiles are drawn to anywhere access to children is readily obtained. Religious and civic organizations provide a psychological cover or "justification" to moralize the abuse.
Rev. Thomas Chantry is on trial for physical and sexual abuse of children from 1995 to 2000, in Arizona.
He is said to have "disciplined" children corporally, who were not his own children.
In addition to this, he is said to have done so with bare bottom, leaving bruises, and with at least one victim claiming sexual fondling.
He is reported to have "disciplined" children at his church, and when caught, fled the state and got a job in a Christian school. It is alleged that there he won the trust of parents and repeated the alleged assaults upon other children.
If true, this is a pattern that uses "discipline" as his cover for abuse.
There was another police report made stating that the accused bruised yet another child, but the judge did not allow this to be heard by the jury.
Thomas Chantry left Prescott, Arizona, years ago and became a pastor in Wisconsin. He was arrested in 2016 when accusations of molestation and abuse from more than 20 years ago were formally made. Alleged victims and their families first reported incidents of abuse to the church but no reports were made to the police until 2015.
There are not enough statements for a conclusion, yet using the few thus far, along with behavioral analysis, there may be some strong opinions. I express mine here.
I have been viewing coverage of this case and have the following observations:
1. From the few statements I have seen, the alleged victims appear to be speaking from experiential memory. The statements are not reported in full in the media, which reduces this to an educated opinion; not Statement Analysis. You won't find "Analysis Conclusion" at the bottom of this article.
The prosecutor stated that the alleged victims, now adults, have no agenda, nor #metoo desire for fame. This is immaterial to the allegation, and is something that is analyzed only after Statement Analysis has gotten to the truth.
2. The accused has not, to my knowledge, issued a denial (or any statement) for discernment. In court, he testified "absolutely not guilty", using the emphasis "absolutely." This is true, judicially; but it is not a reliable denial. It is a "weak assertion" with its need to call upon "absolute" in his status. Deception is not indicated on such a small point.
3. Behavioral Analysis: fleeing the church after "disciplining" children that were not his own, the seeking of a school is consistent with predation.
4. Claim: "Children making false allegations is extremely rare."
I am familiar with the research that is used in this claim. It is oft quoted but not experienced by investigators. I once had a judge--a judge who presided over family court, say that it was "impossible for a child to make a false allegation" against a parent. For her, there were no exceptions, nor possibility of exception. I shudder, even now, to think of the injustice done over decades.
This statement was made was shortly after a child confessed to me that she had falsely accused her next door neighbor of sexual touching, coached by her mother.
Motive?
She did this because her mother owed the neighbor $1,000 and wanted to get away with not paying him. The mother was willing to send him to prison to avoid paying this debt. She was also willing to abuse her own daughter to accomplish this.
I interviewed the child, then interviewed the mother, and then interviewed the accused.
The child's language in certain parts was parroted to her mother's, who frequently attempted to enter into the interview of the child.
The accused issued a reliable denial, stated that he "told the truth" to me, and was scared out of his mind. He was lonely and befriended the single mother, who manipulated him into paying her rent for 2 months.
The interview with the mother? It was fascinating to see how many times the topic of money entered her language. I took detailed notes.
There are parents like this who believe they so deserve custody that it justifies a false allegation.
Those who work in the field know not to approach any investigation with such foolish preconceived notion.
Children making false accusations is not "extremely rare." In embittered custody disputes, it is almost routine. Children parrot the language of one parent over another, allowing for our discernment.
In an open statement, however (once they are freely engaged in a legally sound recorded interview) they will go off adult script and reveal the truth. Children know how to repeat adult sentences, but it is not part of their own personal internal subjective dictionaries.
Statement Analysis protects genuine child victims and it protects falsely accused adults. The legally sound interview avoids leading questions but especially avoids interpretation. In the world of #metoo, we have seen genuine victims, copycats, wannabe's and outright false allegations made.
Many professionals in the child protective world are not only well trained in interviewing, but are most sober-minded with experience. They seek to bring children to the free editing process, so that the child's own language, uninterrupted, will guide them.
5. The impact of physical abuse, alone, can be lifetime; including suffering mentally and physically. Sexual abuse introduces an entirely new dynamic of suffering. It is very difficult to quantify. It can often lead to generational suffering by generational offense.
6. The denomination board that investigated the accused failed to make a report to law enforcement. I do not know their motive, which is why "coverup" is unfair to state at this time. If they did not believe the accusations, it does not justify failure of mandated reporting of a crime.
If they believed the accusations and did not act, they are complicit in obstructing justice and very likely put more children in harm's way.
The judge in the trial was quoted as saying that the denominational body, if on trial, would likely be found guilty of cover up. This gives insight into the judge's opinion of the validity of the accusations.
Denial is an instant reaction to claims of sexual abuse that it is "expected" among others, including close familiar relationships and family. I leave it to "facebook psychics" or "mind readers" to know motive, where no statements exist for discernment.
7. That the accused appears to have admitted "disciplining" children that were not his own, it is not a stretch to consider that he either pulled down their pants, or had them do it. A bold inappropriate act would need to be justified in the alleged abuser's mind, which often leads to repetition and escalation. (criminal boldness increases with success and lack of legal consequence) In this context, he could use religious justification for his alleged crimes.
Although both were forms of physical abuse with the element of humiliation, the latter may have an even longer lasting impact, including brain development. self medication (substance abuse) self loathing, suicidal ideation, and compromised immune system. Child victims blame themselves, show indications of post trauma stress, such as hyper vigilance, and because of this, sometimes become chronically ill due to the taxed immune system. Some seek relief through suicide. The betrayal is acute and it is something that may never been fully understood by the victim.
8. If the accused did commit these offenses, this is likely a reflection of something traumatic that caused his brain, in childhood, to associate pain, humiliation and sexual arousal as one element. He would thus likely be a victim who became a victimizer. This is a typical pattern in child abuse investigations. There must be a source, including victimized in childhood *(during brain development) , coming upon pornography in childhood. That it includes physical pain suggests the former more than the latter.
Behavioral Analysis Consistent with Pedophilia:
That the alleged accuser had a "cooling off period" but still went to a school where children were is indicative of sexual predation.
After physically abusing children, with or without parental permission, upon his initial departure, it would have been predicted that he would seek employment where he would have more access to children. It is not a coincidence.
9. The coverage of this in media has been scant, yet one blogger's language reveals a contempt which dedicates more language to "gloating" than to news reporting. His lack of empathy for the victims is noteworthy in two ways:
a. its absence
b. its "need to assert" it.
Human empathy
10. This same coverage has the need to claim empathy for victims; rather than it revealed in the language. Very few words are dedicated towards the alleged victims; many words are used to celebrate or "gloat" over the accused. The volume of both is stark. This type of coverage is not journalism, but "mind reading" and does more to reveal the background and experiences of the writer, than to cover a trial. The "need to persuade" weakens assertions. The author's claim of "knowing" that one is lying follows agenda, not discernment. When one believes oneself to be on a "divine mission" (in any language and in any form), such excesses proceed from a damaged starting point that, if unaddressed, can lead to crisis.
Deception Detection is not a gift, a television program, nor a means of obtaining knowledge beyond the senses of man. It is a science to be learned and applied.
11. Had anyone physically "disciplined" my children, I would have had to have been physically restrained from doing the same to him, lest I be arrested for assault in taking the law into my own hands. Fathers I personally know would admit the same.
12. The accused's friends and colleagues are not properly discerning truth from deception due to behavior of the accused that appears to them to be entirely inconsistent with the accusations. They have known a "good guy" for many years, and cannot fathom one behaving this way in secret. This is not unusual, even with sociopathic killers, when their family, neighbors and friends are interviewed.
Chided by the judge, one defense witness yield minimum information prior. This is to withhold truth while under oath.
Although without direct statements to analyze, my opinion that the accused did in fact abuse these victims, including sexually, either by sexualized environment or fondling, is only my opinion; the accused is judicially innocent. I did not find enough statements for posting analysis.
I have not spoken to the investigators nor seen the transcripts.
Pedophiles are notorious for seeking out schools, scouting, youth programs (including sports) and churches due to access to children.
The recent news story of 300 priests and the subsequent cover up of their child abuse is in context of waves of similar reports years ago.
Whether it be sports, schooling or religion, pedophiles seek coverage for their crimes against children.
The impact of childhood sexual abuse has not, to date, been appropriately classified. Each story is unique and I have yet, to date, interviewed a victim who has not had life long impact. From compromised immune systems (and all that this entails) to substance abuse to suicidal ideation to offending, the consequence is acute.
I assert that processing is the most useful tool, and one most easily exploited by financially driven therapists. This is often why I reference journaling. I believe that any form of processing must accompany strong support, nutrition and exercise.
Peter Hyatt
hyattanalysis@gmail.com
