Beyond 90 Seconds

EXCLUSIVE

Beyond90Seconds.com has learned that Wayne Bent was released from jail this morning.

New Mexico Judge Gerald E. Baca issued a two page Order for Release on Thursday. The judge’s order was filed at the Union County Courthouse shortly after 8 o’clock (MST) this morning.

Beyond90Seconds.com contacted an employee at the jail in Clayton at about 9:45am (MST) today.  The employee stated that Bent had been released from jail “about 30-minutes ago.”

When asked if any bond had been posted, the employee briefly consulted with a superior, then replied that information about Bent’s case can no longer be released.

When asked if the request for information would have been granted if the request had come from a TV station, the employee stated, “No.”

While unconfirmed, the employee’s response suggests the possibility that a Gag Order may now be in effect for Bent’s case.

Bent’s trial is scheduled to begin December 8.  The leader of the Lord Our Righteousness Church is charged with two counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Two days ago, Bent’s attorney filed an Emergency Motion for Release from Custody on her client’s behalf.

The judge’s order releasing Bent, filed this morning, appears below:

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The embattled leader of the Lord Our Righteousness Church may soon be out of jail if a judge rules in favor of an Emergency Motion for Release from Custody filed this afternoon by defense attorney Sarah Montoya.

Included in her 9-point argument, Montoya writes that letting Wayne Bent (aka Michael Travesser) out of jail would:

• “…save the Union County Sheriff’s Department the expense in having to transport Mr. Bent to Taos for trial and to maintain custody over him during trial.”
• “Release of the Defendant would allow defense to prepare for trial in a more expeditious manner.”
• “Defendant is receiving a special diet while in custody and release would be appreciated by the Department of Corrections.”
• “Defendant needs to procure a haircut and clothing before appearing before a jury.”

Bent’s trial is scheduled to begin December 8, 2008.  Earlier this year, a grand jury indicted Bent on two charges of criminal sexual contact with a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Bent has repeatedly proclaimed his innocence.

The two-page Emergency Motion for Release from Custody filed at 12:39pm today appears below:

NEW VIDEOS

And the mystery deepens.

Yet another human foot has washed ashore in the coastal region of British Columbia and northern Washington State.  The latest discovery came Tuesday afternoon in Richmond, B.C.

The Canadian Press reports that a New Balance shoe containing human remains was discovered by a woman walking her dogs along the banks of the Fraser River.

One other New Balance runner – the only one belonging to a woman – has been found since the feet began turning up and it was located May 22 on Kirkland Island, not far from the site of Tuesday’s discovery. (The Canadian Press)

CTV News reports that the woman who found the shoe is Diane Johnston.

“It had been brought up by a high tide,” said Diane Johnston. Since she was too scared to climb down the river bank to fetch a running shoe that was sitting up on a rock, she notifed her husband Ken, who later phoned Richmond police. (CTV News)

Tuesday’s discovery brings the total number of human feet found in this coastal area since August 2007 to seven.  On average, that’s nearly one foot washing-up every other month.

CTV News has also produced an excellent interactive map that provides:

1. The locations of the six feet found prior to Tuesday’s discovery
2. Photographs of 5 of the 6 shoes found prior to Tuesday
3. Links to stories about the discovery of each foot

Beyond90Seconds.com has an extensive archive (including numerous videos) concerning the missing feet mystery.  The most popular story in the archive is Pig video lends insight into B.C.’s human feet mystery.

Global Television Network (video 1)

Global Television Network (video 2)

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Return to Castle Dome, part 2 examines the Lord Our Righteousness Church through the eyes of one of its former ministers:  Allen Armstrong.

Interviewed on July 26, 2008 near Yuma, Arizona,  Mr. Armstrong spoke critically of LOR leader Wayne Bent.  Mr. Bent presently faces criminal charges, including sexual contact with minors, in New Mexico.

In an October 26, 2008 e-mail, Mr. Bent wrote to Beyond90Seconds.com and provided his on-the-record responses to comments made by Mr. Armstrong.  At the time, Mr. Bent was 18-days into his “final fast.” Comments made by Mr. Bent are included in Return to Castle Dome, part 2.

One side note: I had intended to upload/publish this video in late October.  However, a computer crash resulted in this delayed posting.  I’d like to express my thanks here to those of you who have patiently waited to see this video.

Return to Castle Dome, part 2 is a wide screen video and can be viewed by clicking HERE.

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Regarding the State of New Mexico’s investigation into alleged sexual contact with minors by church leader Wayne Bent, much has been said/written about the child known as Healed.  Letters and e-mails written by Healed have recently been published here.

Healed was also very much a topic of discussion in a recent Beyond90Seconds.com interview with Bent’s attorney, Sarah Montoya.

This morning, Healed’s mother wrote the following comments in an e-mail to Beyond90Seconds.com.  She also provided a copy of a court document.  The text of the e-mail is published below in-full and is done so with the mother’s permission.  She has also given Beyond90Seconds.com permission to publish the court document (yellow highlighting was already on the document when received by Beyond90Seconds.com):

I would like to clear a few things up about what Sarah Montoya said.

About the earlier molestation, when the FBI came out to Strongcity in 2002 with The CYFD (Children Youth an Families Department) to make sure all was well with every one out there. LS told the CYFD worker then about her molestation. The DA office has asked if LS would cooperate in prosecution against this man and she has said she does not want to press charges.

LS is free to go on walks almost anywhere, I just ask she let me know where she is going and about how long she will be gone.

As for her conscious she has told me that she doesn’t feel molested other than not being able to talk to the land or live on the land. I do not want her living on the land because Wayne and the people on the land saw that it would be ok for LS and AS to consummate (have sex) if it was Gods will, I am not ok with that. I do not want her talking to anyone associated with Strongcity as I believe their commutations encourage her to starve herself and also go without water as a way to get us to let her go back to the land, Again I am not ok with this.

As for the alleged beating, why is Sarah Montoya so concerned and the CYFD is not. The CYFD is welcome in my home anytime and I have told them that.

As for our family going out to the land or talking to anyone from the land, we are under a court order to not communicate with anyone associated with Strongcity.
See as follows:

(note: initial post of this document was missing last line on page 1.  Image updated to include final line at 3:23 PST)

Do e-mails written between a Taos attorney and an alleged victim in the State of New Mexico’s criminal case against a controversial church leader amount to “impermissible contact” with a State’s witness?

Definitely not, according to a motion filed on the attorney’s behalf today.

On November 3, Judge Gerald Baca ordered attorney Justin Lea to “show why he should not be held in contempt of court for impermissible contact with a State’s witness.” Judge Baca has ordered Lea to appear in court with an “explanation” on November 10.

Lea is represented by his boss, attorney Alan Maestas.

In his Motion to Dismiss Order to Show Cause v. Justin Lea and for Sanctions, Maestas lists 30 “Relevant Facts,” including an assertion seemingly suggesting that the motive behind the State’s recent effort to have Bent’s “seven ladies” appear at the District Attorney’s office was aimed at getting “members of Strong City committed to the State Hospital in Las Vegas (New Mexico).”

In defending his client, Maestas argues that Lea’s actions “were admirable and totally in keeping with the highest standards of his profession.”

In charging contempt, the State–according to Maestas–”sought to attack the most precious asset of an attorney without even a cursory investigation…”

Maestas’ motion also includes copies of the e-mails written between Lea and the alleged victim who is known as Healed.

Read the the new documents below:

1. Motion to Dismiss Order to Show Cause v. Justin Lea and for Sanctions (filed November 6)
2. “Exhibit A” (page 1), (page 2): e-mails written between attorney Justin Lea and girl known as “Healed”

NM vs. Bent

According to a court filing on his behalf, attorney Justin Lea “is excercising his right to excuse Judge Gerald Baca from presiding over the cause of action wherein the State seeks to have Justin Lea answer to a charge of contempt of court.”

This new development in the Wayne Bent case comes in a Notice of Peremptory Excusal filed on November 5 by Lea’s attorney, Alan Maestas.

Maestas followed-up yesterday’s filing with a motion filed today that is aimed at dismissing a November 3 Order to Show Cause wherein Lea is ordered to appear before Judge Baca on November 10 “to show why he should not be held in contempt of court for impermissible contact with a State’s witness.”

The 13-page Motion to Dismiss Order to Show Cause v. Justin Lea and for Sanctions will be posted on Beyond90Seconds.com later today.  The document includes an “Exhibit A” that is a two-page “e-mail string.”

NM Vs. Wayne Bent

*Post updated at 1:15pm PST to include response from counsel for Justin B. Lea

An attorney with a Taos law firm has been ordered to appear before District Court Judge Gerald E. Baca on November 10.  According to an Order to Show Cause filed in Union County on Monday, Justin B. Lea, an attorney with Maestas and Boothby PC, shall appear before Judge Baca “to show why he should not be held in contempt of court for impermissible contact with a State’s witness.”

Mr. Lea is represented by his employer, attorney Alan Maestas.  This afternoon, Mr. Maestas told Beyond90Seconds.com that he has written a response to the Order to Show Cause, and that the response is being sent “FedEx” today to the Union County Courthouse in Clayton.

Mr. Maestas declined further comment.

The court order appears below:

*Update: November 4 / 10:34am PST: Order to Vacate

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SARAH MONTOYA AUDIO INTERVIEW (runs 39:09)

(November 3) In a recorded interview lasting nearly 40-minutes, the attorney tasked with defending Wayne Bent (aka Michael Travesser) addressed several aspects of the State of New Mexico’s criminal case against the controversial church leader.

Among the numerous topics addressed by Montoya:

1. Is Wayne Bent still fasting?
2. New trial date of December 8
3. Has Wayne Bent handed over control of the church to his son?
4. Letters written by Healed
5. “Sexual contact”
6. Religious freedoms
7. Psychological evaluations

Montoya provided Beyond90Seconds.com with three letters written by the alleged victim known as “Healed”. The first letter, dated June 25, 2008, is written to District Attorney Donald Gallegos.  The second letter and third letters are dated October 19 and October 27, respectively.  Letters number two and three are written to Deputy District Attorney Tomas Benavidez.

LETTERS WRITTEN BY “HEALED”

1. June 25, 2008 letter written to District Attorney Donald Gallegos
2. October 19, 2008 letter written to Deputy District Attorney Tomas Benavidez
3. October 27, 2008 letter written to Deputy District Attorney Tomas Benavidez

(note: While Wayne Bent’s Web site, strongcity.info, is not presently available, a “mirror site” can be found at strongcity2.info.

“Life goes on…”

No word on whether jailed church leader Wayne Bent is still fasting today, but according to a copyrighted story in today’s Albuquerque Journal (subscription required), Bent’s followers are no longer fasting:

“They were looking for deliverance from God,” said Sarah Montoya, an attorney for the church’s leader, Wayne Bent. Montoya spoke with Bent’s son Jeff on Saturday. “They’re disappointed, but they understand that life goes on.”
What that means for the time being is that Bent’s 45 adult followers at the Strong City compound have ended a two-week fast, in which they had also stopped drinking water last weekend. The fast was launched in protest of criminal charges that Bent had illegal sexual contact with underage girls.” (Albuquerque Journal)