(*note: the headline to this story originally used the words “hunger strike” instead of “fasting”. The former headline had been written minutes after Wayne Bent published his post. I had not read Bent’s entire post. While some may debate “hunger strike” vs. “fasting,” I feel fairness calls for the word “fasting” in this story’s headline. I apologize for any confusion. -Mark Horner)
Strong City leader Wayne Bent says he is now fasting and will continue to do so until a girl taken by the state from his church’s property is returned to her parents.
Here is an excerpt from Wayne Bent’s post published on his Web site around 4:15pm today:
Today, I began a fast, as I did when I was in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. I will now abstain from eating until the child Willow is returned with no strings attached, or until God brings the deliverance that I seek from the present evil, or the answer to my inquiry of justice is clearly manifested, or I am gone from this life altogether.
On May 20th, 2008, a New Mexico grand jury indicted Bent on four crimes: Two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor in the second degree, unclothed. And two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
New Mexico State Police arrested Bent May 6th.
After an ambulance responded to the Union County jail, Bent was released from custody May 9th. His son, Jeff Bent, posted the $55,000 bond.
Bent’s story has been featured on several American television programs, including Larry King Live and FOX News. But the story first found an audience in a British documentary last December. A re-edited version of that documentary appeared on the National Geographic Channel earlier this year.
In an e-mail received at 4:17pm today, Jeff Bent tells Beyond90Seconds.com:
The court declined an emergency hearing today regarding the conditions Willow is having to endure at the hands of CYFD. The initial ten day hearing was never completed and we are going on six weeks now since she was taken. The new post gives all the details.
You can read the remainder of Wayne Bent’s pledge to fast here.
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UPDATE: Here is the story as it appeared on kob.com in Albuquerque, New Mexico on June 7, 2008.
[wpvideo d8pCQFzU]
Hello Mark,
I find the study of the media to be a fascinating subject; for it is via the media, be it gossip, official government statements, or the “news”, that the masses of society in all ages are swayed by the propaganda bestowed upon them, either for good or for evil.
In the science of the media, it is not just what is said that is important, but often, and even more consequential, it’s what is not said which affects a society. I have noticed something regarding the “left out” information in regard to Wayne Bent in virtually all of the media and web reports that I have found so far. In fact I have not found this piece of information anywhere on the net (at least so far).
In the criminal justice system (where the criminals delve out their supposed justice) it is commonly observed that the higher the bond set for an individual awaiting his trial, the worse his crime may be, or you could say, the greater the criminal. In the case of Mr. Bent, his bail was originally set at $500,000. This is about right for a supposed child molester, and carries it’s own psychological effect on the people who briefly follow some of these stories. At Mr. Bent’s first hearing, the judge reduced the bail to $55,000 as was correctly reported by most everyone.
Since that time, the bail was posted by Jeff Bent, and he was released from jail. Mr. Bent also appeared before a Grand Jury (which you report on here), resulting in the original charges being dropped from Magistrate court, and new charges were filed in District court instead.
The part that has been left out of the entire media structure, was a seemingly insignificant item (to most people); Mr. Bent’s bail money was returned in full, and Mr. Bent is free, unconditionally. This event speaks pretty loudly to me. Consider that Timothy McVeigh, or Ted Kaczynsky (unibomber) were to have their bail completely dropped by the courts. Would this appear in the media? Typically, having no bail set on a person implies – small crime, and/or little risk of flight.
In the case of Mr. Bent’s bail money being returned, it looks like some kind of Freudian slip to me, and properly so. It suggests that Mr. Bent is not a criminal at all, yet the legal system and society in general, has been drawn into this political shenanigan; by which a typical media driven, character assassination has taken place. Once a man has been smeared by the media, the public never forgets the original theme thrust upon them.
Hello Mark,
Technically speaking, I don’t think your use of the words “hunger strike” was wrong. I am protesting the illegal imprisonment of a young lady who did nothing wrong. I am so utterly offended at the evils of this natural world, that I am no longer willing to tolerate them or forgive them. I find that most people in this age are gigantic cowards, and that fact has given evil men the dominant role in their lives. No one stands for the truth, not even the judges.
But on the other hand, I am not in a suicide mode. We are fasting and praying until God answers our prayers and brings this evil beast to his knees. I want to see his head cut off. I have been watching people around the world being hurt for many years, but now something will be done about it. If not a single soul stands with me, I will stand until he is down. But others are fasting with me also. My prayer and fasting will not end until I am satisfied or dead.
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