Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Pastor recorded fessing up to sex abuse

courthousenews.com · 3hShare

PHOENIX — The Arizona Supreme Court reinstated a trial court’s ruling that a pastor could not suppress a secret recording of him telling his co-pastor, who was also his brother-in-law, that he had secretly watched a minor girl — the co-pastor’s 13-year-old niece — in the shower, as well as hugged, kissed and “touched” her. The pastor says he was acting in his professional capacity, making a confession to a member of the clergy, so the clergy-penitent privilege applied. But there was sufficient evidence to show the conversation did not constitute a confession: he talked about protecting his reputation, minimizing the consequences of his actions and even the possibility of fleeing from law enforcement. He was not seeking absolution from his co-pastor.

First report: Recording of Phoenix pastor admitting to touching, kissing child can be used as evidence, court rules — 12news.com, 1d