If you were or are a victim of Langworthy’s child sex crimes in Mississippi, please call Josh Frazier in the Clinton Police Department at 601-925-6106 or call the main number and ask for Josh at 601-924-5252.
We are glad that some justice has been served in the case against John Langworthy. While it is likely that more truth would have come out if this case had gone to trial – including what other church and school officials knew about Langworthy’s crimes, and when – we are glad that the victims in this case are spared the pain of having to testify. We are disappointed that as a condition of this plea that Langworthy will not be sent to jail because kids are always safer when predators are behind bars. We are grateful, however, that he will be made to register as a sex offender, which will allow parents and community members to know that he is a potential danger and will prevent him from freely interacting with children.
The victims in this case deserve praise for coming forward and reporting their abuse to police. It is a very difficult thing to admit to others that you were sexually abused as a child, but by coming forward these victims have helped keep other children safe from Langworthy and hopefully deterred other predators from committing similar crimes. Silence is a predator’s best weapon, and we are grateful to those who broke their silence to ensure that justice is served.
We understand the serious concern of those in the community that a convicted child sex offender is not serving any prison time. The question that needs to be asked is what caused Langworthy to change his mind suddenly and take the plea deal that he initially refused? Was pressure placed on him to do so? If so, by whom and what did that involve?
From the Clarion Ledger’s front page story:
If the case had gone to trial Jan. 28 as scheduled, McBride told the court, he would have called as witnesses each of the five victims cited in the indictment and shown video of Langworthy confessing before his congregation. McBride had subpoenaed for trial the entire Morrison Heights elder board, plus its pastor, Greg Belser. The elders include Mississippi Speaker of the House Philip Gunn and Dan Modisett, general manager of WLBT-Channel 3.
The light of truth and knowledge is our greatest tool to protect kids.
If I can by of any assistance, contact me at spacecitysnap@gmail.com
Comment on the Clarion Ledger story:
I think that John Langworthy should have had to serve time in prison. My family went to Prestonwood Baptist back when an incident occured there and my son was in the youth group during that time. I am very familiar with much of what went on there. I knew that he was going to Clinton, MS, but I didn’t report anything because, for some dumb reason, I thought that the church knew about him. I had nieces who had him for a choir teacher in elementary school in Clinton. I am from Mississippi. I am so upset that I did not say anything back when John moved back to Mississippi and started working with children again.
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New BBC Open Forum
This is justice served: Hasidic therapist gets 103 years in prison for child sex abuse
“We hope this sends a message of support to other victims of abusers that their voices will be heard.”
“The abuse of a child cannot be swept under the rug or dealt with by insular groups believing only they know what is best for their community,” Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes said.
“In this case it took the courage of a young woman to drive home the point that justice can only be achieved through the involvement of civil authorities charged with protecting all the people,” Hynes said.
The Hasidic community has a longtime practice of addressing sex abuse accusations internally, critics say sometimes by ignoring them or intimidating victims into silence.
