Pastor has sex w/ underage girl, gets 12 years

"More than 100 letters of support were sent to Lozano, attesting to decades of good works by the pastor, and claiming that stress and health problems— including prostate troubles and “low lithium levels”— led Schaap to stray during a romantic relationship with the vulnerable teen".

Yah. Religion. And someone was saying a little while back in another thread that they took exception to people calling those enshrined in it indoctrinated.

Hook... line... and sinker.

Something that adds an element to the story is that the age of consent in Indiana is 16. If he didn't do this in Michigan and Illinois (where the age of consent is probably 18, maybe 17), he wouldn't be doing any time at all. (Assuming they didn't have sexual contact until after she was 16).

Regardless of age of consent in another state, this girl was a minor and he abused his position of trust...

"a troubled underage girl who sought him out for counseling."

“When you first kissed me I was shocked. . .When I asked you if it was wrong, you said ‘No.’ You told me that I was sent you from God, I was his gift to you. You made me feel special.”

And whilst the congregation were sending this vile man hundreds of letters of support, finding excuses for him, etc....

"In the aftermath of the scandal, the girl was expelled from Hammond Baptist High School and the family from the church."

Yep... love and support and whatever that one finds at the church. A loving community... I'm sure happy this troubled teen found the love and support she needed there! :roll:

Go Beavers wrote:

Something that adds an element to the story is that the age of consent in Indiana is 16. If he didn't do this in Michigan and Illinois (where the age of consent is probably 18, maybe 17), he wouldn't be doing any time at all. (Assuming they didn't have sexual contact until after she was 16).

Crazy what an invisible line can do to your future and the choices you make.

I agree he is a scumbag using his influence.

Made me also think about Bradley Cooper (38) dating a british model (20) coming out in the news. Weird.

redrock wrote:

Regardless of age of consent in another state, this girl was a minor and he abused his position of trust...

"a troubled underage girl who sought him out for counseling."

“When you first kissed me I was shocked. . .When I asked you if it was wrong, you said ‘No.’ You told me that I was sent you from God, I was his gift to you. You made me feel special.”

And whilst the congregation were sending this vile man hundreds of letters of support, finding excuses for him, etc....

"In the aftermath of the scandal, the girl was expelled from Hammond Baptist High School and the family from the church."

Ugh. Similar in a way to the rape trial of those Ohio boys and how the girl was villified.

Go Beavers wrote:

I agree that it's an abuse of power. I also think with the age of consent being 16, your more likely to see sympathy for the perpetrator in these situations because they're following what the law says too: if the law says she can give consent, then it must have been consensual.

Age of consent may be 16 but it is illegal for anyone over 18 to have sex with a minor. So 2 16 year olds or a 16 and a 17 year old can have consensual sex and it is legal but if one is 18 or over, it is against the law (and it gets to be a 'worse' crime if the older person is over 21).

So even if he had sex with her in Illinois and Michigan where age of consent is older, he was still breaking the law in Indiana.

He's scum anyway - wherever he did it. Those from the congregation supporting him are scum. The 'temptress'....


Those speaking of age gaps... I know a number of couples with a very large age gap. Who cares - as long as they are both adults.

redrock wrote:

Go Beavers wrote:

I agree that it's an abuse of power. I also think with the age of consent being 16, your more likely to see sympathy for the perpetrator in these situations because they're following what the law says too: if the law says she can give consent, then it must have been consensual.

Age of consent may be 16 but it is illegal for anyone over 18 to have sex with a minor. So 2 16 year olds or a 16 and a 17 year old can have consensual sex and it is legal but if one is 18 or over, it is against the law (and it gets to be a 'worse' crime if the older person is over 21).

So even if he had sex with her in Illinois and Michigan where age of consent is older, he was still breaking the law in Indiana.

He's scum anyway - wherever he did it. Those from the congregation supporting him are scum. The 'temptress'....


Those speaking of age gaps... I know a number of couples with a very large age gap. Who cares - as long as they are both adults.

You sure it's breaking the law? It's been awhile since I've lived in Indiana, but when I was there, there was more than one incident of a teacher having sex with a student, and there were many people who would've liked to have seen criminal charges pursued.