Former Regent University Dean of Student Affairs Arrested on Sexual Assault Charges

The hypocricsy of the Christianists never ceases to amaze me. They act so holier than thou, decry gay relationships and call us inherently disordered or worse, impose statement of faith requirements for enrollment in their institutions, etc., and all the while so many of them would appear to be obsessed with sex and/or in some cases sexual perverts/predators. The latter appears to be the case of Stephen McPherson, former dean for student affairs at Pat Robertson's Regent University in Virginia Beach. Here's the story being carried by the AP via WVEC-TV 13 (note how the date of his resignation appears to perhaps coincide with the 2007 report to police):

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CHESAPEAKE (AP) -- A former Regent University dean indicted on 13 felony sexual assault charges has turned himself in to Chesapeake police. Authorities say Stephen McPherson is being held at the Chesapeake jail without bond after arriving Tuesday afternoon.

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A grand jury indicted the 39-year-old on charges of object sexual penetration, forcible sodomy and taking indecent liberties with a child by a custodian. According to indictments, the charges stem from events between May 2000 and May 2002 that were reported to Chesapeake police in July 2007.

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McPherson began work at Regent in Virginia Beach as a writing instructor and eventually became dean for student affairs before resigning in 2007. Regent was founded by conservative Christian broadcaster Pat Robertson.

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The Virginian Pilot has more detailed information here, with these story highlights:

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A former Regent University law school assistant dean has been indicted on 13 felony sexual assault charges involving two girls, according to court records. The allegations against Stephen L. McPherson, 39, of Chesapeake include object sexual penetration, forcible sodomy, and taking indecent liberties with a child by a custodian. A conviction on the penetration charge is punishable by up to life in prison.

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McPherson and his wife worked from August 1996 to August 2000 as house parents supervising a cottage of as many as eight girls at Hope Haven Children's Home on North Landing Road in Virginia Beach, said Linda Jones, a spokeswoman for Union Mission Ministries, which operates the home. Hope Haven, founded in 1965, provides Christian-based care for children from "distressed family situations," according to its Web site. McPherson is a grandson of the Rev. Theodore Bashford, executive director of the ministries for 52 years, Jones said Friday.

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After leaving Hope Haven in 2000, McPherson started work at Regent in Virginia Beach as a writing instructor. He rose to assistant dean for student affairs. He resigned in 2007, said Judith Baker, a spokeswoman. He received his law degree and a master's degree in business administration from Regent in 1996. He earned a bachelor's degree from Old Dominion University in 1991.