Judge Rejects Plea Deal for Wife of Ex-Assistant Regent Dean

Some time back I did posts here and here about the sexual abuse verdicts (one was a plea deal) against a former assistant dean at Pat Robertson's Regent University Law School - Virginia governor elect, Bob McDonnell's alma mater - and his wife. The "godly couple" had been taking sexual liberties with minors in their foster care. At the time of my last post on the issue, the wife (pictured above) had copped a plea deal where she would only serve 40 days in jail. Readers were shocked at the lenient treatment given her given the disgusting nature of her crimes. It turns out that we were not the only one's disgusted by the prosecutor's plea arrangement. Now, Virginia Beach Circuit Judge A. Joseph Canada Jr.- who I know and have done legal work for - rejected the plea deal, calling it “a travesty of justice.” As a result, Melina McPherson will hopefully stand trial and get a sentence more in keeping with her depraved deeds. Here are highlights from the Virginian Pilot:

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A judge today rejected a plea agreement that called for the wife of a former Regent University assistant dean to serve 40 days in jail in exchange for pleading guilty to a child molestation charge. Circuit Judge A. Joseph Canada Jr. described the plea agreement for Melina McPherson as “a travesty of justice.”
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He described the sentence for her husband, Stephen McPherson, who received a total of 19 years in prison, after being convicted in Virginia Beach and Chesapeake, as adequate. The couple were house parents at Hope Haven Children’s Home in Virginia Beach during the late 1990s,
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Melina McPherson’s attorney, Franklin Swartz, asked the judge to reconsider. The judge refused. The judge also refused Commonwealth Attorney Harvey Bryant’s request that Melina McPherson’s victim, who had traveled from out of state, be permitted to read a statement to the court. . . . the judge said the plea agreement sent the wrong message to the public and gave the “appearance of impropriety.” He noted Bryant and Swartz once worked together, but said he did not think that influenced the plea deal. Melina McPherson was handcuffed and led out of the courtroom.
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The judge’s rejection of the plea agreement means the case could go to trial. A new judge would have to hear the case.

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It is noteworthy that weak sister prosecutor, Harvey Bryant, was one of Bob McDonnell's cheerleaders during the recent election campaign. McDonnell's campaign story was that he'd be hard on crime - unless, perhaps, the criminals are former Regent University personnel.

Former Regent University Assistant Dean and Wife Guilty of Child Sex Abuse

I have done prior posts on this story as it has developed along the way since the false piety that comes out of nearby Regent University is beyond sickening at times. Today there are to less hypocrites loose to prey on minors while deceitfully quoting the Bible. Not only was former Regent University assistant dean Stephen McPherson convicted of sexual abuse, but so was his wife, Melina McPherson (both pictured here). What is particularly disgusting is the manner in which these two abused their positions of trust. Meanwhile, of course, their fellow Christianists depict gays as sexual predators while they would be better served to police their own ranks. Here are some highlights from the Virginian Pilot:

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Stephen McPherson and his wife, Melina, doted on the three teenage sisters at Hope Haven Children's Home. The couple, house parents at the Christian-based community in Virginia Beach during the late 1990s, treated the girls to dinner and movies. They gave gifts, allowed the girls to stay up later than other children and took them along on vacation. They also preyed on them.

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Court records show the McPhersons manipulated the teens into submitting to fondling, kissing and other sex acts. They cited Bible verses that they said justified the abuse and, afterward, would pray together for God's forgiveness.

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Court records show the McPhersons manipulated the teens into submitting to fondling, kissing and other sex acts. They cited Bible verses that they said justified the abuse and, afterward, would pray together for God's forgiveness.

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On Wednesday, the McPhersons admitted in separate hearings in Virginia Beach Circuit Court to committing the crimes. Stephen McPherson, a former assistant dean at Regent University, pleaded guilty to taking indecent liberties with two of the girls; his wife pleaded guilty to taking indecent liberties with the third. Stephen McPherson, 40, already is serving a 16-year sentence after being convicted of similar charges in Chesapeake. He pleaded guilty in January to forcible sodomy and object sexual penetration stemming from incidents involving two of the girls in his Chesapeake home.

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Stephen McPherson, shackled and dressed in an orange jumpsuit, was to be returned to the Chesapeake City Jail pending a Sept. 16 sentencing hearing in Virginia Beach. Melina McPherson cried at the defense table throughout her hearing. Circuit Judge A. Joseph Canada Jr. revoked her bond, despite protests by her attorney, Franklin Swartz. The judge ordered her jailed pending an Oct. 7 sentencing hearing and review of a psychosexual evaluation.

Former Regent Law School Dean Pleads Guilty of Forceable Sodomy

Christo-fascist Pat Robertson likes to mind everyone else's business and speaks out against LGBT citizens regularly. Perhaps he ought to spend a bit more time minding his own university. Back in June I did a post concerning charges against Stephen McPherson (at left), a one time Regent Law School assistant dean, who was charged with sexual abuse of young girls. Now McPherson has pleaded guilty on Friday in Chesapeake Circuit Court to sexually abusing children. Yet another shining example of the overly pious, self-righteous folks at Regent not practicing what they preach. Here are highlights from the Virginian Pilot on this latest development:

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Stephen McPherson, a former Regent University law school assistant dean, pleaded guilty Friday in Chesapeake Circuit Court to sexually abusing children. McPherson, 39, of Chesapeake entered guilty pleas to two counts of forcible sodomy and two counts of object sexual penetration. He is set to be sentenced May 22.

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McPherson faces five years to life on each count. Assistant Commonwealth's Attorneys Karen Brown and Minna Sandwich agreed to withdraw nine other felonies against McPherson in return for his pleas.

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There was no agreement on a potential sentence, except that prosecutors will recommend a cap of 18 years and six months. McPherson must wear an electronic monitoring device while free on bond pending sentencing. The judge ordered him to undergo a psychosexual exam and to have no contact with the victims.

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.