Twenty Men Arrested in New York Rest Stop Sex Sting

It seems that sexcapdes are going on coast to coast. In the wake of the story about the Washington State GOP cross-dresser, this story pops up. Guess how many identify as gay? None. All of the men are married, with the exception of a Catholic priest. How do we say "Hypocrites," although I guess the involvement of a Catholic priest - his church is pictured at left - should come as little surprise. I swear these "straight" guys are truly giving gay sex a bad name. Here are some highlights from LowerHudson Online (http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071030/NEWS03/710300364/1023/NEWS07):

BEDFORD - A sting aimed a men who cruise a rest area off Interstate 684 for gay sex resulted in charges against 20 men in the past month, including a Catholic priest and a registered sex offender. The sting, which also netted a local Rotary Club president and a 72-year-old man, was prompted by a complaint from a man who stopped to use the rest area with his 10-year-old son, said Capt. Robert Meyer, state police commander in Westchester County.

Most of the men were charged with either loitering or trespass violations or both. One was charged with forcible touching, a misdemeanor. Four were charged with exposing themselves and two with public lewdness, all violations. The 20 suspects are due in Bedford Town Court on Thursday.

Among those arrested was the Rev. Gary Mead, a Catholic priest from Millwood assigned to St. Gregory Barbarigo parish in Garnerville. Police said he fondled an undercover officer and was charged with forcible touching. Mead, 44, was previously assigned to St. Mary's Church in Wappingers Falls and, in the late 1990s, was parochial vicar at Holy Family parish in New Rochelle. A message left yesterday with the Archdiocese of New York was not immediately returned.

"Some of the activity we observed was very, very disturbing," Lutz said. "You can't believe the stuff we see," said Robert Becker, 25, of Brewster, a maintenance worker at the rest stop. "We're always calling the police." John M. Canzio, 47, of Bedford Hills, president of the Katonah Rotary Club, was charged with exposure, loitering and trespass. Canzio has an unlisted telephone number and could not be reached for comment. With the exception of Mead, all of those charged are married, police said. Although most of the illegal activity takes place at night, the crimes occur throughout the day, Lutz said.

I suspect some may not remain married for much longer, since the paper printed all of their names and home towns. As I have said before, what in the world were these guys thing? One would think even a moron would know: do NOT do it in a public place!!

Gay-Sex Sting Operation Nabs Baptist Pastor

Another "godly" Baptist pastor was caught in gay sex sting (http://www.ethicsdaily.com/article_detail.cfm?AID=9523) while another is facing charges of soliciting sex from a 14 year old boy. Funny how these guys always preach a constantly anti-gay story line and then go out looking for gay sex. Yet more hypocrites bite the dust. Why is it that those who condemn gays and gay sex are the ones who secretly want it the most?

A Southern Baptist pastor was among 40 men arrested on indecency charges in a two-week investigation of city parks in Johnson City, Tennesse. Robert E. Riley, 55, stepped down as pastor of Rogersville First Baptist Church in Rogersville, Tenn. [pictured at left], after being charged with disorderly conduct and indecent exposure, the Rogersville Review reported Wednesday. Johnson City police said after receiving several complaints, officers went undercover to investigate "inappropriate or anti-social illegal behavior" in public parks.

According to a report Tuesday in the Johnson City Press, the sting was just the beginning for authorities who said homosexual activities in city parks have become a "serious problem." The newspaper described one area off the beaten path, a growth of underbrush frequented so much by men to have sex that it earned a word-of-mouth nickname of the "Man Cave." Police said they would strike up conversations with men approaching the trail to the spot--conversations that would quickly turn sexual and at times led to proposals for sex.

The Rogersville paper on Wednesday said Riley's arrest report stated that the minister exposed himself to an undercover officer on the afternoon of Sept. 26 and asked the officer to engage in sexual conduct. The report said Riley was cited without incident and "warned not to be back in any Johnson City park."

Riley isn't the only out-of-work Tennessee Baptist preacher facing legal problems. The Jackson Sun reported earlier this week that Mark Woodson Mangrum, former pastor of First Baptist Church in Parsons, Tenn., is scheduled to appear in court Friday to change his plea to guilty in connection with a federal charge that accuses him of using a computer to entice a 14-year-old boy into having sex.

Mangrum's attorney at first said his defendant didn't do anything wrong and was looking forward to defending himself in court. But on Monday attorney Mark Donahoe told the Jackson Sun that Mangrum had settled on a plea agreement, but he couldn't discuss details. Mangrum reportedly worked at First Baptist Church in Parsons six years before resigning in January. In February Donahoe said Mangrum stepped down because, "he didn't want anyone in the church to be uncomfortable or for this situation to affect the church in any way until the final matter can be resolved."