You remember the story about Jack Schaap, the Pastor of First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana?
Well, Mr. Schaap has signed a plea agreement with the Federal Government. The Christian Post has more:
Jack Schaap, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Hammond in Indiana, has signed a plea agreement in the U.S. District Court in Hammond admitting his relationship with a young woman when she was just 16. Schaap was charged with inappropriate behavior and taking a minor across state lines for the purpose of sex, and may be facing up to 10 years in prison.
“I have agreed, as set forth in a separate filing with the Court, to wave my right to Indictment by a federal Grand Jury with respect to the charge of transporting a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and to plead guilty to that charge,” reads Schaap’s plea agreement in court documents obtained by The Christian Post.
The court document also states that the expected sentence for such a crime could be up to 120 months, or 10 years incarceration
(….)
…First Baptist Church of Hammond relieved the pastor of his duties last month after a deacon apparently found a text message on his cell phone that showed the pastor and the girl kissing.
In the plea agreement, Schaap revealed that the relationship with the girl lasted two months, and that he had taken her from Indiana to Illinois and Michigan to have sex with her, the documents show.
The 54-year-old pastor, who served the 15,000-member Hammond church for 11 years and had been trying to reconcile his marriage with his wife, may have to give up a number of items prosecutors believe he used in his communications with the teenage girl, including an iPad and iPhone, a digital camera and voice recorder, and two computer flash drives. According to records, Schaap had been counseling the girl when their relationship began.
I hate to be the one to say it about this man, but, it is the truth; the Man brought the whole thing on himself. There are some who believe that this man was simply carrying on the tradition of his Father-in-Law, Jack Hyles. However, the thing that these people have to prove this little accusation is hearsay and accusations from disgruntled former members of the Church. However, I have listened to this mans preaching in the past and there were things that bothered me. So, the fact that this man was brought up on charges, does not surprise me at all.
Again, it is a sad thing to behold; but, the Church is making it still and doing well. I pray for this man and his family.