"Messiah" Brought up on Sex Charges

By Pamela Mortimer

New Mexico resident Wayne Bent, 66, believes he is the Messiah. Bent, also known as Michael Travesser, is the leader of the Lord Our Righteousness Church, referred to as "Strong City" by its members. On Tuesday, Bent was charged with three counts of sexual contact with a minor and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Bent denies the charges.

Bent’s arrest came about after three children were removed from the church’s compound late last month. Members of Bent’s Church have posted statements on the Church’s website hoping to exonerate their leader.

"I was told by the agent in charge of the case that the arrest warrant specified charges of three counts of sexual contact with a minor, and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor," said the post, written by an unidentified disciple. "The bail was set at half a million dollars."

The website stated that sect members were questioned at the state police barracks in Clayton, New Mexico, and the writer promised to update the site with "a more complete response to these false charges".

The Church’s website seems to be a main source of disseminating information about Bent and the Church. Bent used the website to announce that God had revealed unto him the role of Messiah in 2000.

A post from Monday written by Bent said, "The current upheaval over me and the present contest is well under way. It was the same for Jesus. Jesus had not committed any crimes, so the authorities had to invent some crimes to crucify him over.

"It is the same for me also," Bent wrote. "I have committed no crimes, but many crimes are being imagined and concocted in the minds of men to try and kill me again. Men are so stupid, though, for they do not know that they cannot kill Spirit."

Last month, authorities removed two girls and one boy from the LORC compound. The reasons for their removal have not been released but the action gained national attention because it happened shortly after a similar situation at the Yearning for Zion Ranch, a polygamist sect in Texas.

John Sayer, a former member of the Lord Our Righteousness Church, told CNN affiliate KOAT that he disassociated himself with the church because Bent wanted to sleep with his daughters.

Sayer claims he split with the church after Bent said he was supposed to sleep with seven virgins. Two of those virgins were supposed to be Sayer's daughters, then 14 and 15 years old. Sayer objected and he, his wife and daughters left the compound. Sayer had been a member of the church for 16 years.

Sayer also reported that his youngest daughter later returned to the compound and was one of the three minors removed by authorities.

Bent made a statement on the website saying that the three children were "abducted."

"The state has made its move, and now God will make his," he said.