Bent case goes to jury

TAOS, N.M. (KRQE) - Jurors on Friday began deliberating the molestation case against cult leader Wayne Bent.

Bent, who leads The Lord Our Righteousness Church, is accused of inappropriately touching girls while lying naked in bed with them on the cult's compound near Clayton in northeastern New Mexico.

During the weeklong trial, Bent admitted to lying with the girls and touching them, but said he touched them in the heart and the sternum, never on their breasts and not in a sexual manner.

The younger of the two girls, who was 14 at the time, said she loves Bent and felt nothing improper happened. Her older sister, who was the other alleged victim, and their mother testified against Bent.

Two men in the cult also testified, saying Bent is severely misunderstood in how he loves his members, and said they, too, have kissed Bent many times.

Bent faces two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.