Cult leader's acts were healing, not crimes, son says

CLAYTON, N. M. (KRQE) - The son of a northeast New Mexico cult leader charged with sex crimes against children has issued a video taped statement challenging the allegations.

Wayne Bent, who also calls himself Michael Travesser, lay naked with young female church members, according to an arrest-warrant affidavit.  Bent, 66, was arrested by New Mexico State Police Tuesday morning and is jailed in Clayton charged with  three counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

However Bent's son, Jeff Bent, is saying his father did nothing wrong.

"His motives aren't to abuse or to gain any type of personal gratification," Jeff Bent said on the video released to KRQE News 13.  "His motives are to help and to heal."

The younger Bent provided the statement recorded Tuesday at the group's Strong City compound in rural Union County.

Other video taken by a cult member Tuesday morning showed Wayne Bent acting peacefully during his arrest.  The self-proclaimed Messiah can be seen smiling as he is led away and then hugging and kissing members of the Lord Our Righteousness Church before being put into a State Police car for the drive to Clayton.

Bent's son said his father has come in contact with female juveniles at the compound.  Some he said requested to be naked, but he described the contact as an act of healing.

"He touched their sternum," Jeff Bent said in the video statement.  "He put his hand over their heart and healed them.

"That's what the nature of those events were.  They weren't sexual at all."

Bent's followers are comparing the situation to what Jesus experienced just before his crucifixion.  They said the son of God is in jail in Clayton.

Today is was reported Bent is on a hunger strike.  He is scheduled to be arraigned in Clayton Thursday morning.

KRQE | Reporter:  Tim Maestas | Web Producer:  Bill Diven