(San Antonio, Texas) - Two people are accused of tying a 15-year-old girl to a van, and dragging her at a Christian-based boot camp.
The pastor for a San Antonio church is facing some serious charges. "Love Demonstrated Ministries" has been around since 1994, and its website says the goal of their 32-day boot camp is to teach young people Christian principles.
Police charged 46-year-old Reverend Charles Flowers and Stephanie Bassitt each with aggravated assault. Rev. Flowers is the pastor at Faith Outreach Center in San Antonio.
When asked if Flowers had any comment about his ministry, he said, "We've already said everything we're going to say."
Flowers founded a Christian boot camp for young people in the mid '90s , and he is now accused of dragging a 15-year-old girl behind a van on June 12th.
Investigators say the incident happened when the girl fell behind during a run at the camp site in Banquete, Texas. Two employees who reported the incident say they were fired after speaking up.
The mother of the victim, who is being kept anonymous to protect the victim, said "They didn't care whether she lived or died. "
She also said, "I don't care how bad they are, you don't treat a dog like that, you don't tie a dog to the back of your car. "
Her mother continued, "She has injuries on her hand, her arm, her chin, her stomach her back and her legs." The victim's mother said the witnesses seemed somewhat indifferent, "The witness had said, what if that girl would have died, well it would have been a tragedy, but at least she would have been an example to the other girls. "
Authorities from Nueces County arrested Flowers and Bassitt, another worker at the camp. If convicted, each defendant could face two to 10 years in prison.
8/13/2007 7:01:43 PM
