Open Letter From AFTT in Response To Rob Newman’s Letter Of June 27, 2023
June 29, 2023
Dear Rob,
We have read your well-crafted letter of apology dated June 27, 2023. Your actions speak so loudly, we cannot hear the words you are saying.
You say, “My hope is that every victim will have the opportunity to be heard so that we can help and protect each one. I want to assure you that we are here for you.” Sheri Autrey, Lauren Rohs, and Cynthia Liles have attempted to contact you over 30 times via texts, phone calls, and emails with zero response. If your hope is that every victim will have the opportunity to be heard, are Sheri and Lauren not worthy of help and protection? These two survivors have established an intake system for reports of abuse on behalf of your community, together with private investigator Cynthia Liles. They have also established partnerships to provide funded therapy for victim-survivors as well as other resources. And still, you are not there for Sheri and Lauren – two child sex abuse victims of your community’s negligence.
Sheri VanDermyden Autrey called you on February 4, 2023, to inquire about any knowledge or information you may have related to her case and to also discuss the handling of child sex abuse cases in the fellowship. In that phone call, you told her you had only recently heard about her case, and you stated, “I have known no pedophiles except for Ruben Mata.” This is simply not true. We have talked with several people who confirmed you were aware that John VanDenberg had committed child sex abuse. In that same phone call, you told Sheri, “I want you to get closure,” yet you made no mention of the letters that you have had in your possession for at least the past five years regarding her case.
Subsequent to Sheri’s February 4th telephone call with you, she learned that you were, in fact, in possession of a file regarding her case. She has repeatedly asked you and other workers to provide her with copies of the file. On April 19, 2023, you texted Lauren Rohs that a file of evidence was submitted to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office on April 18, 2023, along with a case number that happens to be false and does not exist. Lauren texted you to request a copy of the file on Sheri’s behalf. She received no response from you. Sheri followed up with Bret Major (who personally delivered the documents to the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office), as well as you to request a copy, and left a voicemail for you on May 3, 2023. You never returned her call. She emailed you on May 6, 2023, to notify you that you had not complied with her request. Sheri did not receive any response to her email.
Sheri was informed in June that a copy of the file had been sent to her “family”. After requests to her family, she has still not received a forward of your email in its entirety with the original attached documents, which have been withheld from her for 37 years. Why was Sheri’s file sent to her brother, Tim VanDermyden, instead of her, the victim? The file pertains to child sex crimes perpetrated and inflicted on Sheri. Sheri is the one who should be privy to how it was handled in the late 80’s. Sheri should be the one to know how it was covered up. Sheri should be the one who decides if she wants the details of her child sexual abuse to be made public. It is her life. No one else has that right. The lack of ethical behavior and transparency is appalling and shows your utter and complete lack of care for victims.
You have withheld evidence from the very victim who has the right to it more than anyone else, with the exception of law enforcement. You have shown zero integrity, humanity, or courtesy. If you were a man of integrity, you would have immediately sent the file to Sheri when it came into your possession years ago.
For 37 years, Sheri has consistently requested exposure of abuse within The Truth and protection for victims. She has advocated on behalf of herself and all other known and unknown victims. To this day, her requests and pleas are still being ignored.
Rob, you are refusing to listen to victims that have come forward in the past few months. Cynthia has been in contact with hundreds of victims from your fellowship who have called the hotline. The first perpetrator Cynthia notified you of was Rodrigo/Rodney Loera.
Cynthia sent four emails to you regarding Loera (see your emails dated May 22, 2023, May 25, 2023, May 30, 2023, and June 8, 2023.) You didn’t respond to a single email. She also called and left you a message on June 3, 2023, and asked you to call her back. You did not return her call.
We know you, along with Richard Denherder, have been telling the friends Cynthia didn’t give any facts regarding Rodrigo/Rodney Loera. You did, however, receive additional information from someone within the fellowship regarding another child who had been abused by Loera. Once you received that information, you apparently decided to act. You called John Foster in Montana to see if he would help you take care of the situation with Loera. You found out John was communicating with Advocates For The Truth, and you cut off communication with him.
You and Richard Denherder then sent a disparaging email about John to Scott Rauscher. In the meantime, while you were refusing to engage with us, we learned of more Loera victims. Not once have you reached out to us to inquire about the victims reporting to us. We are currently providing therapy resources for these victims in South America, most of whom are still in your fellowship – yet your actions have made it clear you do not want to protect and support the victims who are reporting to us.
We also understand you and Richard have told many of the friends that “you’ve had problems with Cynthia.” Cynthia talked to you one time, on March 24, 2023. You expressed an interest in working with her and told her, “I think we could use your help.” That is the only contact you’ve had with Cynthia. Please let us know about the “problems you’ve had with Cynthia.”
Rob, we have heard and read that you are using a “scaling system” to determine levels of abuse. We understand you have even used this scaling system in conversations with survivors of child sex abuse. This is despicable, reprehensible, detestable, and heinous behavior towards survivors of child sex abuse. You must stop. You are not qualified to determine, counsel, or narrate regarding the trauma inflicted on victims.
Your endorsement of “risk assessments” for known pedophiles and individuals with allegations is another act of your complicity and perpetuation of abuse and crimes within your community. “Credible accusations” should be the standard. Sex offender risk assessments are used in the adjudication process – for sentencing, custody level, and conditions of community service – and they are relatively unsuccessful in terms of their predictive accuracy. (Department of Justice Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Apprehending, Monitoring and Tracking.) None of the cases in your letter of June 20, 2023 have been adjudicated because none of the perpetrators were reported to law enforcement as they should have been when the allegations were first brought to the attention of the workers. Your actions show you are advocating for perpetrators instead of survivors and children.
Rob, you state in your letter that your ignorance on the matter of child sex abuse is due to a lack of empathy. Empathy is not required to believe a crime has been committed. You also state, “I acknowledge my former ignorance concerning child sexual abuse and I will continue this learning process.” There is no “learning process” required to know the difference between right and wrong.
Best,
Sheri Autrey, Lauren Rohs, and Cynthia Liles
June 27, 2023
Dear workers, elders and friends,
After many visits and miles before and after our conventions, I have now had some time to reflect on the lessons for me of the last few months. One result is a great desire to apologize. I acknowledge my former ignorance concerning child sexual abuse and I will continue this learning process. I am grateful for insights from victims and advice of professionals in these uncharted waters.
Though this process has been new and mistakes have been made, I don’t excuse myself. My lack of understanding in the past resulted in a lack of urgency which allowed more opportunities for abuse to occur. I deeply apologize for this. I am resolved that my decision making will be very different going forward.
Moving forward, such issues will be handled with appropriate and thorough measures. Child sexual abuse is a mental disorder with high recidivism. Any allegation will be reported appropriately, investigated thoroughly and the safety of children will be our first priority. The details of the process we will follow can be found in our Child Safe Policy.
Another result of my ignorance was a lack of empathy within me. I deeply apologize for this. I know that more empathy will lead to more urgency in dealing with concerns that are brought to my attention. As a worker, I am not married and do not have children, so my experience has been limited, but my heart has been moved as the recent months have unfolded. My understanding and empathy is deepening as I witness parents' grief and listen to each victim. I will go forward with a greater awareness, so that future abuse can be prevented amongst us as much as possible.
It has come to light that some child sexual abuse reports were seriously mishandled or covered up in the past. I am deeply sorry for this and the resulting loss of trust. I sincerely apologize for the pain so many have experienced. Moving forward, we are diligently working to develop protocol to correctly address child sexual abuse reports. Reports will be handled with urgency and care so that victims are heard and offenders are dealt with. As long as I am asked to serve in this position, the areas I am responsible for will firmly adhere to our Child Safe Policy. It is my goal to be transparent and approachable.
Some of you have visited with me and shared your story and I value the insight this has given me. My hope is that every victim will have the opportunity to be heard so that we can help and protect each one. I want to assure you that we are here for you.
We want nothing more than for God to lead us through this process of dealing with those who have caused so much pain and suffering, and making amends for decision making mistakes of the past. We look forward to healing for victims and better days ahead.
We know that the Lord was very caring towards little children and corrected His disciples when they were not (Mark 10:13-16). I pray to be more sensitive to the Spirit of God. I am here to listen and deal with every situation that I can help with.
With care and respect, Rob
