Russell Hirner
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Claims to fame: Former principal of Longview Baptist Academy (”perhaps the number one church/school in the Jack Hyles orbit”); pedophile
Moral apex: Molested at least seven young girls, all in his own Kilgore, Texas, home, while serving as principal of one of the two Christian schools operated by Longview Baptist Temple.
“Longview Baptist Temple,” Wikipedia explains, “often abbreviated LBT, is a controversial Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) megachurch located in Longview, Texas. Formed in 1960, it has been at its present location since 1971, and boasts a membership of over 20,000 with over 4000 on average in attendance. The church, currently headed by senior pastor Bob Gray”— not, mind you, the dead child molester Bob Gray of Trinity Baptist Church (Jacksonville, Florida), but a different Bob Gray —”refers to itself as a “fundamental, independent, soul winning, separated, Bible-preaching (KJV) church” and is notable for its family outreach programs and fundamentalist teachings. The Longview Baptist Temple expanded its ministries in 1982 by establishing Texas Baptist College, a four-year unaccredited Christian college. …
“Longview Baptist Temple has been highly criticized over the years by non-members and ex-members of the church, and has been accused of being a cult or ‘abusive church’ based on various definitions. Some accusations include that of seemingly absolute control over the congregation by the leadership, in addition to a projection of ‘infallibility’ in regards to the senior staff and members already in good standing. It appears that this is, in fact, taught by the pastors and leadership. The church has been accused, among other things, of locking the main doors to prevent members from leaving during services, taking children back to the church to be baptised without parental consent and using various shock tactics. For example, brandishing a firearm on one occasion to flush out ‘communists.’
“Arguably, LBT’s most vocal critic has been former member and Texas Baptist College graduate James Spurgeon, author of The Texas Baptist Crucible: Tales from the Temple, a book detailing various ‘run ins’ with members and leadership in the school and church. Since the publishing of his book, other members and ex-members have stepped forward and affirmed many of his claims, making them difficult to ignore.”
(Wikipedia also notes: “Other notable members of LBT include Dr. Kent Hovind, the world famous creationist known as ‘Dr. Dino.’ He is currently serving ten years in prison for 58 tax offenses, obstructing federal agents and related charges.”)
On Leap Day (February 29), 2004, Russell Hirner, then-principal of Longview Baptist Academy, was arrested after a former student accused him of sexually assaulting her. In short order, another half-dozen students came forward, and by May, the 42-year-old Hirner found himself indicted on 15 counts of aggravated sexual assault.
A year later, in April, 2005, Hirner — who admitted to molesting seven underage girls — was found guilty of sexual assault and indecency with a child. The jury took just two and a half hours to render a verdict, and another four hours to recommend a sentence of 15 years.
But the story wasn’t over; Hirner still faced one first-degree and two second-degree felony charges of indecency with a child in another county. In June, 2005, he pleaded guilty to the two lesser charges, and copped another 40 years in prison. Prosecutors managed to get his sentences “stacked” — meaning he must serve each sentence successively, not concurrently — so Russell Hirner will be off the streets indefinitely… and probably spend the rest of his miserable life in prison.
Twinkie defense: During yet another trial (for aggravated sexual assault of a yet another child, an eight-year-old girl), Hirner testified “that a combination of depression, a bad marriage and erectile dysfunction led him to molest seven girls at his home.”
Memorable observation:
You want to know why I rarely attend church? Because I’ve pretty much decided that if God really wanted me, he’d have never let half the stuff at LBT happen to me or my family. …My sister was involved with the whole trial over Russell Hirner and his stray hands. Do you know how much it hurts when you find out someone you thought was your friend was only using you and your family so he could get to your sister??? What about the other girls who were assaulted? I grew up with most of them. I considered them my friends.
And to this day, I don’t care what anyone says. I’m convinced that Dr. Gray and Bob JR. knew that Russell Hirner was being inappropriate with girls. They had too many warnings from church members who could see fishy things going on.
— “JennyTmouh”
A Teenager’s Tales From The Temple
Fighting Fundamental Forums
May 31, 2007
Suggested Bible reading for Mr. Hirner:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.— Romans 1:32
