Tutor says sex assaults are sacred ritual

[Narsil]

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) -- A man accused of sexually assaulting nine boys with physical or mental disabilities told a judge that having sex with children is a sacred ritual protected by civil rights laws.

Phillip Distasio, who said he is the leader of a church called Arcadian Fields Ministries, represented himself at his pretrial hearing Wednesday. He is charged with 74 counts including rape, pandering obscenity to minors and corrupting another with drugs.

"I'm a pedophile. I've been a pedophile for 20 years," he said in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Wednesday. "The only reason I'm charged with rape is that no one believes a child can consent to sex. The role of my ministry is to get these cases out of the courtrooms."

Distasio said some of his congregants are among the victims in this case. Distaciois accused of molesting two disabled boys he tutored at his home and raping seven autistic boys at a Cleveland school for special-needs students where he was a teacher's aide. All but one of the victims were under 13.

A conviction on rape counts involving any of the eight younger boys would mean an automatic sentence of life in prison without parole eligibility, prosecutors said.

Distasio tried unsuccessfully in June to fire his court-appointed lawyer because he wouldn't pursue a religious freedom defense. Distasio could represent himself if the attorney remained as an adviser, Judge Kathleen Sutula said.

[Pcm979]

Oddly enough, the civilised world has a 'sacred ritual' too. It's called 'Giving pedophiles Life without parole".

[Shark Bait]

um wow... they are autistic... and he is saying they concented, its technically illegal to sleep with adults with developmental dissa biliteis and/orany dissorder that alters one's perception of reality (including: schitzophrenia and Dissociative identity dissorder). So yeah "sacred ritual or not... some people are only alive because its illegal to kill.

[Batman]

I don't know what baffles me more-the idea that someone might actually think this defense will fly, or the idea that somebody actually believes this falls under religious freedom.

The only reason I'm charged with rape is that no one believes a child can consent to sex.

That's because they can't, genius. Especially not when they're mentally handicapped.
Have fun in prison, Mr Distasio.

[Narsil]

You say that it is your custom to rape children. Very well. We also have a custom: when men molest a child, we lock them up and throw away the key. Rent your apartments out for paedophillia; beside it, our architects will build a prison. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours.
-Sir Charles James Napier (Quite Obviously Adapted)

[The Cleric]

It is time for The Cleric Solution.

[Rukia]

May he forever be known as "Bubba's Bitch" in prison.