CONSERVATIVE RADIO HOST ACCUSED OF MOLESTING THREE-YEAR-OLD BOY
By FITSNEWS || Joshua “Josh” Kimbrell – an Upstate Christian radio host and emerging leader in the South Carolina social conservative movement – was arrested by police in Greenville, S.C. on charges that he molested a three-year-old boy.
Kimbrell bills himself on his website as “South Carolina’s Fresh Voice for Freedom.” His radio show – “Common Cents” – airs at 5:00 p.m. weekdays on Christian Talk 660AM/ 92.9 FM.
Now he finds himself facing a first degree criminal sexual misconduct complaint after he was accused of fondling and committing other sex acts with the three-year-old boy under the guise of a game.
Kimbrell, who is divorced, has a three-year-old son.
News of Kimbrell’s arrest – which took place on Tuesday – was first reported by WYFF TV 4 (NBC – Greenville, S.C.). He is currently being held without bond, according to the station.
Kimbrell is one of S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley’s staunchest supporters – as well as a close ally of former SCGOP chairman Chad Connelly. In fact he’s repeatedly touted her ethics reform legislation (apparently failing to read the fine print). He also recently hosted a forum on the rule of law featuring U.S. Reps. Trey Gowdy and Mick Mulvaney.
Kimbrell also reportedly had designs on holding political office himself – and is connected to the social conservatives who recently took over the Greenville (S.C.) Republican Party from a group of limited government fiscal conservatives.
“He was a rising conservative star in the Upstate,” one of our well-connected sources said.
In fact Kimbrell spoke prior to an event held for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas – who visited Greenville on a recent Palmetto State swing.
Kimbrell’s supporters rallied to his defense on social media.
“No one is exempt from satanic attack. No one,” wrote supporter Wanda Rabena. “Praying the angels are sent swiftly to help you overcome this dark episode in your life.”
Others moved quickly to blame the allegations on his ex-wife, who they say abandoned him and the couple’s infant child three years ago.
Obviously we will continue to follow the story as it unfolds …
163 comments
Pretty much why I distrust “leaders” waving Bibles.
Obama waves the Koran. Do you trust him?
and there it is. the first irrelevant Obama comment. how original
Better than being a child raping Christian.
Dude, get clue. Is Obama espousing the praises of Allah while bombing Muslims?
Tim, get a clue. Every day more muslims kill other muslims than everyone else combined. Day after day. Year after year. Making some sort of argument that Obama couldn’t be a muslim because we are bombing muslims in the middle east is laughable.
That being said, all this Obama waving the Koran stuff is stupid. And so what if he did?
He could be. A lot of the others are doing, essentially, the same.
[citation needed]
Really? Got any pictures or videos of that?
You mean people like Billy Graham or his son Franklin, those kind of Bible waving leaders?
Franklin Graham is just another Mike Huckabee. Billy Graham has been largely apolitical his whole life and doesn’t make himself out to be the model to follow. He makes JESUS the model to follow.
Anyone that goes around saying look at how Christ-like I am, or says you should be doing what I am doing is not to be trusted.
Kinda like Obama preaching the world would heal and the rise of the ocean’s would stop.when he was elected?
Billy Graham agrees with Franklin that Obama is anti-Christian.
Considering his push to increase fuel efficiency, promote green energy, etc., I’d say he’s done a lot to help with the environment.
Don’t speak for the Grahams, I’m sure your hateful little self is the last one they’d want speaking on their behalf.
Yes, sweetheart.
Unlike his son,Billy Graham was a good and honorable man.He’s said,the worst decision he ever made in his life was getting involved with politics(Nixon).
And then,Reagan’s involvement with the ‘Religious Right’,has taken us on the highway to hell.As far as the demise of U.S politics goes,no one is as culpable than Reagan.Give me a Barry Goldwater,any day:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKggnBh2Mdw
Thank you, Jesus!
That a child may have been molested?
“It was God’s will.”
“will” does it?
Why is it that conservatives say Dems are destroying America with some pro-gay progressive agenda, and then they end up fondling little boys? What a fine upstanding upstater. There’s a reason smart people live in the Low Country – to stay away from pervs like this. And he’ll probably get off. Again – ba da boom. Hey, wasn’t he a blogger for Big T.
“And he’ll probably get off. Again – ba da boom”
Hahahaha…so classless, yet so funny.
Does he really blog for Grand Tango? Please, let it be true!
What if he IS Grand Tango? THAT would be interesting.
With your and Will’s reasoning, I guess that make G. Tango & Gov Hailey sex offenders. Right?
The fact that SLED has not investigated Tango’s basement, ” As Nikki’s ” make’s you wander a bit.
Will knows his audience. Post an article about legalizing drugs or perverted marriage and/or pedophilia and they come runnin!
(Believed duke lacross players were guilty because the news said so)
(has homosexual tendencies)
(Puts nonsensical rebuttals in parenthesis because that’ll show them!)
(Best response he could come up with after 15 minutes of thought)
(Says that after taking 15 minutes to respond)
(desperately typing responses as fast as he can to avoid appearing to take 15 minutes to come up with a response)
(Just took another 15 minutes, is looking even sadder)
(desperately trying to argue over 15 minute response window to avoid discussing the fact that he stupidly believes that every person arrested is guilty)
(retardedly quips about people taking 15 minutes to make a response while taking 15 minutes to respond himself)
(accuses someone of thinking every person arrested is guilty when that someone already said earlier that the guy was arrested, not convicted)
Honestly, dude, you can play Jackie Manchilds if you want but the only one looking like a douche is you. Have fun.
(reads 15 minutes of thought quip to mean 15 minutes between response times)
(defends people saying the guy arrested is a perv in spite of his not being convicted of anything, then doesn’t understand why people would believe he thinks the same thing)
(product of SC public education system)
(second guesses his own previous comment about intellect found on FiTS threads–minus GT, of course)
Forget the low -country part. These pedo’s have been here for decades in SC. A possible clue as to why SC is a ” Shit hole ” . I have inside info, ask me.
He has a crazy ex wife that abandoned Josh and the baby. She is back now, after 3 years, and her wrath knows no bounds.
The ex wife may want money, vengeance,…who knows, but I have no doubt Josh will prevail.
So the ex is making the charges re their son? Well that could be a horse of a different color. Guess this tragedy will have to play out to get to the truth.
Yea, that’s an important note if true. I knew a guy that had the same thing happen to him….eventually, after years of police work & attorney’s fees, they found out she(ex wife) was full of shit and awarded him custody…thousands of dollars and years later.
It was another child.
FALSE: She accessed him of playing a game with HIS child!
He is the sole parent of a 3 year old…he has total control…he does not have to play a game to fondle the kid!
He has been in jail less than 24 hours…will probably be out tomorrow.
Wife is bat chit crazy.
They don’t hold you without bond because your ex is pissed.
BAM!
you are reading the first press reports, which of course are behind the timeline, and probably don’t have all the facts or context.
Give it a week and it will all fall apart
Yeah, like these kinds of stories always do.
If by “always do” you mean “as happens so rarely that nobody can remember it actually happening.”
It’s always the crazy ex wife excuse with right-wingers, isn’t it? Oh, unless it’s someone on the left or the middle. Then, of course, they had to have done it. Dishonest bastards!
They’d blame the child if they could get away with it. Nice to see these types showing their true colors.
Yeah ex wives know their place in democratic families Amirite?
Don’t know what that means. Just saying the crazy ex excuse wears thin. These hyper-moralistic dildos are often twisted as hell, and use the “I’m saved now from Satan’s power over me, which made me do that” line when the “crazy ex” defense doesn’t work. It’s all bullshit. If it works differently with Dems, it’s because they don’t usually come off as hyper-moralist Holy Joes. They have other ways of pretending to be superior humans.
How is she gonna get paid when he’s in jail without bond? Dude, is a child rapist.
“South Carolina’s Fresh Voice for Freedom.” was looking for some fresh voices?
Really sad and disgusting, if true. One would think this kind of perversion will one day be legal if libs and the LGBT movement have their way with legalizing gay marriage.
Yes indeed, legalized pedophilia and beastiality can’t be far from behind as a platform issue for the Democratic Party. Slippery slope argument.
weak
Come on, man. All of us in here can accept the crazy wife syndrome. You must be covering something else.
You do bestiality or just do the pedophile shit?
More like the bullshit argument.
When has ANYONE with ANY credibility in political life EVER advocated lowering the age of consent or in any way condoned either pedophilia or beastiality?
It is just the ranting of a RWNJ.
legalized abortion-infanticide-euthenasia
legalized gay marriage-shut Christian churches down in Houston-pedophilia-beastiality
No evidence, no prior behavior. Wife that left the family on her own accord and against the husbands objection.
She sounds like a mean bitch out to ruin her man.
You sound like another child rapist. All dudes defending this piece of shit. You guys are sick.
No offer of proof. Just a crazed ex-wife out to settle the score. Been done a million times. Josh, cough up the cash and she will leave you alone.
you really think they would hold someone without bond based on zero evidence?
Fits posted a picture of Haley with this guy on the article? Why?
Cause this story ain’t about Josh or the child. It is about Will’s obsession with Haley? Called the police on T-Rav. WTF.
Ervin had millions to help him-and they failed to take her down this November.
Apparently time to try and take down those that share her political views.
Will will do anything to try and discredit Hailey. I have news for him: he is peeing in the wind.
Sees the judge tomorrow.
(Thinks night court was a documentary)
And another pedophile defender. Are you guys like a ring of pedos or something. Fucking religious hypocrites.
Really…have ou lost your mind.
He is innocent till proven guilty.
A screwed up ex-wife that abandoned her child makes wild charges…U trust her?
I say giver her a drug test, and quick.
You people are sad. Will you still defend this sad little turd when he’s convicted? Cause he will be.
I have known Josh for years and he could never hurt his son. He has been a solid dad and is suffering the evil of an ex-wife gone wild.
I am praying for you and your family
Pray for the child and the child’s family, you pervert.
you are a perv. shithead.
I’m not defending a child raping con-man. You are.
I wonder what “crazy” things she said about him. I don’t know him or her, so I can’t judge, but I have known ultra-religious people to paint their exes as “crazy” so as to discredit any scandalous stories that come out.
Scorned ex-wife that ran off and now comes home to ruin his life. What a bitch
Defending pedophiles? You are a true Christian, Tiger. You keep great company too.
he is not a pedophile. A crazy ex-wife that abandoned her own child made crazy charges…life a bad lifetime channel movie.
Innocent till proven guilty.
He’s being held without bond. Your damage control is weak and only makes him look more guilty. You might want to stop.
That aint how it works.
Give it some time and I think this ail all fall apart.
Yea that’s how it works you dunce.
(doesn’t know what CJS is)
without bond till he sees the judge tomorrow.
There are cases where bitter ex wives have repeatedly accused the father of sexual abuse that each time were unfounded. The ex wives ended up either in jail, or if the custodial parent – losing custody to the father. There are plenty of vindictive women in society who will resort to malicious lying against their ex’s. They want to hurt them, and will stop at nothing to do it. They have a Dr Jekyl Mr Hyde personality. And they are dangerous, until the police or the courts figure them out. I have seen ex wives and their mothers team up against fathers.
Defending pedophiles?
He was charged, not convicted.
If the ex-wife is lying abou this then this is less of a court case and more of an episode of Steve Wilkos.
Anyone who passes themselves off as overtly religious is up to something.
dumb
What are you hiding behind your pious facade? Into kids too?
dumber still
Chopper him into Syria/Iraq wearing a US Flag jumpsuit so he join the fight against ISIS.
What does SC Political Digest have to say about this?
I think that guy is Grande Tango’s guru.
I believe it. Some one above mentioned the accused blogged for him. Any truth to that?
Whatever he writes, it, will, sure, to be,
laced, with, plenty, of, commas. As, well, as bash, this site, which, he, cannot, live, without.
Don’t forget the &$&))$ &()^>~~€£ , you liberal!!!
“Satanic attack.” The good ol’ reliable “The Devil made me do it!” defense. GIVE ME A FUCKING BREAK! If the man raped a child, he raped a child. No amount of “Praise Jesus’in'” in the world will ever erase that fact, and what a total piece of shit he is for EVER daring to judge others and preach to them about moral issues.
He IS the devil.
Damn. Alleged child molestation is the subject and you crawl right out of bed at mommy’s house spewing your shit. Go figure.
Wearing mommy’s high heels and dresses tonight while playing dress up?
Pedophilia. Cross dressing. What kind of church do you sickos attend?
Good one asshole- is that the best you got?
When you find out about the wife, you will understand all about this. She is evil
Do you molest children too? Fuck off!
Dumb
I’ll take dumb, over being a clueless pedophile follower. You are such a sucker.
sux this dumbass. you are too stupid to engage.
And yet you engaged him.
Oops.
You Republican’s are some twisted, sick fuckers.
dumb
True
Noticed the people defending this pedophile have erased their comments. Cowards of a feather…
They are only interested in protecting fetuses. After the child is actually born, they are on their own.
If Grand Tango had a son…
If that dude got laid that in itself would be a miracle.
Come on, guys, you are innocent under proven guilty. Back off this guy until you know the facts.
exactly.
esp when chafe come from a druggie exwife.
I’m beginning to think Mel is the accused. Somebody slip that perv a cell phone in jail?
Sounds like a good day for the LGBT community. If true, perversion has prevailed.
Of course real conservatives would blame a woman. She probably left him because she realized she was married to a pedophile.
The whole “crazy wife” thing is only believable to other weird Christian men. Might want to think up a new one…
I am (currently) married to a woman that is bat shit crazy. Take it from me, your spouses mental condition has absolutely nothing to do with your religious affiliation, but you find one crazy enough it might drive you to religion.
This has nothing to do w/homosexuality.Pedophiles who go after a 3-year old,are equal opportunity employers.
Any time a “rising conservative star in the Upstate” gets derailed, I am delighted. These self important SOBs can’t wait to get some Columbia or Potomac fever. And since he is such a bastion of family values, why the divorce? Til death do us part, right? Unless it is convenient, I guess.
Please.This just shows how desperate libs like Fits are in this political cycle called the mid- terms 2014. An ass whippin is ahead and they are throwing a tantrum.
Desperation has set in for the Dems in SC. The only thing worse than than being labled a “racist” in today’s politically correct/lib world is to be labled a “child molester”. TRue or not, this guy is finished. That was the purpose.
Fits are Libs? What are these Libs you speak of? Can you have a rational conversation without using terms such as libs or lamestream media?
Pussy. Say hello to Big T for me.
Fuck you.How do you have a rational conversation with a lib? They are souless,dishonest liars that are so intellectually bankrupt the only thing that gets em out of bed everyday is hate.
Help me out, loser.
How do you have a rational conversation with a lib?
Step 1: Talk like an intelligent, well-adjusted adult.
Can you have a rational conversation without using terms such as libs or lamestream media?
Right wing parrots have short vocabularies comprised entirely of words they hear repeatedly from right wing propaganda outlets like talk radio and Fox News.
libs vocabulary:
america is evil
rich are evil
abortion is a religion
oil is bad
being queer is gay
I see you’re still working on Step 1. Keep up the good work! Here’s some tips on completing that all-important first step:
* Use proper punctuation and capitalization.
*Use sentence structure beyond kindergarten level.
“… Now he finds himself facing a first degree criminal sexual conduct complaint after he was accused of fondling and committing other sex acts …”
And these kinds of accusations always turn out to be true, right? … And the timing couldn’t be better for his opponents, right?
I don’t know the guy, I don’t know the story, I don’t know his opponent or anyone in either party in that arena and I don’t vote in South Carolina (yet), but surly FITSNews can find out some of the truth before the first week of November … Right, Shirley?
Who wants to bet his cat was molested by a homosexual adult – Jerry Sandusky-Gay priest type – when he was a child?…
Almost all pedophiles have been molested. If they are gay, it was by a gay pervert. But the homosexual community is never called to account for their pedophiles, and perverts.
This myth is that gays ONLY participate in monogamous, long-term relationships, noble and pure. That’s Bull-S#!*…this creep, if he did it, needs to out the homosexual who did it to him.
These gays are perpetuating generations of rape of the children, while the media exalts them as saints, and pillars. The media – and liberal politicians and judges -need to start answering for the animals they present, too.
Buz Martin inferred you are a “child molester”. That you are apparently teaching alleged pedophiles how to molest children? The “guru”?
Comment$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$???????????
Didn’t that always conspiracy – never-proving – sleuth also infer that the the MB Chamber pres. is a member of ISIS, and FITS is leading the Democrat Party’s list of 2016 presidential candidates after they defeat Haley, and become chief of staff for Gov. Steven French???…and top consultant to Sen. Thomas Ravenel???…LMAO…
Which begs the question: who is the bigger Dumb@$$, you or Boz?
LMAO!!!! Where does Tom Ervin fits in? New CDC Director or replacing RINO femi-nazi’s ,Liz and Mande on Fits?
I have no idea who you are. You speak the truth. I visit your website and encourage others to do so. Much potential.
You need a retraction and apology from Martin or sue him.
Just my opinion.People will ask questions.
I have known Josh for several years, our sons have played together, and I attended his wedding. His marriage ended poorly and the battle for custody has been long and fierce. Similar charges were filed a few months ago in Mauldin and then dropped. The child was examined by third-parties and no evidence was found of assault. I haven’t stayed in contact with the ex-wife but I can vouch for Josh’s character – he is a stand up guy. That doesn’t mean he’s innocent – I can’t say that as I don’t have the facts, but neither do any of you, so before we go casting stones let’s wait for the other side of the story to come out. Word is the wife wants full custody and wants to move to another state with her new husband. Is that enough of a motive to cry wolf?
In my opinion, yes, however I agree with you that none of us know the truth.
The court will have to sort this out. Josh should be proud to have a friend like you. Keep the faith.
Sounds like an ex wife tactic. But nothing reported here as to who made the allegations. Maybe the ex wife’s parents? Do they have visitation rights? Need more info. Maybe family court records can shed some light. Could backfire on the accusers. End up as a malicious prosecution tort action.
I am still trying to figure out Jerry Sandusky.
The only people who believe in polygraphs are cops.
The courts don’t.
Update —- His ex-wife that he is in a custody battle with brought the charges and it was claimed it was his own son (unconfirmed – checking court records).
Nebraska Medical Center is one of four hospitals in the U.S. with biocontainment units and the specialty training to care for Ebola patient. South Carolina has none. South Carolina has had no specialty training for Ebola. Ebola outbreak in USA expected to grown from here on out. People running government, as always, have fumbled the ball.
Nebraska Medical Center is one of four hospitals in the U.S. with biocontainment units and the specialty training to care for Ebola patient. South Carolina has none. South Carolina has had no specialty training for Ebola. Ebola outbreak in USA expected to grown from here on out. People running government, as always, have fumbled the ball.
Texas Presbyterian fumbled this ball.
Mother who falsely accused ex-husband of abusing children loses custody of children
As reported here: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/a-child-custody-catastrophe-204810201.html
A Winnipeg mother has permanently lost custody of her three children after admitting she falsely accused her ex-husband of sexually abusing them.
The woman appeared before the Manitoba Court of Appeal last month begging for a second chance, apologizing for the bogus claims and saying she was “at most, guilty of caring too much.”
But the high court slammed the door shut in a decision released [in April], upholding a family court judge’s decision to award sole custody to her estranged spouse. The woman will continue to be allowed supervised access.
cool story, bro
1. Child sex abuse allegations in divorce are very common occurrence in the United States. Couples who end their marriages in a bitter way struggle to agree on the custody of their children. As a result, wives use their own children as leverage to gain custody. They force their children to accuse their father of sexual abuse. As a result, right of custody is given to the mother.
2. False allegations of sexual abuse and molestation also happen when children hear about it from fellows kids, be it their friends, classmates, or relatives. Kids at a young age love to emulate. As soon as they get to hear about their friend who was sexually abused, they can also falsely accuse someone and tell others that they too have been abused.
3. Children need attention, and when they don’t get it, they are capable of doing some crazy things like falsely accusing their mom or dad of molestation. Being neglected or ignored is a strong motivational factor for them to start fabricating stories and making up false accusations.
4. For teenagers, false allegation becomes their way out of a strict child-father relationship. Teens may wrongly accuse their father or mother of sexually abusing them just to get out of a very strict and sometime unfair type of upbringing. What usually happens in this scenario is that by the time the teen gets out of the house and the parent already convicted, the former then confesses about the false accusation.
5. Lastly, false accusations of child molestation can also be a result of media stereotyping. The kind of content kids see on TV and the internet makes them overly acquainted with sexual issues, acts, and topics. As a result, they get the tendency to overreact when someone touches them.
Very interesting charges from a “media” person. Got ANY data to back up your assertions?
I was sexually abused as a 7, 8 year old kid, so I am very sensitive to the evil that abusers deliver, and am always watching for signs of aberrant behavior.
I do not know what happened, and I have no tolerance for sexual abuse, but the likelihood of a crazy ex-spouse making vengeful charges to punish a former husband is more likely than Josh having done these things. I know Josh and have thought carefully about this overnight, and simply don’t believe he is capable of these acts.
You just can’t face the fact you may have befriended a pervert.
But, child molesters are frequently highly manipulative sociopaths who fool dozens, scores or hundreds of people before they are caught.
Many women who were molested as children subsequently marry men who molest their children. Those men target them to prey on their children.
People don’t get arrested for child molestation on the testimony of ‘a crazy ex-spouse’. There has to be physical evidence (very rare) or the child has told a very convincing story to a trained forensic child advocate ingterviewet.
Now, if you told me that the circuit this guy lives in does not have an independent child advocacy center and the child was interviewed by a law enforcement forensic interviewer, I would have some doubts. Too many cops rely on ‘gut feelings’ rather than cold, hard evidence.
I have lived with those memories for a lifetime, and have studied it since I was 15.
I could be wrong about Josh, but I doubt it. Funny thing is I have two people that don’t know me or Josh calling me out for my feelings and beliefs.. You two are not particularly thoughtful.
That’s a load of shit! ^^^
well, my friend Mr. Lie,lie,lie, just why would you think that?
I don’t know if you are a liar or not, but I do not you are not discerning. If you were, you would be reflective about my post, not merry an ass,
the allegations are completely false. this is an aftershock of a nasty divorce. the real criminal here is the child’s mother, who is the ex-wife of the accused. she has been harassing Josh and trying to ruin him. she is a devious psycho, who found a way to destroy his career, his Christian witness and his relationship with his son with one horrible scheme. it is awful that she has stooped so low as to involve an innocent child in her vengeful ploy at payback. do not be deceived people – she is the real criminal.
God of Second Chances® presents FamilyValues™
What is it with all these Jesus freaks trying to get into little kids’ pants? And here GrandTango tells me only Democrats do that.
the allegations are completely false. this is an aftershock of a nasty divorce. the real criminal here is the child’s mother, who is the ex-wife of the accused. she has been harassing Josh and trying to ruin him. she is a devious psycho, who found a way to destroy his career, his Christian witness and his relationship with his son with one horrible scheme. it is awful that she has stooped so low as to involve an innocent child in her vengeful ploy at payback. do not be deceived people – she is the real criminal.
you should’ve seen what the kid was wearing. he was asking for it. if he’s smart he’ll hire sheheen and get off
He needs to hire GOP SC Rep. Murrell Smith from Sumter. He’s great at getting the child molesters off, particularly the ones on Shaw AFB.
Yeah, we should definitely condemn criminal defense lawyers for “getting people off.” Whatever happened to the good ole days of lynching people we suspected of crimes?
Sorry for the formatting, I copied and pasted this from Word.
“I love you, Daddy. All the time.” These are the words I heard tonight
from my almost-four-year-old son as he was going to bed. I cannot
imagine being forced to be separate from my boys and wife, but that is
exactly what happened to a friend of mine yesterday.
Josh Kimbrell, host of Common Sense on HIS Radio, 660AM, was arrested Tuesday
on charges of sexually assaulting a child. According to Wednesday’s
broadcast of Common Sense, hosted by Dave Wilson, that child was Josh’s
three-year-old son, Tristan. I was more than shocked when I read this
news on various media outlets. I cannot say whether Josh is innocent
and I cannot say whether Josh is guilty, that is for the courts and
lawyers to hash out; however, I can give a picture of the character of
Josh Kimbrell, what I witnessed with my own two eyes.
Josh and I
became acquainted in 2008 through friends of my wife and I. Shortly
after this I began to work with Josh on a brainchild organization of his
called CEO Roundtable, based on faith, freedom, and family values. We
talked on the phone every couple days and would talk over lunches once a
week or so. My wife and I would meet him for dinner or attend
different events with him from time to time as well. Suffice it to say I
got to know Josh fairly well.
It was during this time, around
February 2009 to be exact, that I learned of a girl he was dating. This
girl, Kacy, would become his wife in October of the same year. My wife
and I attended his wedding and I was even an usher. I also helped
“decorate” his car for the ride home and was there for his bachelor
party.
In March of 2010 I had a falling out with Josh over
disagreements on how the Roundtable should be managed. While we ended
our “business” relationship we stayed in touch with he and Kacy, even
dropping in to see them and Tristan shortly after he was born in 2011.
We played phone tag a couple times after this and it wasn’t until a
phone call just before Christmas that I learned of his troubled marriage
and fight to get custody of Tristan. I was blown away at how quickly
things devolved.
We stayed in touch and I would get updates on
the progress of divorce and custody proceedings from time to time. His
radio show took on a new fervor as he was fighting for dads caught in
custody battles. We would meet with him from time to time for lunch; he
interacted with my son appropriately and my family enjoyed his company
and friendship. I believe the last time we were able to meet was at a
friend’s moving party. He brought Tristan and we had our two kids.
Miles and Tristan played with cars the entire night.
I’ve had a
number of experiences with Josh, hiking in the mountains, kneeling to
pray at Taylors First Baptist Church, bachelor party, running on
Furman’s campus the day before an event, and welcoming a baby. All but a
few were positive and the negative ones were personal differences, not
moral or ethical. Josh has had his life under a microscope for at least
seven years now, roughly four years on the radio, and has hosted
several state-wide events with some of the biggest names in politics and
religion; Demint, Scott, Haley, Gowdy, Page, Gonzales. I have run into
numerous people who know of Josh through church, politics, work at
various banks, and have nothing but good things to say about Josh. It
would be extremely hard for me to fathom him being capable of anything
like what he is accused of now.
I have read some venomous things
written about him this evening, things speculated about him, about how
three-year-olds act, about his relationship to his former wife. One
person said that kids are brutally honest, so if this child said it, it
must be true. I have a three year old and yes, they can be brutally
honest. But recently I’ve found that they can also lie. And lie. And
lie. About the smallest things, too; things that make no difference
really, but they lie about it. Kids are brutally honest, but they are
also liars. These things are not mutually exclusive.
I would
like to comment on the tumultuous marriage Josh and Kacy had in the end,
but honestly I don’t have enough insight into their relationship to say
that one person or the other, or both, did something that resulted in
the dissolution. We were friends with Kacy, had several enjoyable
experiences with her, and really thought they made a good couple. After
the relationship went south I even tried to call her a few times,
hoping to act as a mediator, but the call always went to voicemail and
no calls were returned.
When I see stories like the one I saw
tonight, “man molests child”, I usually immediately think the worst of
the man whose picture adorns the article. “If the cops are arresting
him, they must have proof, and he must be guilty”, I think. Tonight was
different. This is a man I know. This is a man I have broken bread
with, shared the same vision, seen get married and welcomed his son into
the world! Surely this can’t be so. I am asking you to withhold
judgment for now, even as I know I judge those in this same position
regularly. It’s not right. It’s speculation. It’s a charge, not a
sentence.
I refuse to believe Josh did what they say he did. I
do not believe his character and convictions allow him to act that way.
That is not to say he’s innocent – that is a statement of fact and I
do not possess those facts. But he is not guilty at this time either.
Given that he has lived his life so transparently for several years in
such a public forum; given that these charges have been levied at him
from a former (and remarried, hoping to move states) wife and
subsequently dismissed; given that my experiences with him and his son
have been overwhelmingly positive and wholesome, I plead that you show
this man the benefit of the doubt until justice is done. My hope, and
yours, should be that justice is done, whether that be punishing him for
heinous acts or throwing out false charges and clearing his name. I
beg of you to look at this man with new eyes and ask yourself if he
deserves at least a little compassion, at least a little grace, at least
a little mercy, until this matter is settled.
I don’t know the man at all, however I am so glad that all of you fucking assholes have tried and convicted him.
why are there no pictures of her anywhere? googled her name and nothing, does an
yone know her new last name?
Bible thumpers… “We will FORCE all the crackheads, heroin addicts, and
prostitutes to have all those babies instead of abortions
because,,,,uhhh,,,,uhhhh, because, uhhhh,,,,it uhhhhh,,,well because
uhhhhhh………..”
I know Josh and we don’t get along at all. I am pro-choice, pro-GLBT, pro-left and an atheist. We argue about everything at every opportunity. That being said, nobody should ever be judged guilty by an arrest, or, in this country, even by a conviction. I used to be a divorce attorney and molestation charges are easy to make and difficult to prove. If he did it, that is sad and reprehensible. But, if he didn’t, this will destroy him. Whether I agree with his politics and philosophy is independent of whether he deserves crucifixion in the press and on the internet. I know the nature of that all too well. Everyone should hope he gets fair treatment and a fair hearing. And, help, if that is what is needed.