42 ICSA TODAY
Dan, Fran Keller to get $3.4 million in “satanic day care” case
“Dan [Keller] and Fran Keller, who spent more than 21 years
in prison after they were accused of sexually abusing children
during supposed satanic rituals at their South Austin day care
facility, will receive $3.4 million from a state fund for those wrongly
convicted of crimes. Shortly after receiving the news Tuesday, an
ecstatic Fran Keller said they will no longer have to live on the
brink of destitution, unable to find jobs at their ages and with
their convictions, even if overturned by the state’s highest criminal
court. … [Dan] Kelley, serving a 25-year sentence on a child sexual
assault charge, has maintained his innocence and [along with his
wife] … is being represented by Keith Hampton, who phoned
the Kellers with news of the state payments while he was inside
the jail arranging Kelley’s release. The state’s wrongful conviction
compensation fund pays $80,000 for each year in prison, plus a
matching annuity that provides annual payments of 5 percent
interest as long as the recipient is alive and isn’t convicted of a
felony. … Children who reported no problems at the day care were
ignored, and leading psychologists and criminology professors
provided affidavits saying improper interview techniques and
subtle encouragement by therapists produced believable-but-
false memories in the children who accused the Kellers of abuse.
Taped interviews of a Keller accuser, a 3-year-old girl, made at the
Travis County sheriff’s office have since been used in lectures by a
top specialist in assessing and treating crime victims to illustrate
common interviewing mistakes. … The couple’s circumstances
changed in June, when Travis County District Attorney Margaret
Moore filed court documents that dropped all charges and
declared the Kellers ‘actually innocent’ under the law. After an
extensive review, it was clear that the Kellers’ innocence claim
should be supported in the interest of justice, Moore said at the
time. Now adults, several of the children who accused the Kellers
opposed the move, according to Moore and family members.” (My
Statesman, 08/22/17)
Scientology draws dueling petitions involving Leah Remini,
the IRS, and change.org
“Reaction to this month’s Season 2 premiere of the Emmy-
nominated Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath series has
been swift, from the religion’s international spiritual headquarters
in Clearwater [FL] and nationwide. Two dueling online petitions
have emerged since the Aug. 15 premiere: one calling for the
IRS to investigate Scientology’s tax-exempt status. That one was
launched by Jeffrey Augustine, Scientology researcher and
husband of former Scientologist Karen de la Carriere, who
served aboard the church’s ship Apollo with founder L. Ron
Hubbard. The other, launched by a teenage Scientologist in India,
calls for the cancellation of the series, alleging it is a ‘hate show’
inciting violence. … Traditionally, Scientology has not wanted
‘people going on the internet and even knowing there is a show
happening—they fear some of them will watch and be influenced,’
[Mike] Rinder [‘a former senior Scientology official and consulting
proucer of the A&E show’] said Wednesday. ‘Presumably this show
has gotten such wide coverage and acceptance that they figure
everyone knows about it already.’ … Scientology also launched a
page on the website calling Clearwater Calvary Baptist Church
Pastor Willy Rice ‘an incendiary bigot who uses his pulpit to
disparage other religions and groups he doesn’t like’ in response
to Rice calling Scientology an abusive and dangerous cult. …
In Clearwater, Scientology owns $207 million worth of property
under its name, 74 percent of which is tax-exempt for religious
purposes. It paid more than $1 million in property taxes in 2016 on
the remaining 26 percent. City Manager Bill Horne said the city has
no official position on whether Scientology’s tax exemption should
be examined. But he said given ‘their level of activity, the public
could benefit from them paying more taxes.’” (Tampa Bay Times,
08/25/17)
PCCAD pulls antidrug program funded by Scientology
“The Pulaski County Coalition Against Drugs (PCCAD) announced
Monday morning, via Facebook Live interview, in the Daily Guide
office, that it is pulling the anti-drug program, The Truth About
Drugs, from Pulaski County Schools due to its connection to the
Church of Scientology. The Truth About Drugs is an anti-drug
curriculum created by an organization named Drug Free World.
Drug Free World appears to be a department under the Church
of Scientology and admitted, when asked by PCCAD that the
Church of Scientology is its ‘largest contributor.’ … The Daily Guide
was also contacted by individuals over the weekend making us
aware of the connection to Scientology on Facebook, Twitter,
and via email. An organization that actively tries to discredit the
Church of Scientology had seen the Daily Guide’s article about
the implementation of the drug program and published the
information on its website. The website, www.tonyortega.org,
home of the Underground Bunker, a blog about the Church of
Scientology, contacted local schools and the sheriff’s department,
according to information it provided. A notification from Twitter
Monday afternoon made the Daily Guide aware of the information
on the website. … Bales explained that when the organization was
reviewing drug programs, they were only looking for programs
that provided a curriculum that was more effective than ones
used in the past. It simply didn’t come up about who funded this
particular program. … ‘Our focus is drug education, period. We’re
not out to promote any certain religious group or affiliation or
whatever the case may be. We’re here to try to educate kids and
parents about the dangers of drugs and that is our sole purpose,’
Bales said.” (Waynesville Daily Guide, 09/05/17)
Quebec sweating death: Three accused lose appeal of their
conviction
“Three Quebecers have lost an appeal of their conviction in
connection with the extreme-sweating death of a woman who
was wrapped in mud and cellophane at a spa. The Quebec Court
of Appeal’s decision means Gabrielle Frechette, Ginette Duclos
and Gerald Fontaine will head to prison for the death of Chantal
Lavigne. Lavigne, 35, died in July 2011 after a sweating session
organized by the accused. … The accused were found guilty in
December 2014 of criminal negligence causing death and were
sentenced in January 2016. Frechette, who was considered a
spiritual guide and organized the personal-growth seminar
in Durham-Sud, was sentenced to three years, while her two
assistants were handed two-year prison terms.” (The Canadian Press,
11/08/17) n
40
Dan, Fran Keller to get $3.4 million in “satanic day care” case
“Dan [Keller] and Fran Keller, who spent more than 21 years
in prison after they were accused of sexually abusing children
during supposed satanic rituals at their South Austin day care
facility, will receive $3.4 million from a state fund for those wrongly
convicted of crimes. Shortly after receiving the news Tuesday, an
ecstatic Fran Keller said they will no longer have to live on the
brink of destitution, unable to find jobs at their ages and with
their convictions, even if overturned by the state’s highest criminal
court. … [Dan] Kelley, serving a 25-year sentence on a child sexual
assault charge, has maintained his innocence and [along with his
wife] … is being represented by Keith Hampton, who phoned
the Kellers with news of the state payments while he was inside
the jail arranging Kelley’s release. The state’s wrongful conviction
compensation fund pays $80,000 for each year in prison, plus a
matching annuity that provides annual payments of 5 percent
interest as long as the recipient is alive and isn’t convicted of a
felony. … Children who reported no problems at the day care were
ignored, and leading psychologists and criminology professors
provided affidavits saying improper interview techniques and
subtle encouragement by therapists produced believable-but-
false memories in the children who accused the Kellers of abuse.
Taped interviews of a Keller accuser, a 3-year-old girl, made at the
Travis County sheriff’s office have since been used in lectures by a
top specialist in assessing and treating crime victims to illustrate
common interviewing mistakes. … The couple’s circumstances
changed in June, when Travis County District Attorney Margaret
Moore filed court documents that dropped all charges and
declared the Kellers ‘actually innocent’ under the law. After an
extensive review, it was clear that the Kellers’ innocence claim
should be supported in the interest of justice, Moore said at the
time. Now adults, several of the children who accused the Kellers
opposed the move, according to Moore and family members.” (My
Statesman, 08/22/17)
Scientology draws dueling petitions involving Leah Remini,
the IRS, and change.org
“Reaction to this month’s Season 2 premiere of the Emmy-
nominated Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath series has
been swift, from the religion’s international spiritual headquarters
in Clearwater [FL] and nationwide. Two dueling online petitions
have emerged since the Aug. 15 premiere: one calling for the
IRS to investigate Scientology’s tax-exempt status. That one was
launched by Jeffrey Augustine, Scientology researcher and
husband of former Scientologist Karen de la Carriere, who
served aboard the church’s ship Apollo with founder L. Ron
Hubbard. The other, launched by a teenage Scientologist in India,
calls for the cancellation of the series, alleging it is a ‘hate show’
inciting violence. … Traditionally, Scientology has not wanted
‘people going on the internet and even knowing there is a show
happening—they fear some of them will watch and be influenced,’
[Mike] Rinder [‘a former senior Scientology official and consulting
proucer of the A&E show’] said Wednesday. ‘Presumably this show
has gotten such wide coverage and acceptance that they figure
everyone knows about it already.’ … Scientology also launched a
page on the website calling Clearwater Calvary Baptist Church
Pastor Willy Rice ‘an incendiary bigot who uses his pulpit to
disparage other religions and groups he doesn’t like’ in response
to Rice calling Scientology an abusive and dangerous cult. …
In Clearwater, Scientology owns $207 million worth of property
under its name, 74 percent of which is tax-exempt for religious
purposes. It paid more than $1 million in property taxes in 2016 on
the remaining 26 percent. City Manager Bill Horne said the city has
no official position on whether Scientology’s tax exemption should
be examined. But he said given ‘their level of activity, the public
could benefit from them paying more taxes.’” (Tampa Bay Times,
08/25/17)
PCCAD pulls antidrug program funded by Scientology
“The Pulaski County Coalition Against Drugs (PCCAD) announced
Monday morning, via Facebook Live interview, in the Daily Guide
office, that it is pulling the anti-drug program, The Truth About
Drugs, from Pulaski County Schools due to its connection to the
Church of Scientology. The Truth About Drugs is an anti-drug
curriculum created by an organization named Drug Free World.
Drug Free World appears to be a department under the Church
of Scientology and admitted, when asked by PCCAD that the
Church of Scientology is its ‘largest contributor.’ … The Daily Guide
was also contacted by individuals over the weekend making us
aware of the connection to Scientology on Facebook, Twitter,
and via email. An organization that actively tries to discredit the
Church of Scientology had seen the Daily Guide’s article about
the implementation of the drug program and published the
information on its website. The website, www.tonyortega.org,
home of the Underground Bunker, a blog about the Church of
Scientology, contacted local schools and the sheriff’s department,
according to information it provided. A notification from Twitter
Monday afternoon made the Daily Guide aware of the information
on the website. … Bales explained that when the organization was
reviewing drug programs, they were only looking for programs
that provided a curriculum that was more effective than ones
used in the past. It simply didn’t come up about who funded this
particular program. … ‘Our focus is drug education, period. We’re
not out to promote any certain religious group or affiliation or
whatever the case may be. We’re here to try to educate kids and
parents about the dangers of drugs and that is our sole purpose,’
Bales said.” (Waynesville Daily Guide, 09/05/17)
Quebec sweating death: Three accused lose appeal of their
conviction
“Three Quebecers have lost an appeal of their conviction in
connection with the extreme-sweating death of a woman who
was wrapped in mud and cellophane at a spa. The Quebec Court
of Appeal’s decision means Gabrielle Frechette, Ginette Duclos
and Gerald Fontaine will head to prison for the death of Chantal
Lavigne. Lavigne, 35, died in July 2011 after a sweating session
organized by the accused. … The accused were found guilty in
December 2014 of criminal negligence causing death and were
sentenced in January 2016. Frechette, who was considered a
spiritual guide and organized the personal-growth seminar
in Durham-Sud, was sentenced to three years, while her two
assistants were handed two-year prison terms.” (The Canadian Press,
11/08/17) n
40
