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June 10th, 2024 - Judge Susan Watters has issued two more rounds of sanctions against the Watchtower Organization and Church after attorneys for abuse victims discovered that the Jehovah's Witnesses intentionally destroyed critical evidence and notes related to multiple child abusers and their victims. The Jehovah's Witness Service Department in New York was found to have collected significant data describing the actions of abusers over many years, then produced "Memorandums," and subsequently deleted or destroyed the materials that were the basis for those Memorandums. Judge Watters' ruling reflects proof that the Witnesses destroyed the evidence after being engaged in litigation in the two Montana lawsuits scheduled for trial this summer. As a penalty for this misconduct by the Witnesses, the jury will be informed by the Court that critical evidence was destroyed after the Memorandums were created, and that the jury may infer that the information destroyed would have been unfavorable to Watchtower New York. In a second Court Order issued the same day, Judge Watters also fined and penalized the Church due to pre-deposition misconduct related to two key officials for the JWs, Allen Shuster and Gary Breaux, both long-time members of the JW Service Department. The Court has ordered that all expenses related to this misconduct be tallied and submitted to the Court for review. The Jehovah's Witnesses have been sanctioned or fined for misconduct at least 6 different times during the course of the Caekart and Rowland child abuse civil lawsuits filed in April of 2020. https://t.co/sQHs9hBSj5

BREAKING: The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has ruled against Jehovah's Witnesses' Chief General Counsel, Philip Brumley. On April 14th, 2023 Brumley, the top attorney for the JWs and overseer of their international Legal Department, was fined over $154,000 by Federal Judge Susan Watters for submitting multiple misleading and false affidavits in two Montana child abuse cases. Brumley attempted to convince the Court that Watch Tower Pennsylvania had no involvement with JW congregations in the 1970s and 80s, and should be eliminated as a defendant. However, documents obtained by attorneys for the abuse victims made strong connections between the Pennsylvania corporation and Watchtower New York, as well as the day-to-day operations of Jehovah's Witnesses during the relevant time periods. Judge Watters stated that: "Brumley's actions demonstrate, at minimum, a reckless disregard for providing an accurate and truthful accounting of [Watch Tower Pennsylvania's] role." The smoking gun documents were sourced, not from the Jehovah's Witnesses, but from whistleblowers who left the religion and turned them over to activists supporting abuse victims. Brumley appealed the decision by Judge Watters to the Ninth Circuit, and the Appellate court has dismissed his appeal today. The Jehovah's Witnesses have already paid the fines issued by the court, and Brumley's reputation had been severely damaged due to his misleading and false statements. The two Montana child abuse cases continue to progress toward their respective trials, scheduled for August and September of this year. https://t.co/nF6gEC4jfn

Another day, another pedophile Jehovah's Witness arrested in PA. News of Roger E. Zellars arrest follows news of Ronald W. Mangone's arrest that was reported yesterday. Total now up to 16 JW's charged out of the PA Grand Jury investigation into child sexual abuse within Jehovah's Witnesses. Notice how JWs fail to protect children even when an admitted pedophile says it will likely happen again: "Zellars was “disfellowshipped for having sexual relations” with the 10-year-old girl, according to a Jehovah’s Witnesses document that the complaint says was obtained by the grand jury. In the document, Zellars said the incidents happened twice. That document stated that, when asked if he would do it again, Zellars said “he probably would,” and was non-repentant, according to the criminal complaint." Even if an abuser is kicked out, what protection is there for other children if no one reports the crimes to the authorities?! https://t.co/qNMVGOQWvx

***BREAKING*** Authorities in Westmoreland County Pennsylvania have arrested Ronald W. Mangone, 69, on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from gross sexual abuse of at least two close family members. Mangone is a long-time Jehovah's Witness, who according to sources in Pennsylvania, may have served as a Church Elder during the time of the abuse. This is still under investigation. The arrest comes as a result of the ongoing Pennsylvania Grand Jury Investigation into Jehovah's Witnesses, officially launched in 2019. The Criminal Police Report indicates that two of Mangone's victims testified before the PA Grand Jury, but the crimes against the 2nd victim were past the Statute of Limitations, and could not be charged. However, the testimony of that 2nd victim provided background to the Grand Jurors that influenced their decision to recommend the criminal charges on behalf of the younger victim. The police report states: "[Victim #2] also recalled numerous times when [Mangone] would watch her change clothes or shower. On one occasion in particular in 1988 or 1989, [a close relative] observed Mangone watching [victim #2] as [victim #2] was showering. This prompted [victim #2] to disclose the other assaults to [a close relative], who then reported the abuse to the JW congregation elders at the New Kensington Kingdom Hall. [Victim #2] recalled meeting with the elders and being told that since there was no penetration, no abuse had occurred. Although Mangone cannot be charged with any criminal offenses pertaining to the abuse of [Victim #2] due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, the offenses demonstrate a common plan, scheme or design that corroborates the testimony of [Victim #1]." There are no indications that the elders in the New Kensington Jehovah's Witness Congregation notified law enforcement of these crimes at any point. Mangone was also associated with the West End French Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. More recently, both victims compared notes during a drive, causing [Victim #2] to pull their vehicle off the road in shock. [Victim #1] disclosed the abuse to a close relative, who then informed Congregation Elders. The police report continues: "The Grand Jury obtained and reviewed records, including a two-page document entitled "DL/BC Interview 9/2/16," which appeared to be handwritten notes from an interview. While not all specifics were included, this record indicates that [Victim #1] stated that "Ron tickled her too much/rubbed belly and put his hand down her pants (one incident)." Although the document states that Mangone denied that this had occurred, the front page of the same document has a notation: "confessed to this action in the past."" The information contained in the police report is too graphic to share. The Jehovah's Witnesses have been battling with the State of Pennsylvania for several years by filing a lawsuit against the Commonwealth to get the State to assert that JW Elders are members of the Clergy. By seeking this declaration, they hope to evade criminal prosecution of their elders for violation of the State's mandatory child abuse reporting laws. Pennsylvania's law requires church elders to report child abuse, but the Jehovah's Witnesses seek exemption from reporting by utilizing a loophole in the law that permits members of the clergy to keep "confidential communications" or "confessions" private. Those communications remain locked inside local and national filing cabinets and extensive databases containing volumes of criminal data. [Case Reference: Ivy Hill Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses versus the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - documents may be found on the JW Child Abuse dot org website.] Mangone is currently free on $100,000 bail, awaiting his next court hearing. https://t.co/zDH8y3v4N5