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Lord Our Righteousness Church

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Religious community in New Mexico, United States

In progress

The Lord Our Righteousness Church (LORC) was, as of 2008, a religious community in Union County, New Mexico, in the northeast of that state, in a community its participants refer to as "Strong City".[1] The group moved to New Mexico from Idaho, in 2000.[2][3] As of 2000 it numbered perhaps 80 adherents, living in what news media termed a "compound", in makeshift dwellings;[2] as of May 2008, it was reported to have about 50.[2][needs update]

Following accusations that the group's leader, Wayne Bent (who went by the name "Michael Travesser" in LORC),[4] had had inappropriate contact with minors, New Mexico State Police removed three minors from the LORC compound after an April 2008 investigation.[4] Arrested two weeks later, Bent was charged with three counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor, and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.[5] A jury trial began on November 17, 2008,[6] and on December 15, 2008, Bent was convicted of one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, with acquittal on remaining charges.[citation needed]

Bent received the maximum sentence for his conviction, 18 years, but with 8 years suspended, which required he serve at least 8+1⁄2 years before becoming eligible for parole.[7] After an eventful period of incarceration—including overturn and reinstatement of the convictions by the New Mexico Court of Appeals and Supreme Court (respectively, in June 2011 and October 2012)—Bent served further time and was paroled in February 2016 following a cancer diagnosis.[8][needs update]

Background

Wayne Bent has appeared in news reports as the leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church; it has been referred to as "an apocalyptic sect" (e.g., by the Associated Press).[1] The sect's compound is in northeastern New Mexico, in the Union County, New Mexico jurisdiction, in what its members refer to as "Strong City".[1] The group moved to New Mexico in 2000,[2][3] from Sandpoint, Idaho.[2] As of 2000 it numbered perhaps 80 adherents, living in a "compound" of makeshift dwellings (modular buildings, recreational vehicles, and tents).[2] as of May 2008, it was reported to have about 50.[2][needs update]

Bent, born Wayne Curtis Bent on May 18, 1941,[2][verification needed][9] is known as Michael Travesser within the church.[4] Bent, once a Seventh-day Adventist pastor, left his denomination with others of like mind in 1987 and has since referred to that church as one of the "daughters of the great harlot" condemned in the book of Revelation.[10] Bent claims that, during an experience in his living room in June 2000, God told him, "You are Messiah."[quote needs citation] Bent has since stated, "I am the embodiment of God. I am divinity and humanity combined."[11]

Investigation

Three minors were taken into state custody, for their own protection, in April 2008.[2][verification needed] A New Mexico state Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) spokeswoman said that the three minor teens were taken from the compound in the days after an April 22, 2008, investigation. The state judge hearing the case has issued a gag order, and state officials have provided no further details of the investigation.[2]

Arrest and charges

Two weeks after the children were removed and the gag order was in place, Bent was arrested by the New Mexico State Police. The charges were three counts of criminal sexual contact with a minor and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. The ages and sex of the children in state custody were made public: a 16-year-old boy (no charges of abuse were filed in connection with the boy), a 16-year-old girl and a 13-year-old girl.[5] He was held on $500,000 bond with an arraignment scheduled for May 8, 2008. Following his arraignment, the judge reduced the bail to $55,000; as of May 9, he remained incarcerated.[12]

The initial charges refer to Bent having inappropriately touched three minor girls in 2006 and 2007. According to the state Department of Public Safety, one of the girls no longer lives in the community.[12]

Trial and disclosures

Both the prosecution and the defense excused one judge in the case. Union County Judge Gerald E. Baca was appointed the case on July 2, 2008.[6] The jury trial started November 17, 2008.[6]

Bent admitted[when?] to having sexual intercourse multiple times with his son's wife; both he and his son state that "God forced Michael" to commit this act of consummation.[11] Bent asserts that though he lay "naked with virgins" and the virgins asked him for sex, he refused.[12] A news report stated[when?] that New Mexico authorities released one of the young women previously taken from the compound from state custody,[citation needed][13] a report that also appeared in a June 17 update from Bent's website.[according to whom?][non-primary source needed]

Conviction and sentencing

On December 15, 2008, jurors convicted Bent of one count of criminal sexual contact of a minor and two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.[citation needed] He was acquitted of a second charge of criminal sexual contact with a minor.[citation needed] The sect's "compound", termed "Strong City", is in Union County, New Mexico,[1] and Bent was allowed to return there, pending sentencing.[citation needed]

On December 30, Judge Gerald Baca imposed the maximum sentence of 18 years but suspended eight years, indicating that he would have to serve at least 8+1⁄2 years before becoming eligible for release.[7]

Initial incarceration

An Albuquerque news station reported that as of September 11, 2009, Bent has been on hunger strike while in prison, and a judge has ordered that force-feeding be used should it become necessary.[14]

Overturn and reinstatment of conviction

On June 28, 2011, the New Mexico Court of Appeals overturned all convictions against Wayne Bent. The court determined the grand jury was not legally assembled. The three-judge decision was unanimous; Judge Roderick T. Kennedy presented the opinion of the court, regardng the consequence of the illegal assembly:

As a result, the indictment issued by the grand jury was void and the district court did not have jurisdiction to proceed with the trial in this case...[15]

However, on October 22, 2012, the New Mexico Supreme Court overturned the New Mexico Court of Appeals ruling.[why?][16]

Remaining incarceration, and release

Bent would serve out the remainder of his sentence in prison, for the next four years.[according to whom?][citation needed] He was paroled in February 2016, after being diagnosed with a cancer that threatened the hearing in his left ear.[8]

Post-incarceration developments

Bent published a book-length treatment about his legal case, on his website.[according to whom?][citation needed] The title of the publication, The Little Book, is taken from a reference found in the biblical book of Revelation, chapter ten.[according to whom?][citation needed]

The group's website has been taken down several times and reinstated.[according to whom?][citation needed] It contains frequently-updated writings and videos, including a nearly two-hour-long documentary.[according to whom?][citation needed]

Media coverage

British journalist Alex Hannaford visited Strong City in 2004, investigating claims that the group was contemplating suicide.[17][full citation needed][18][full citation needed] His feature, including interviews with Wayne Bent, his adult son Jeff, and various sect members, was published in the UK the same year.[19][full citation needed] Hannaford later wrote a follow-up piece for the Sunday Times magazine in the UK.[20]

The documentary, The End of the World Cult, aired three years later, on Channel 4 in the UK.[citation needed] Among other things, it covers Bent's announcement that the Day of Judgment began on October 31, 2007.[citation needed][21] A shorter film version, including interviews with cult experts, Inside a Cult, was broadcast in Australia on ABC (and on the National Geographic Channel in the United States[when?]).[22] Wayne Bent's son, Jeff, self-published a claim that the that the National Geographic documentary was inaccurate and inflammatory.[23][independent source needed]

Further reading

References

  1. ^ a b c d AP Staff (October 31, 2008). "Apocalyptic Church Leader Arrested for Failure to Appear in Court". Retrieved June 7, 2026 – via Fox News (FoxNews.com).
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j AP Staff (May 4, 2008). "Accusations Against Sect in New Mexico". Retrieved June 7, 2026 – via The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b Libbey, Mary Beth (December 12, 2018). "Looking back: 10, 25, 50 years ago—December 13 Sect leader on trial, UNM-Taos nearly 200 classes, flu epidemic strikes county". The Taos News (TaosNews.com). Retrieved June 7, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c AP Staff (May 1, 2008). "New Mexico: 3 Children Are Removed From an Apocalyptic Church". Retrieved June 7, 2026 – via The New York Times.
  5. ^ a b Schoetz, David (May 6, 2008). "Sex Charges for Leader of Doomsday Sect". ABC News (ABCNews.go.com). Retrieved June 7, 2025.
  6. ^ a b c "Case Detail for State vs. Wayne Bent". NMCourts.gov. 2008. Retrieved October 13, 2008.
  7. ^ a b "New Mexico Apocalyptic Sect Leader Gets 10 Years in Sex Case". Fox News. AP. December 31, 2008. Retrieved March 2, 2010.
  8. ^ a b "New Mexico cult leader released from prison early". KRQE News 13. Associated Press. February 17, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  9. ^ "California Birth Index, 1905-1995: Wayne Curtis Bent". FamilySearch.
  10. ^ "Strong City: The Lord Our Righteousness Church: A Brief History and Overview". Archived from the original on November 23, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  11. ^ a b Inside a Cult documentary info published by the National Geographic Channel.
  12. ^ a b c Church leader arrested on sex charges in northeast N.M.[dead link] May 6, 2008, Associated Press report in the Washington Post. Accessed May 7, 2008.
  13. ^ Teen From NM Sect Released From State Custody. Archived July 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine ABC News Accessed June 17, 2008.
  14. ^ Kayla Anderson and Matthew Kappus (September 9, 2009). "Judge puts fasting cult leader in doctor's hands". Eyewitness News 4. Albuquerque, NM. ABC. KOB-TV, LLC. Archived from the original on December 22, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2009.
  15. ^ Massey, Barry (June 29, 2011). "Religious Leader's Conviction Tosse". The Associated Press. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  16. ^ "Appeals court upholds cult leader's convictions". Hearst Properties Inc. KOAT Albuquerque. August 16, 2013. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  17. ^ Alex Hannaford. "The Cult of the Man They Call Messiah".[full citation needed]
  18. ^ Michael's diary, 2002, captured by Apologetics Index.[full citation needed]
  19. ^ Bizarre Magazine[dead link], feature on Strong City.[full citation needed]
  20. ^ Hannaford, Alex (June 14, 2009). "Wayne Bent: The cult of the man they call messiah". The Sunday Times. New Mexico: News International Group, UK. Retrieved March 2, 2010.[dead link]
  21. ^ Bent chose his Day of Judgment after calculating a Biblical prophecy number (490) and adding it to the year 1517, when the Protestant Reformation began, yielding 2007 as a result.[citation needed] The specific date, October 31, came from the day that Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses.[citation needed]
  22. ^ Wayne Bent, October 8, 2016, retrieved November 20, 2021
  23. ^ "This Witness Appeals for Justice". The Lord Our Righteousness Church. Archived from the original on February 7, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2022.

See also

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