BishopAccountability.org
	Charges against Camp Tracey Camper Dropped By Gary Detman First Coast News July 10, 2008 http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/mostpopular/news-article.aspx?storyid=113347&provider=top JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The pastor of the Jacksonville church that runs a camp for troubled kids in Baker County says there has been no child abuse committed at Camp Tracey. First Coast News has been pressing Harvest Baptist Church who runs Camp Tracey for a response to the ongoing investigation. The church responded to the investigation Wednesday afternoon. The Baker County Sheriff's Office began investigating when a tip came in that underage boys were engaging in sex acts at Camp Tracey. John Wilson, 46, faces child abuse charges. Investigators said Wilson slammed a person's head into a wall. Police said 18-year-old Ben Lewis admitted to sex acts with a 14-year-old boy at Camp Tracey. Pastor Wilford McCormick said Wednesday afternoon that it all comes down to rebellious teenagers. "The accusations of physical abuse by Mr. Wilson are the direct result of just that - rebelling and retaliating by students who were in trouble, and therefore wanted to make trouble," said Pastor McCormick. "Charges of lewd and lascivious behavior against Ben Lewis have been dropped and he has been released. Both the students who brought physical abuse charges have totally retracted their statements and said they lied, made it up, and fabricated the entire deal. May I remind you that in America people are still innocent until proven guilty." Harvest Baptist and Camp Tracey have been sued six times since 2003. The claims range from sexual abuse to physical abuse. According to one lawsuit, a camp visitor claimed a counselor performed oral sex on him. The cases were either dismissed by a judge or settled out of court. Cameron Holt spent two years at Camp Tracey in the nineties with his two younger brothers. He now lives in Alabama. "I think when children go there they're worse when they get out," Holt told First Coast News. "It's been decades and it's a cesspool for the physical, mental, and emotional abuse of children and it's all done in the name of religion." Holt says he is now legally blind because another teen stabbed him in the eye with a pen at camp. He also says he was sexually abused by a camp employee. Amanda, who attended Camp Tracey during 2001, told First Coast News she was routinely hit with a board, thrown into walls, and pinned on the ground. She said, "It makes you feel like you got something taken from you and psychologically it beats you up." Sean Hollis is a senior at the church's school in Jacksonville, and he defends the church he grew up in. "They're here for the teenagers that need help. They're not here to make money, they're here for the teenagers that could either be dead or in jail and they have an alternative for a christian camp out here." The Department of Children and Families is investigating.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.