Minister May Be Held As a Danger Sex Charges Followed by Request for Confinement, by Len Wells, Courier Press, August 14, 2008

Minister May Be Held As a Danger
Sex Charges Followed by Request for Confinement

By Len Wells
Courier Press
August 14, 2008

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/aug/14/minister-may-be-held-as-a-danger-sex-charges-by/

GEFF, Ill. — Prosecutors have filed a petition seeking to declare the former minister of a small Methodist church in Geff a sexually dangerous person.

Larry J. Reinke

Lawrence J. Reinke, 57, was scheduled to stand trial Monday on two class X felony charges of predatory criminal sexual assault and a class 1 felony charge of child pornography for allegedly having unlawful sexual contact with an 11-year-old boy who attended his church.

Wayne County State's Attorney Kevin Kakac has asked the court to declare Reinke is sexually dangerous and that the Illinois Department of Corrections be appointed his guardian.

Under Illinois' Sexually Dangerous Persons Act, if Reinke is deemed to be sexually dangerous, he would be imprisoned until he can prove to the state's psychiatrists that he is no longer a danger to society.

Circuit Judge Paul Lamar vacated the Monday trial date and ordered that Reinke be examined by two forensic psychiatrists. They will have to report back to the court before Reinke's next court appearance, which has been set for Sept. 17.

Reinke was arrested on April 17, 2007, after state and federal authorities staked out the post office in Astoria, Ill. Through a federally authorized wiretap, agents suspected that Reinke was expecting delivery of a digital memory card containing child pornography.

Reinke had served as pastor of the Geff United Methodist Church for about six years before being reassigned in June 2005 to Astoria.

Since his indictment by a Wayne County grand jury, the Methodist Church has terminated Reinke's appointment as a pastor and ordered an internal investigation of the allegations.

Reinke remains free on $50,000 bond.