Brownwood's James Williamson's Daily Diatribe:"These type of people vote Democrat".

Ex-principal guilty of sexual abuse, sentenced to 15 years
TYLER, Texas — A former East Texas principal was convicted of sexually assaulting seven girls and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
A jury on Thursday sentenced Russell Thomas Hirner, 43, after deliberating for about four hours. He was convicted of aggravated sexual assault of a child earlier in the day.
"I accept responsibility," Hirner, the former principal of the Longview Baptist Christian Academy, testified. "I couldn't bring myself to tell and I vowed to God that after it came out I'd make a disclosure."
Prosecutors had pushed for life in prison.
"You are not doing this to Russell Hirner; Russell Hirner did this to himself and his family," Rusk County District Attorney Michael Jimerson told jurors in closing arguments.
Defense attorney Joe Shumate pleaded for a lighter sentence, arguing that Hirner had not committed inappropriate acts for two years prior to his March 2004 arrest, was remorseful and formed a healing relationship with a pastor.
The defense argued Hirner had fallen into a deep depression, and a family member testified that both she and Hirner had been molested by a family member in the past.
Hirner also has been indicted on 16 counts of first-degree aggravated assault of a child in Gregg County.
Information from the Tyler Morning Telegraph, www.tylerpaper.com
http://www.statesman.com/metrostate/content/gen/ap/TX_Principal_Abuse.html
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Minister accused of molesting kids
He left post at Plano's Custer Road Methodist last month
10:31 PM CDT on Friday, April 15, 2005
By JENNIFER EMILY and TANYA EISERER / The Dallas Morning News
A minister is facing charges of indecency with a child after being accused of molesting two relatives, police said.
Tom David Brown, 67, of Dallas was arrested Thursday by Dallas police on charges of indecency with a child by exposure and indecency with a child by contact.
Mr. Brown could not be reached for comment.
Police said the incidents began in 1998 and occurred as recently as March. Authorities say the victims, preteen girls, gave accounts to police.
The incidents occurred in a northeast Dallas residence, police said.
Mr. Brown was a minister at Custer Road United Methodist Church in Plano.
Church spokesman Stan Luckie said the church did not want to comment about the allegations.
"At this point, all we're doing is praying for Tom and his family and those who are involved," said Mr. Luckie, chairman of the staff parish relations committee.
Mr. Brown was an associate pastor at the church for five years before he resigned March 28, Mr. Luckie said.
Mr. Brown was released from the Dallas County Jail after posting $8,500 bail, Dallas County sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Don Peritz said.
E-mail jemily@dallasnews.com and teiserer@dallasnews.com
source:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/041605dnmetpastor.15cacdbc.html