Pastor cautioned at sex abuse trial
Judge says preacher be subject to charges
By Donna Hales
Phoenix Staff Writer
WAGONER — A Muskogee pastor testified Tuesday he did not tell authorities when a Porter man admitted to him that he had molested his adopted daughter.
John Thomas Ashwood, 68, who identified himself as pastor of the Sovereign Grace Church at Muskogee, gave the testimony in a sentencing hearing for Doyanne Putnam in Wagoner County District Court.
Putnam entered a blind plea, which means she had no plea deal worked out with prosecutors, on Sept. 22 for child abuse and child neglect charges in connection with a case involving her husband, Eugene Richard Putnam. He had entered a blind plea to three first-degree rape charges involving the couple’s adopted daughters.
The husband was sentenced Nov. 26 to 15 years in prison and 25 years on probation. He will have to serve 85 percent of his sentence before being eligible for parole.
Doyanne Putnam’s sentencing started last week but postponed until Tuesday so Ashwood could be called as a witness.
His testimony came after District Judge Bruce Sewell warned him repeatedly that if he admitted complicity in a felony that he could be charged with a felony.
“If testimony by a number of individuals is true or not, knowing of a felony sex crime and not reporting it to authorities ... could subject you to potential criminal or civil trials,” Sewell warned.
The judge kept asking Ashwood if he wanted to consult with an attorney before testifying.
“You’ve got a right to assert your right to protect yourself from self-incrimination,” Sewell told Ashwood.
Ashwood spoke of the possibility of privileged communications.
Sewell told him he didn’t have the pastoral right of immunity on sexual crimes, especially if it continued, as it did in the present case.
“I came here to answer the questions that will be put to me,” Ashwood replied.
Sewell spoke of previous testimony of the parents and the children that Ashwood told the children to stay with the family unit.
“If that would be the case, I think it would be fair to say you would be in a whole bunch of trouble,” Sewell told Ashwood.
He also told Ashwood he thought Ashwood would have visited with an attorney before the day of his testimony.
Ashwood said he consulted an attorney several months ago who was a friend.
Part of earlier testimony is that Putnam’s son had sex with an adopted sister.
“They say you didn’t do anything about it,” Sewell told the pastor.
He asked again if Ashwood wanted to get an attorney or answer questions.
“I’m ready to answer questions,” Ashwood told the court.
He testified Eugene Putnam asked him to visit the Putnam house, and “Eugene confessed he had done something very bad — had molested the girl.”
Ashwood said Eugene and Doyanne Putnam were present, as well as Ashwood’s wife.
“Unless you reported it to crime authorities, you committed a crime,” Sewell told Ashwood. “I really think you’ve confessed to committing a felony crime — you sure you want to answer some more questions?”
Ashwood asked if he could make a statement if he didn’t answer more questions.
“No, sir,” the judge said.
“Then I better contact my attorney,” Ashwood said.
Sewell told Ashwood the kids continued to get molested because Ashwood didn’t tell anybody about it.
“To my knowledge, no children were ever molested after the conversation I had with (Eugene Putnam),” Ashwood told Sewell.
The judge said five or seven years ago the children probably didn’t have the emotional problems they have now.
Sewell postponed the hearing for a week, telling Ashwood to bring an attorney with him.
“You can be sure less will be said next week than was said this week,” Sewell said.
When asked if any charges will be filed against Ashwood, Sewell said he had no idea. Wagoner County Assistant District Attorney Grant Huskey gave the same answer.
Reach Donna Hales at 918-684-2923 or Click Here to Send Email