Religious Group Committed ‘Horrific’ Crimes Against Children, Police Say

Four members of a religious group based in New Mexico were arrested this weekend and charged with more than 100 counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor and child abuse. Deborah Green, Peter Green, Joshua Green and Stacey Miller, all part of the Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps were arrested Sunday morning, the Cibola County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.

The group, based out of Cibola County, purports to be “aggressive and revolutionary for Jesus.” Photos on the website show members dressed in military garb and contain references to “spiritual ammo” and “holy war.” The Southern Poverty Law Center, however, lists the sect as a hate group.

The sheriff’s office began its investigation last year after two members who allegedly escaped the commune told authorities that Deborah Green and Stacey Miller allowed Miller’s 12-year-old son to die of the flu. Miller later told investigators “she wanted to trust God.” She was charged with child abuse after authorities arrested her. Deborah was charged with neglect resulting in the death of a child, as well as sexual assault of a minor and child abuse. Authorities alleged that Deborah had sexually assaulted her daughter’s 5-year-old daughter in 2001 after the child was smuggled in from Uganda.

The girl told investigators “she was treated like a slave and routinely whipped,” according to KOAT-TV. Deborah’s son in law, Peter Green, also raped her, she told authorities. Peter was arrested and charged with 100 counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor. Joshua Green, meanwhile, was charged with not reporting the birth of his son to the state.

“It was a horrible situation,” said Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace.

The sect denied any wrongdoing and said the allegations are false.

“We don’t know who all the accusers are,” the group said in a statement, according to the Las Cruces Sun-News. “But the accusations are just reruns of old lies that have been investigated and shown to be malicious attacks against a legitimate ministry, time and time again.”

An estimated 18 children are still living in the commune, but authorities say there was no indication of additional abuse, according to KOAT-TV. A former member of the group said she was not shocked to hear of the arrests and allegations. Maura Alana Schmierer said during her time in the sect the leaders were controlling and refused to let her get medical care for her children. She was also forced to live in a shed without a toilet and with little food, she told the Associated Press.

“Knowing that these individuals are in custody now,” said Mace, “it’s a heavy weight off my shoulders.”