On 6/20/2022 THE SELF-PROCLAIMED BISHOP HENRY PORTER WHO WAS WINED AND DINED BY THE SOCIAL WHITE ELITE OF SARASOTA WHILE HE ALLEGED TO HAVE MOLESTED AND RAPED BLACK CHILDREN FOR 50 YEARS WILL FACE TRIAL ON 6/20/2022
Porter at Michael Klauber's Michael's On East honoring four community leaders (4/17/18)
FOR NEAR TWO YEARS PORTER HAS BEEN IN THE SARASOTA COUNTY JAIL AND NOT A WORD WRITTEN IN THE LEADING MEDIA OUTLET--THE SARASOTA HERALD TRIBUNE ---THAT ACCORDING TO 200 PAGES OF SWORN TESTIMONY PORTER WALKED THE STREETS OF SARASOTA WHILE MOLESTING AND RAPING BLACK CHILDREN IN SARASOTA AND BEYOND.
PORTER ARESTED TWO YEARS AGO
After decades of previous criminal investigations, an investigation by then City of Sarasota Police Department (SPD) Chief of Police Bernadette DePino, Porter was arrested. To her credit, DiPino did what other previous SPD officials failed to do---DiPino opened an active investigation of Porter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9ea5nafjzQ
PORTER HAS BEEN IN THE SARASOTA COUNTY JAIL AFTER BEING ARRESTED TWO YEARS AGO
Porter with children in White House performing for Clinton
Porter entertained at the White House, as he traveled throughout the U.S.A, Europe, and Africa allegedly molesting local Black children from Sarasota.
GOVERNOR BUSH AWARDS PORTER "POINTS OF LIGHT" AWARD
Porter also received from Florida Governor Jeb Bush the Governor's Points of Light awards in August 1999 and 2002, which according to 200 pages of sworn statements, Porter was spending his time molesting Black children.
According to court records how is it that the sexual abuse of local Black children was buried for years by local law enforcement agencies, while the young white Gabby Petito/Brian Laundrie case drew numerous law enforcement agencies with hundreds of law enforcement officers to conclude that case in a few months?
Porter in Sarasota County jail for bail hearing with one of his attorneys Kevin Griffith after getting arrested
As Porter alleged to have molested and raped African American children from his Downtown Sarasota Church and School and his multimillion-dollar home in the exclusive Indian Beach/Sapphire Shores neighborhood, the leading media outlet, which is the Sarasota Herald Tribune under the direction of Diane McFarland and others buried their heads in the sand.
Porter was arrested two years ago near his home just blocks from the Ringling Museum and Aslo Theater.
Porter with his son Rev. Porter and Veronica Brady Senior Vice President at Gulf Coast Community Foundation at Goodwill Ambassador of the Year Awards in 2011
Porter according to court documents allegedly molested and raped Black children not only in his Downtown Sarasota Church/School, in his multimillion-dollar home in the Indian Beach/ Sapphire Shores neighborhood, but also in Tucson, Arizona; Anderson; South Carolina; San Diego, California; Savannah, Georgia; Gastonia, North Carolina; Rome, Italy and in Africa, as he he traveled and toured with a musical emsemble and troupe of children.
PORTER TRIAL DELAYED FOR TWO YEARS AS SOCIAL ELITE RUN AND HIDE
Porter with Bill Buttiggi at 4/24/2012 Hall of Fame luncheon attended by Attorney Dan Bailey and SHT Publisher Dianne McFarland
Bailey and McFarland who buried her head at the Sarasota Herald Tribune, while Porter walked the street of Sarasota and performed in Downtown Sarasota in front of the SHT headquarters on Main Street.
Porter in Downtown Sarasota in front of SHT headquarters performing on Main Street
STREET NAMED AFTER PORTER IN DOWNTOWN SARASOTA
There are few communities in the nation that have the depth and quality of arts and cultural offerings that are found in Sarasota. Sarasota also has a street in Downtown Sarasota named after someone molestation and raping Black children for years.
FACEBOOK VIDEO FORCES CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF PORTER FACEBOOK VIDEO FORCES CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION OF PORTER
When Chief DePino was contacted in October of 2020 with respect to a video called "Art of Manipulation - My survival of Molestation" posted on Facebook by Chad Watkins, SPD detectives investigated allegations. A few days later Porter was arrested. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVn6p_BUpxM
Porter was arrested nearly 20 years after an investigation of Porter was closed in 2003 and a previous investigation 30 years ago in 1990 on Porter molesting African American children was closed.
Watkins was interviewed by the SPD and alleged the sexual abuse started when he was 15 and lasted until he was 21. The abuse took place in the "Inner Office", which was described as an internal structure of Porter's church in Downtown Sarasota. Watkins told police the abuse included masturbation and other sexual acts.
He added that other alleged victims had contacted him for support. One of the hundreds that contacted him was Steve Yates, who made this comment on social media: "Chad, I stand by this great step. Bishop Henry Porter attempted to do the same to me but failed. The damage to those who fell victim to that West Coast culture was devastating."
Yates continued, "As an outsider coming in, it was easier for me to see. I thought many around him were complicit and many were collateral damage of that complicity. Both men and women. Watching people ignore it, was defining for me to stand for truth against manipulation."
PORTER WITH TWO FORMER SARASOTA CITY COMMISSIONERS SUZANNE ATWELL AND DANNY BILYEU
"DECADES OF ABUSE" ON 200 PAGES OF DOCUMENTATION SUBMITTED BY LOCAL STATES ATTORNEY
According to over 200 pages of documentation submitted by the States Attorney, the police went on to interview two other accusers, and one said the abuse started when he was 11. He alleged the abuse happened at Porter's family home and it also happened in the inner office.
PORTER ALLEGED SWORN STATEMENTS OF ABUSING AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN IS BEYOND COMPREHENSION
Sworn statements from 200 pages of documentation revealed Porter's victims stating, "That the (Porter) sexual batteries would occur before or after church services or during school hours."
It is further alleged in sworn statements, "These sexual batteries would occur 3-4 times a week often inside Porter's inner office." The office was in Porter's Church and School in Downtown Sarasota.
One of Porter's victims stated hat in Las Vegas, "That he (Porter) pinned me down and assaulted me and I remember the anger and the frustration that I had for him (Porter) that day to actually pin me down."
It is alleged by one of Porter's victims that, "After it was done, he (Porter) would always make us confess our faults to each other and pray and ask that god will forgive us for what we just did."
ONE CHILD ALEGED TO BE ABUSED AT AGE 11
According to over 200 pages of documentation submitted by the States Attorney, one of Potter's accusers stated the abuse started when he was 11. He alleged the abuse happened at Porter's family home in Sapphire Shores and it also happened in the inner office at the school.
ABUSE REPORTED OCCURRED DURING SCHOOL HOURS
Porter made the children who became his victims at the school enter his private office from another entrance. The arrest affidavit read: "That way Porter was not seen bringing a child back toward the inner/private office. Once the sexual acts concluded [redacted] would have to leave in the same manner."
ANOTHER ACCUSER STATES ABUSE STARTED AT AGE 12
A third accuser told police the abuse started when he was 12 after his father abandoned them at the Westcoast Center for Human Development. He alleged Porter groomed him by "touching him" before he was forced on an air mattress in the inner office and touched inappropriately.
PORTER TELLS ACCUSERS "NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE HIM INCLUDING POLICE"
Porter told the accuser that if he told anyone then no one could believe him, including the police, and that Porter depended on the 'bishop' for food and shelter. The accuser described similar abuse and going through a separate entrance into the inner office. Police interviewed eight others who told them of similar experiences.
BRODSKY
LOCAL STATES ATTORNEY BRODSKY SHOULD HAVE KNOWN PORTER HAD BEEN ABUSING AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN FOR YEARS
It is difficult for Ed Brodsky not to acknowledge he knew Porter was molesting Black children. Brodsky's denial is questioned in his probable cause affidavit it is stated:
"In 1990 and 2000-2001, law enforcement conducted separate criminal investigations into defendant's sexual abusing children." Brodsky continue, "During those investigations, 20 youths provided statements to law enforcement disclosing they were sexually abused by the defendant in the past. These individuals ranging from young teenagers to young adults when the sexual abuse occurred described the abuse taking place at many locations including the defendant's inner office at the West Coast Center for Human Development."
Furthermore, Assistant State's Attorney Brian Felix in denying Porter bail, Felix states, "In all, law enforcement investigations spanning 30 years produced statements from dozens that have been sexually abused by the defendant. These students support the fact that defendant Porter has sexually abused for decades."
BRODSKY'S EXCUSES FOR NOT PURSUNING PORTER
Brodsky excuse for not pursuing Porter was that he has no investigating capacity to pursue Porter. The other Brodsky excuse for not pursuing Porter is that the statute of limitation had expired to the over 40 youths alleging Porter had molested and raped them.
FOR YEARS ATKINS VOICED OUTRAGE OCCURRING A PORTER'S CHURCH AND SCHOOL-- FEW LISTENED
After Porter was arrested former City of Sarasota Mayor and Sarasota City Commissioner Fred Atkins stated that despite both his and others continuing attempts to voice their outrage over what was occurring at Porter's West Coast church were ignored.
Numerous prominent members of the church along with prominent individuals and organizations in the Sarasota community, continued to ignore that Porter was molesting African American children.
Atkins affirmed that local law enforcement officials and prominent Sarasota community leaders turned a deaf ear for years as to what was going on at Porter's downtown Sarasota church and school.
BERLIN/THOMSON DIRECTED FAILED PORTER INVESTIGATION IN 2000-2001
Schaeffer
After Porter was arrested in conversation with Craig Schaeffer of the local States Attorney's office, Schaeffer stated that he had little knowledge of Porter criminal molestation of African American Children. Schaeffer stated he was not involved in the 2000-2001 investigation of Porter.
Berlin Padar
Schaeffer stated that Donna Berlin Padar, who worked at the StatesAttorney's office at the time Porter was investigated, worked with Lynn Thomson of the Sarasota Police Department (SPD) in the 2000-2001 investigation of Porter. Berlin worked at the States Attorney office from 1996 to 2006 before becoming a judge al in 2006.
THOMSON THIRD ON THE RIGHT OF SARASOTA COUNTY SHERIFF TOM KNIGHT
Thomson led an investigation at the Police Department (SPD) in 2000-2001 that failed to achieve Porter’s arrest. That was despite there are over 200 pages of recently released documented sworn statements by children who have stated they were molested by Porter for decades. Thomson has since retired from SPD and now works at the Sarasota County Sherriff's Department in drug enforcement.
It was questionable why two documented unqualified investigators like Thomson and Berlin were selected to investigate sexual abuse cases of minors.
Thomson's resume show no expertise in investigating child molestation cases when she came to the Sarasota Police Department from the Pompano Beach Police Department along with newly appointed and future husband SPD Police Chief John Lewis. Thomson had no expertise when Lewis later appointed her to investigate child abuse cases. Likewise, neither did Berlin's resume indicate expertise in child molestation cases.
Billings
Lynn Billings headed up an FBI investigation of Porter, which failed to arrest Porter in 2001-2002 despite having pertinent information that he was molesting African American children beyond Florida state lines.
According to the leading detective investigating sex abuse cases at the Sarasota County Sheriff's office Chris Iorio, FBI agent Kelly Thomas approached him one afternoon in the early 200's with a large document with information concerning Porter’s molestation of African American children.
Thomas
Thomas wanted Iorio to peruse the information, but the next morning Thomas asked for the information to be returned, a request to which Iorio complied. Iorio had no opportunity to peruse the documentation.
In conversation with Thomas in2018, Thomas who had retired from the FBI confirmed he was involved in investigating Porter for molesting African American children but could not comment on the investigation. Thomas did say that I should pursue the investigation of Porter because he needed to be arrested for molesting African American children. Kelly stated he would testify if he was asked to do so.
Billings is now an Investigator with Morgan and Morgan’s Complex Litigation Unit. In her resume for Morgan and Morgan, Billings states while she was assigned to the Tampa Division’s Sarasota Resident Agency she conducted investigations concerning crimes against children.
Billings might have investigated crimes against children, but her investigation of Porter like her other numerous other led investigations against corrupt Sarasota public officials appeared to be very questionable..
IORIO NOT ASKED TO BE INVOLVED WITH PORTER INVESTIGATION
IORIO
The question remains today is why Iorio was not asked to be involved with Poter's investigation. Iorio was the most respected, experienced, and highly capable investigator in sexual abuses cases in the area and beyond not asked to be involved in pursuing Porter. Iorio was a winner of numerous awards for the arrest and conviction of sexual predators, while working with the Sarasota County Sheriff Department.
TWO PASTORS LEAVE PORTER AFTER PORTE REFUSED TO ENTER A REHAB AND SEEK TREATMENT
Vincent Smith
Information from a reliable source stated that two Assistant Pastors at the Porter church, Vincent Smith, and Wallace Murray, left the Westcoast Center for Human Development church and school in 2000 and formed a new church after Porter refused to enter a rehab to deal with “his sexual problems."
Smith and Murray had confronted Porter after a young man whom Porter had molested as a child moved to Connecticut and then threatened to sue the church and Porter unless they negotiated a cash settlement. (Calls to Smith have not been returned. Murray has moved to North Carolina and has made himself unavailable for comment).
HOW IT IS FEW MEMEBERS OF PORTER'S CHURCH WERE AWARE THAT PORTER WAS REPORTED MOLESTING BLACK CHILDREN?
How is it as stated in these over200 pages of sworn statements that Porter traveled throughout this country, Europe, and Africa molesting African American children that no members of Porter’s West Coast of Human Development enterprise, who traveled with Porter and children reported Porter's sexual abuse? Those include Nate Jacobs?
Porter with his long time protégé Nate Jacobs
Jacob's is a long time Porter protégé and named his Westccoast Black Theatre Troupe after Porter. Numerous calls to Jacobs have gone unaddressed. Request to Julia Leach, who is the CEO of Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe to speak to Porter have been refused.
Nate Jacobs and his mentor Henry Porter at dedication of Jacob's Westccoast Black Theatre Troupe on 4/27/2018
FINALLY, ON 6/20/2022 THE SELF-PROCLAIMED BISHOP HENRY PORTER WHO WAS WINED AND DINED BY THE SOCIAL WHITE ELITE OF SARASOTA FOR YEARS WHILE ALLEGED TO HAVE MOLESTED AND RAPED BLACK CHILDREN FOR 50 YEARS WILL FACE
TRIAL ON 6/20/2022