Sect's 'Messiah' arrested on sex charges

(CNN) -- The leader of an apocalyptic New Mexico church who claims to be the Messiah was arrested Tuesday on sex charges, state police said.

Wayne Bent, who also goes by the name Michael Travesser, was arrested at the compound that is home to his Lord Our Righteousness Church, called Strong City by members. He was being interviewed, state police spokesman Peter Olson said.

The arrests come after three children were removed from the compound late last month.

A post on the group's Web site said Bent was arrested Tuesday morning.

"I was told by the agent in charge of the case that the arrest warrant specified charges of three counts of sexual contact with a minor, and three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor," said the post, written by an unnamed follower. "The bail was set at half a million dollars."

The writer said sect members were questioned at a state police office in Clayton, New Mexico, and promised to update the site with "a more complete response to these false charges."

The Lord Our Righteousness Church was founded in 1987 by former Seventh-day Adventists, according to the group's Web site. "Since that time, many have joined who do not have their roots in Adventism."

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/05/06/sect.leader.arrest/index.html