Newman was hired as a Kanakuk counselor from Auburn University in 1995 for Summer 1996. Kanakuk began receiving reports of Newman’s nudity with children beginning in 1999 and put him under disciplinary action in 2003 for these patterns. He moved up through the ranks as a father-son retreat leader, assistant director and was ultimately promoted to the director of K-Kountry in 2005 until his confession to crimes against children in Spring 2009. Frequently highlighted by the organization for national marketing and promotional purposes, Newman was arrested in September 2009 and pled guilty to two counts of first-degree statutory sodomy, three counts of second-degree statutory sodomy, and three counts of enticement of a child. A prosecutor in the case stated that Newman “is the most prolific child molester I have ever dealt with.” In 2010, Newman was sentenced to two life terms plus 30 years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. The subject of multiple civil lawsuits, there were at least 57 alleged victims of Newman prior to his sentencing, but the total number of campers abused by him remains unknown.
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Long known as a charismatic director and ambassador for the camp, Newman's abuse of campers and others he met through Kanakuk-affiliated ministries often began with casual nudity and discussions about how to control sexual desires, progressing to mutual masturbation and sodomy.
Newman was charged with crimes involving six underage victims but admitted during sentencing to having “inappropriate activity with as many as 13 more campers,” according to News-Leader coverage of the proceedings.
The prosecutor who oversaw the case later estimated the actual number of victims could be in the hundreds.
Documents Kanakuk released during civil court proceedings show camp leaders were made aware of Newman’s nudity with children and other inappropriate behavior on multiple occasions from 1999 until his confession in 2009. Former Kanakuk staff interviewed for this story, including a supervisor who recommended Newman be fired in 2003, say those complaints were repeatedly excused and dismissed.
- Survivors, ex-employees say Kanakuk Christian camp 'ministered' to its sexual predators, USA Today - May 27, 2022
