Minister's grandson admits molesting 2 boys

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By Beth Boehne

LAPORTE, Ind. (AP) — A man has pleaded guilty to child molestation for alleged sexual activity with two boys, including sex acts that took place at his grandfather's church.

Mark Comford, 24, pleaded guilty Friday in LaPorte Circuit Court to two counts of child molesting, which represent two of the nine original counts he had faced.

Comford has been in custody since July 2007, when allegations surfaced that he had engaged in sexual contact with a 12-year-old boy. A police investigation also led to allegations that Comford had inappropriately touched a 9-year-old boy.

The charges he pleaded guilty to involve both of those boys.

At the time of the alleged encounters, Comford was actively involved with Faith Baptist Church just west of LaPorte. Some of the sexual acts occurred at the church and off the grounds during church-sponsored functions, according to court records.

Comford's grandfather, the Rev. Jack Cox, is named in a $30 million lawsuit filed by the family of one of the victims. Comford and the church are also listed as defendants in that civil suit.

The lawsuit alleges that Cox was aware of concerns about his grandson but did nothing to stop Comford's role as a leader at the church or prevent him from having contact with the children.

If a judge accepts Comford's plea during an Oct. 17 hearing, he could face up to a 20-year prison sentence and eight years of probation.

___

Information from: The News-Dispatch, http://www.michigancityin.com

Tuesday, Sep 9 at 7:43 PM Tom Lipton wrote ...

Mr. comfort. Do not worry about people being upset here. They are plenty upset and there are plenty of people upset at YOU. You know who you have to worry about. That's right...YOU better be WORRIED about GOD being upset about this..Good Luck

Monday, Sep 8 at 9:51 PM UNREAL wrote ...

Wow are you people really serious here? I do not attend church and have given my children the choice of church. They can choose their own religion and faith. They have tried several different churches and have received the knowledge of many religions. I do believe in God and I am a sinner, we are all sinners. Does this mean I will go to Hell. NO! I am here already. This stuff happens all over. It is not tied to a religion! You only hear about it when it is...ITS NEWS to the media.

Monday, Sep 8 at 5:59 PM Stephanie wrote ...

Keep praying you bible thumpers...you're doing a great job at making this world PERFECT! The bible was probably written by a drunk fisherman, and I laugh at you people that worship the make believe person in the drunk fisherman's book every day of your boring week.

Monday, Sep 8 at 12:28 PM BT wrote ...

To all that blame God for the bad things that happen.Have you heard of Satan? He is real and loves for God to get blamed for his handiwork.He was cast down from heaven with his following angels to the earth not Hell.Hell has not yet been created it will come at the end. So for now Satan resides on earth to temp people to commit sinful acts and use them to turn people’s hearts away from God.Why does God allow this?I don’t know but I am not to question God’s will only spread his word of salvation

Monday, Sep 8 at 10:58 AM J wrote ...

It doesn't always happen a religious figure; you hear about that most of the time. I was molested by a neighbor. I often wonder what I would be like today if this never would have happened, but you have to deal with it and move on and become a better person. Hopefully, the parents will get some kind of consuling for the kids.

Monday, Sep 8 at 8:16 AM colleenmike wrote ...

Let’s give our support to the families of the violated children so they can help the children work through this tough time. Let’s not pray. Hands clasped in prayer are idol. Let’s do something like volunteer our time and/or money towards civic organizations working to help these children. --- Irrational people praise god for the good times and blame people for the bad times. --- God is pretend. -- Jason, you are right on. Quentin, demons are also pretend.

Monday, Sep 8 at 5:50 AM bee wrote ...

i agree with jason and i grew up in an independant fundamentalist baptist church.in my eyes their beliefs are evil and they abuse children using spare the rod spoil the child.i left home at 15 because of it and i have no religion and i would never hurt a child.i have 3 children and because of the way i raised them they are all awesome.evryone has a choise no matter what u believe and this man chose to hurt innocent children,religion or not.string him up and let the parents have him!

Monday, Sep 8 at 2:39 AM Jason wrote ...

Cortez?

Monday, Sep 8 at 12:41 AM Corey wrote ...

I agree with Quentin...just because you go to church and believe in God, doesn't mean you won't sin. You have to do more in your life than just be the sunday church goer. Obviously this guy was leading a double life...to bad he couldn't get those demons out before he sinned.

Monday, Sep 8 at 12:10 AM I was a molested child, you never forget it... wrote ...

I think that it would be a really good idea to tattoo child molester on forheads of convicted offenders so everyone around him or her knows just what they are maybe then they could not use roles with leadership or authority to gain access to kids private areas but then again they should not be out walkin around either, I agree, this person learned this from someone else. I dont believe that all children molested will molest. I was molested for 2-3 yrs. by grandpa but I would never touch a kid

Sunday, Sep 7 at 7:01 PM Jason wrote ...

God hater? How can I hate something that I don't believe exists? You confuse religon and morality thinking that one can't exist without the other. You believe people are evil by nature and can only do good in the world if they believe in your silly invisible sky wizard. There are a lot of good people in this world that don't have a religion at all. It's your actions that make you good or evil, not your beliefs.

Sunday, Sep 7 at 5:04 PM Jen wrote ...

I agree with Tom, castrate em, tattoo child molester on their forehead, and make them walk around telling people how absolutely ridiculous they are for resorting to innocent children for sexual acts. People need tortured back, there is no justice in this country. Its absurd

Sunday, Sep 7 at 3:59 PM April wrote ...

I agree with jason!! If your god is so great why does he let things like this happen to little kids? Do you really know all the facts about GOD! The bible is a book that someone wrote they could of left out some stuff about your god!!

Sunday, Sep 7 at 2:02 PM Brother from Granger Com. Church wrote ...

GOD is a GOOD GOD...ALWAYS.. Praise JESUS

Sunday, Sep 7 at 11:17 AM nikki wrote ...

jason you are a GOD hater to not all molesters go to church people like you find reasons to bash GOD

Sunday, Sep 7 at 11:11 AM don wrote ...

GOT JESUS, I can tellthat you are a God hater,most molesters are not in church like you try to make it look

Sunday, Sep 7 at 9:18 AM Anonymous wrote ...

In jail unfortunatly they put all sex offenders in their own sections.

Sunday, Sep 7 at 7:49 AM MM wrote ...

wait until he gets into jail.he'll get his just rewards for being an honest and faithful servant.

Sunday, Sep 7 at 5:33 AM GOT JESUS? wrote ...

LIKE GRANDPA, LIKE GRANDSON.......HE LEARNED IT FROM SOMEONE....

Saturday, Sep 6 at 11:48 PM tom wrote ...

just goes to show you that yopu cant trust anybody. As the parent that I am you wouldnt need a jail cell, because a piece of trash like that would never make it there. I think the united states could use a lot more real justice...not the stuff in the courtroom. kinda like castrate him and tattoo child molester on his forehead see how he likes that.

Saturday, Sep 6 at 6:50 PM Jason wrote ...

It's horrible what's been done to those children. Obviously more religion isn't the answer though. It's religous leaders that are commiting these henious acts in the first place.

Saturday, Sep 6 at 5:37 PM Quentin Maxwell wrote ...

This kind of thing is happening in all churches all over the place. It seems thas people do not get it when coming to church.. do not sin against God.. because demons will possess you and will not be able to get away from it. You will be comitting more sins that you will not be able to stop it. You man nee an exorcist to get all the demons out from you. That is why priests and other so called preachers are in trouble because they play with sin like you play with sand. Get all demons out of you .

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