An angry protest group was outside the court for the sentencing today calling for justice for children. The group was outraged after an earlier person involved was given home detention and were back at the court today to make their feelings known.
The Facebook page of the Futurecaster Church in Albany, which has been taken down, described Weitenberg as a church founder, senior elder and prophet. The small Pentecostal church's website has also been deleted.
A 55-year-old Kaitaia man has already been sentenced to 12 months' home detention for his part in the ring.
Marcus Barker was sentenced last month in the Kaikohe District Court charged with one count of sexual connection with a person aged 12-16, and two of contracting for sex with a person under 18.
He was one of five men arrested in February when police busted a 35-year-old Paihia resident for allegedly advertising sexual services of a girl, who had turned 15 a few months earlier. That man, whose name is suppressed, has pleaded not guilty.
The court heard Barker had responded to a post on a classified advertising website about a young couple looking for sex with older gents in the Bay Islands.
Barker had sex with the victim in a van, and paid $150. He arranged a second meeting, but that didn't happen.
When he asked how old the girl was, he was told she was "just under" the legal age..
