PASCAGOULA, Miss. – A Pascagoula man, who used bible verses to manipulate a 12-year-old-girl into a sexual relationship, has been sentenced to 20 years in jail.
John Councilman admitted to sexually assaulting the girl, now 16, over a two-year period, while telling her parents they were bible studying together. Prosecutors said Councilman would use scriptures, but twist the wording, to justify what he did to the girl. Following his arrest, they said Councilman continued to write his victim. One letter contained scriptures about forgiveness. And Councilman wrote that he forgave her for exposing what happened.
A judge Monday also ordered Councilman to serve 15 years post-release supervision, register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and pay a $5,000 fine, a $100 special assessment to the Mississippi Children’s Trust fund and court costs.
