Ron Charles Brookman: Newtown mission pastor’s sex assault charge
A Senior Pastor who ran a homosexual conversion therapy program has fronted court for the first time accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy. ‘It’s a beautiful day,’ he told reporters after emerging from the court room.
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A former reverend accused by police of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy in the 1980s went on to run a homosexual conversion therapy program and a church-sponsored sex addicts program.
Senior Pastor Ron Charles Brookman fronted Newtown Local Court for the first time today, arriving hand in hand with supporters, including his wife.
The 70-year-old man was charged with indecent assault after an incident involving a teenage boy while he was working at a Newtown mission 1989.
Brookman smiled and waved at reporters outside the courthouse this morning, while inside his lawyer entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf.
“It’s a beautiful day,” he said after his brief mention.
Brookman was a director of Living Waters for 15 years. The organisation hosts one of Australia’s longest-running gay conversion therapy programs.
He then retired from his official religious duties to become a director of a sex addiction and recovery support program operating in the Sutherland and Ramsgate areas, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Police will allege in court Brookman abused the boy between September and October 1989 while he was working as a reverend in Sydney.
Documents tendered to court state Brookman allegedly "kissed and rubbed his groin" against the young boy while he was his temporary carer at the Newtown Uniting Church.
Detectives from the Inner West command began investigating after the alleged victim made a report in 2018.
Brookman’s matter was adjourned to be heard back in the same court on March 31.
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