NM Christian sect leader charged in abuse case

Complaint: Man faces 100 counts

A leader of a New Mexico military-style Christian sect is facing dozens of child sexual abuse charges in a case that authorities say is connected to widespread abuse by the religious commune.

Peter Green of the Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps in the remote community of Fence Lake faces 100 counts of criminal sexual penetration of a child, according to a criminal complaint filed August 15. Sect members Deborah Green, Joshua Green and Stacey Miller also face various charges ranging from child abuse, bribery and not reporting a birth.

KOAT-TV reported that all four were arrested Sunday. Sheriff Tony Mace told the station that his office began investigating the group last year after two members claimed they had escaped the commune in the sparsely populated area of mostly ranchland. Those who escaped told deputies that Deborah Green and Stacey Miller allowed Miller’s 12-yearold son to die of the flu in 2014, Mace said.

Miller faces one count each of intentional abuse of a child age 12-18, bribery of a witness and not reporting a birth.

In a statement, the group said the allegations “are totally false” and similar to others the group has faced over the years.

Deborah Green and her husband, James, are the “generals” who command their army to spread Christian ideals throughout the world, the group’s website said. She faces one count of intentional child abuse resulting in death. Deborah Green also goes by the name Lila. Joshua Green is charged with not reporting the birth of his son to the state.

The Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps describes itself as a group that is “aggressive and revolutionary for Jesus,” and provides a free spiritual “ammo pack” to anyone who writes. Photos of members show them in military-style clothing and on missions in Africa. The Southern Poverty Law Center lists the Aggressive Christianity Missions Training Corps as a hate group.