A former assistant pastor today was sentenced to a week in jail and a year on probation for dumping trash on a mentally handicapped volunteer at his Morrison church two years ago.
Jason Smoker, 37, of Lakewood worked at Red Rocks Baptist Church until he punished the 21-year-old developmentally disabled man, who he thought did a poor job cleaning up a church van, prosecutors charged.
He was convicted of misdemeanor neglect of an at-risk adult after a trial in April.
Smoker ordered the blindfolded man to lay down on the ground as Smoker poured trash on him in August 2008.
“The young man was not physically injured but he testified at trial that he’d been scared, but that he trusted Smoker ‘not to do anything bad.'” the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement after the sentencing today.
“He said that at first he was just scared and confused, but afterwards felt betrayed and humiliated by Smoker’s abuse.”
The volunteer was not named by the District Attorney’s Office, except to say that he and his family had been active members at the church for many years.
According to Smoker’s arrest warrant, the church’s pastor, the Rev. Les Heinze, immediately reprimanded Smoker after the incident, issuing a formal letter to Smoker saying his behavior was “completely unacceptable” and “displayed a lack of judgment.” Smoker was dismissed.
He was the church’s facilities manager, who also was responsible for technology, a men’s ministry and an addiction recovery program, according to the church.
Characterizing Smoker’s behavior as “absolutely appalling,” Judge K.J. Moore ordered Smoker to have no contact with the victim, his family or others with developmental disabilities.
