Mugshot of Eric Bodenweiser. (Photo released to public)
A Republican candidate for the Delaware State Senate who boasted of being a member of the anti-gay Delaware Family Policy Council was indicted this week on multiple charges of engaging in unlawful sex acts with a 13-year-old boy.
The indictment came less than a week after Eric Bodenweiser, 53, abruptly dropped out of his race for a State Senate seat in a conservative-leaning district near Rehoboth Beach that includes the City of Georgetown.
The indictment includes 113 felony sex charges, including 39 counts of unlawful sexual intercourse — first-degree and 74 counts of unlawful sexual contact — second-degree. Although the indictment doesn’t identify the gender of the victim, the Gape Gazette identified the victim as a boy who allegedly was sexually abused by Bodenweiser between Oct. 1, 1987 and Aug. 31, 1990 when he was between the ages of 10 and 13.
Jason Miller, a spokesperson for the Delaware Attorney General’s office, which is prosecuting the case, said the victim, who is now in his 30s, has spoken to the media and revealed details not disclosed in the indictment but which are expected to surface at a trial.
The Cape Gazette reports that Bodenweiser was released on $250,000 secured bail while he awaits trial.
Among those who had endorsed Bodenweiser in his State Senate race was Christine O’Donnell, the 2010 Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Delaware.
Democratic candidate Jane Hovington, who was expected to lose to Bodenweiser by a wide margin, is now the only candidate on the ballot in the race for the 19th Senate district. She is being challenged by Republican former Georgetown Mayor Brian Pettyjohn, who is running as a write-in candidate.
Hovington’s positions on LGBT rights couldn’t immediately be determined at press time.
Sorry. No data so far.
Wouldn't be the first time some conservative "family values" candidate or leader got involved in something like this.
Color me "shocked!"
how am I NOT surprised.
Makes me realize that it's true. The reason Republican legislators are against marriage equality is that they fear their boyfriends will demand a ring.
FUNNY
Given that this is not an issue of marriage equality, nor an issue of LGBT issues, but an issue of sexual abuse of a minor, I do not see how this is funny. It is sad and sick that anybody would see sexual abuse of a minor as being somehow similar to LGBT issues.
It became an LGBT issue when the anti-LGBT candidate was discovered to be a total hypocrite.
I was busy, and didn't have time to word it correctly (which means I should have waited until I did have time). I meant equating sexual predators with LGBT adults, as John M. Connolly did. I do not mean, of course, that the article writer is doing so.
I think the point of my comment was hypocracy, not LGBT issues.
Heh heh… Gape gazette
For the record, these guys are awful human beings. They are against abortion until they get a woman who isn't their wife pregnant. Then they're all for it. This child rapist also happens to like little boys. He just hates everyone else. Let him rot.
what does this have to do with abortion? and some bad people don't reflect all people. there are bad democrats, too.
If a democrat gentleman wants to act like a pig, he is much more apt to use the services of a lady of the night or have a mistress on the side. Republicans seem to have a fondness for the more kinky activities. Look it up!!!!!
Erin O'Boyle – I think Tim is referring to the recent scandal in which a married pro-life conservative pushed his mistress to have an abortion… http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/abortion/261221-report-tea-party-lawmaker-pushed-mistress-to-have-abortion
Your out of your mind Kathleen. This sick crap has no political bindings. Anthony Wiener's wiener pictures?
Always the anti-gay family values conservative authority figures, maybe it's time we started warning our children away from them.
It always seems like the ones with the strictest “values” are the ones with something to hide. They turn out to be exactly what they preach against. How many so far in the past year? I lose count.
and these republicans are judging gays and lesbians, how shamful, they cast the stones at us.
It should be noted here, once again, that this is not a gay sex scandal, but a pedophile sex scandal. They are not one and the same – not even close!
the thing that gets me (besides the disgusting nature of what he's charged with) is he's an anti-gay family policy type. Aren't those the type you have to watch out for most?
David he no doubt opposes sex between two men. He only engages in sex between a man a boy.
You're probably right, and here I thought he was being a hypocrite. We know what kind of 'family activity' he stands for though.
If only there was a cure for the hyper hypocritical goons…..
We have a lot of right wing pedos over here to!
VICKY! I am missing you SOOOOO MUCH!
LOL
In our rush to rejoice in yet another fallen Republican, lets not lose sight of the little boy who sits wit this abuse for the rest of his life, nor of this guy's family. All are his victims and I'm pretty sure none of them view this as a political story.
How sad.
How many times is this going to happen before people realize that anyone that is THAT anti-gay is most likely a closet-case?