A pastor guilty of sex crimes avoided jail because the risk of violence against him would mean segregation and therefore no sex offender rehabilitation.
The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. After his first appearance on October 14, Lake was remanded without plea on police bail but had his request for continued interim name suppression denied by Judge Maree MacKenzie. At that hearing, Police Prosecutor Sergeant Toby Morgan, acknowledged it was not usual to oppose suppression on a first appearance, but in this case the Police were. “There is no requirement for name suppression to protect the complainants,” Morgan said. “Police believe there are further victims out there and the media attention will possibly encourage more to come forward.” Lake’s bail conditions involve him living at his Whangarei address, surrendering his passport and that he not to come to Taupō unless attending court and not to associate with various people listed in the bail bond.