ALBUQUERQUE — State police have removed three children from an apocalyptic church whose leader claims to be the Messiah and acknowledges having sex with some of his followers.

The two girls and one boy — all under the age of 18 — were taken from the northeastern New Mexico compound following an April 22 investigation, Romaine Serna, spokeswoman for the state Children, Youth and Families Department spokeswoman, said Wednesday.

She said a fourth child, a girl, agreed to be interviewed by the department. Serna said that girl had been at the compound but now lives elsewhere with her parents.

The three children were taken into state custody because of allegations of inappropriate contact between minors and the adult leader of The Lord Our Righteousness Church, Serna said.

"I understand that it was very calm and they (state police) did not meet with any resistance," she said. Serna said she wasn't aware of any other youths at the compound.

Serna declined to elaborate because of the ongoing investigation by state police and the District Attorney's Office. No charges had been filed, she said. The church has at least 70 members, Serna said.

Wayne Bent, 66, who is known in the church as Michael Travesser, established the church at a rural site called Strong City, north of Clayton in extreme northeastern New Mexico. He said God anointed him Messiah in July 2000.

"There was never any child molestation, or adult molestation by anyone, including myself," Bent wrote in a posting Wednesday on the church's Web site. "There has never been 'sex with minors' or anything remotely approaching that."

Bent, in a posting on the Web site Sunday, accused the state of kidnapping the children. "My children are kidnapped because some demon wrote a letter to people in authority accusing me of some crimes," he wrote.

"When the state came against our children (seed), the state came against God, and this will NOT ever be forgiven them," he wrote.

In a lengthy discussion dated last Sept. 11, Bent said his work is finished, and he does not expect to be "in the earthly sphere" much longer.

He acknowledged having sex with three women — the wives of two of his followers and his daughter-in-law. He said it was at the direction of God and the instigation of the women.

In the same posting, Bent said God told him in July 2006 that two virgins "would come and lie naked on my bed with me." He said seven virgins came to his bed over a period of time, but when they asked "for a literal physical union," he refused even though they told him it was God's request.

Jeff Bent, who Serna said is Wayne Bent's son, denied in a letter to Gov. Bill Richardson on Tuesday and posted on the Web site that any child had been abused or neglected at Strong City.

Jeff Bent also wrote Richardson: "Now that you have moved against us because of our faith, the cup of God's anger is full to the brim, and now He is free to move against you."

Serna said two of the children removed from the ranch were placed in foster homes, and one accepted voluntary placement, which usually means with a friend or relative.




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