================================================================== The BIRCH BARK BBS / 414-242-5070 ================================================================== THE NEW AMERICAN -- October 3, 1994 Copyright 1994 -- American Opinion Publishing, Incorporated P.O. Box 8040, Appleton, WI 54913 ================================================================== ARTICLE: American Opinion Sidebar TITLE: "Good Enough for Government Work?" AUTHOR: William Norman Grigg ================================================================== Before beginning a career as a "cult deprogrammer" and consultant to federal law enforcement agencies, Phoenix resident Rick Allen Ross was a petty criminal. In early 1975 Ross was convicted of first-degree attempted burglary and was sentenced by the Arizona Superior Court of Maricopa County to ten days in the county jail and one year's probation. On November 17th of the same year, Ross was brought before the county court again for violating the terms of his probation, and in short order was arraigned on a charge of grand theft by embezzlement (a felony) and second-degree open-ended conspiracy. Ross had conspired with a jewelry store clerk to steal $50,000 worth of jewelry from Kay-Bee enterprises in Phoenix. According to the report of the Superior Court's November 1975 pre-sentence investigation, Ross depicted himself as a helpless victim of his environment, pointing out that "he was associating with lots of 'criminals' and admitted that he is easily led" -- a set of characteristics that Ross now ascribes to "cult" members. The report also found that Ross and his younger siblings "have all experienced personality and behavioral problems." During his incarceration Ross suffered a nervous collapse and sought help at a local mental clinic. The report states that Ross "explained that he feels he cannot survive in a jail or a prison due to his nervous disorder" and that "he felt he was not an appro- priate candidate for probation, partially due to his mental status." Despite Ross' protests, his probation officer recommended that he "be sentenced to serve a maximum term in the Arizona State Prison." On March 2, 1976, Ross was convicted of conspiracy to commit grand theft and given a suspended four- year prison sentence as well as a $1,100 fine. In addition, Ross was placed on extended probation and continued to seek treatment for his psychological pro- blems. A report filed on March 25, 1976 by Dr. Domiciano E. Santos of the Arizona State Hospital documented that Ross had sought help for "anxiety, depression and sexual problems." It was Dr. Santos' perception that Ross was "an arrogant, self-centered individual with some hostile tendencies" who had previously been given to "outbursts of rage." According to Dr. Santos, Ross "does not seem to identify himself with society and its laws, and believes that punishments are an injustice." Dr. Santos concluded that Ross was "an individual who has socio- pathic inclinations" who showed "no feelings for the interests of others." These traits have served Ross well in his latest career as a "cult depro- grammer." Since 1982, Ross has abducted and "deprogrammed" numerous adults. As described by Ross to The New American, a deprogramming session involves isolating a "cult member" from the outside world and conducting "a dialogue in which we review the basic principles of critical thought...." The subject of a deprogramming is surrounded by family members or other individuals and pressured to recant his religious beliefs. On January 18, 1991, Ross was involved in the abduction of 18-year-old Jason Scott, a Bellevue, Washington resident who belonged to the Life Tabernacle Church. Scott was seized by three men, handcuffed, and thrown into a van. He was pinned face-down on the van's floor by one of the kidnappers; his legs were bound and his mouth was covered with duct tape by one of his assailants, who told the victim to "stop praying and shut up." Ross began an attempt to deprogram Scott; when the young man asked to see the police, Ross threatened to handcuff him to a bed frame. A few days later, Scott heard his captors discussing the possibility of sending him to a remote location in Ohio -- a "rehabilitation center" for "cult" members. By this time Ross and his cohorts were sufficiently confident that Scott had broken with his church that they risked taking him to a local restaurant. Scott escaped, contacted the police, and filed a report against his kidnappers. Ross was recently acquitted of charges arising from the inci- dent -- thanks in part to the influence of the Cult Awareness Network, which intervened on Ross' behalf. END OF ARTICLE ================================================================== THE NEW AMERICAN -- October 3, 1994 Copyright 1994 -- American Opinion Publishing, Incorporated P.O. Box 8040, Appleton, WI 54913 SUBSCRIPTIONS: $39.00/year (26 issues) ATTENTION SYSOPS: Permission to repost articles from The New American may be obtained from the above address. ==================================================================