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‘Get Away From Me!’: Pastor Goes Nuts When Confronted About His Abusive Gay Conversion Camp

 

In what looks like a not-to-be missed 20/20 Special with Brian Ross, we get a behind the scenes look at the “hundreds or more” secret, hidden facilities that call themselves “gay conversion” camps. In one extraordinary showdown, investigative reporter Brian Ross confronts Christian Pastor William Knott, who ran an unlicensed gay conversion center in Alabama. Things quickly escalated.

“I’m with ABC News, what did you do with those boys?” Brian Ross questioned.

“I don’t want to talk to you … I told you that because I don’t like you, get away from me,” Knott screamed.

“Is this how you treat the young boys?” Ross asked.

“This is how I treat you, get away from me,” Knott yelled back.

Knott, along with two other owners of the Alabama camp called Saving Youth Foundation, was convicted on multiple charges of aggravated child abuse. According to a local report, police found dozens of children locked in isolation chambers and forced to wear shackles.  Six teens agreed to testify during the trial, and last month Knott was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

“For every camp like this there are a 100 more that nobody knows about that nobody is exposing on T.V.,” said Susan Cottrell, from FreeHearts, an advocacy group.

The 20/20 special is expected to air on Friday night. 

 

 

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Rachel Stockman is President of Law&Crime which includes Law&Crime Productions, Law&Crime Network and LawAndCrime.com. Under her watch, the company has grown from just a handful of people to a robust production company and network producing dozens of true crime shows a year in partnership with major networks. She also currently serves as Executive Producer of Court Cam, a hit show on A&E, and I Survived a Crime, a new crime show premiering on A&E this fall. She also oversees production of a new daily syndicated show Law&Crime Daily, which is produced in conjunction with Litton Entertainment. In addition to these shows, her network and production company produce programs for Facebook Watch, Cineflix and others. She has spent years covering courts and legal issues, and was named Atlanta Press Club's 'Rising Star' in 2014. Rachel graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and Yale Law School.