Better hope that’s right

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So another alleged sex crime in Durham is grabbing folks attention.

This time it involves a low level Democratic Party official, Joy Johnson, and her husband, the Rev. Joseph Craig. They’ve been arrested. Craig’s been charged with rape and Johnson with aiding and abetting.

Today, apparently, an assistant district attorney made a claim that it had something to do with “Satanic” rituals.

From the N&O:

Mark McCullough, an assistant district attorney, urged Judge Nancy Gordon to increase Johnson’s bond to $500,000 from the $270,000 set by a magistrate. “Part of the allegations are that Satanic worship is part of this case,” McCullough said.

That’s a hefty — and on it’s face suspect — claim. It’s also a big part of why this case is starting to gather some media attention outside the Triangle.

See, over here at Indigo Dawn, which is some sort of company that Craig and Johnson own, Craig identifies himself as a reverend and talks about his interest in “magick,” which is a mysticism akin to Wicca. And while it may be strange and have its rituals, there’s a difference between Satanic ( i.e. worshiping Satan) activities and pagan, non-Christian activities.

A cynic might question whether anything Satanic is truly involved, or whether law enforcement just sees a pentagram and thinks devil worship.

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