On December 8 in the District Court of Bourbon County, KS, the State of Kansas VS Joseph Banker, the court heard from a doctor and a counselor who have both evaluated Banker.

Both had submitted reports to the court after evaluating Banker who has plead No Contest to two counts of sexual exploitation of a child.

The offenses occurred in 2009 when Banker was on the staff of a church in Fort Scott.

The report from the doctor states that Banker does not meet the definition of a sexual offender and would not recommend additional sexual offender treatment.

The defendant voluntarily entered therapy, the report said.

In the report, it is stated that Banker has been married for 13 years and has children 11, 9 and 6 years of age. He is currently working in construction and his wife has employment also.

Banker stated to the doctor that “the circumstances of these offenses were situational and he had no previous or subsequent behaviors related to sexual offending,” the report said.

“Banker expressed concern and extreme remorse and guilt for the incidents in question and takes full responsibility for these incidents”, according to the report.

Banker told the doctor that he was molested in childhood.

Banker has no history of criminal involvement or prior arrests.

The doctors summary and recommendation states that Banker “is a bright individual able to benefit from mental health counseling and is in mental health counseling which includes treatment for his sexually inappropriate behaviors in 2009, as well as current mental health percussions.”

“He exhibits insight…and making progress…related to his offenses and related poor judgment and limited impulse control,” which in the doctor’s opinion lead to the offense.

The doctor recommends probation for Banker.

Also submitted to the court was a document from the Christian counselor treating Banker.

“The two main areas addressed in counseling is the sexual trauma in childhood and anxiety about the recent litigation,” the counselor’s report states. “I have observed (Banker) to be a person of healthy self-introspection with compassion towards those involved in the litigation, saying nothing to defame any character during our sessions.”

Banker will be sentenced at 3:30 p.m. February 2, 2018, before the Honorable Amy Harth.

For a prior report on this case, Banker Pleads No Contest

Mother to Mother Ministry, 728 Heylman, is hosting a public open house from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. December 19 and 20.

The open house is to showcase what Mother to Mother Ministry (MTMM) does in the community, Amanda Gilmore, assistant and community relations representative for the ministry, said.

“Stop in for some coffee, tea, and refreshments,” Gilmore said. “It’s a come and go meeting.”

Wilma Leach has been the director of the ministry since the 1990s and her comforting friendship has helped many mothers of children.

Gatherings of mothers of children and caregivers will begin January 9  and are scheduled for the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Topics of the meetings will be related to the family, said Gilmore.

Some of the services MTMM provides is parenting classes, friendship and support and “anything related to mothering and household management,” Gilmore said.

The ministry provides donated clothing for children.

All MTMM services are free.

New contact numbers for MTMM are 620-224-0809 and 620-215-0924.

The facility is located behind, and just north of Fort Scott Manor Nursing Home on Heylman.

MTMM is a United Way of Bourbon County agency and also has local supporters.