SNAP Protests against Convicted Church Music Director

By Mauricio Marin
The Tucson News Now
November 11, 2013

http://www.tucsonnewsnow.com/story/23929620/snap-protests-against-convicted-church-music-director

TUCSON, AZ (Tucson News Now) -

Joelle Casteix, with the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, spent Sunday handing out flyers to parishioners at the Dove Peace Lutheran Church to warn them about a convicted child sex offender. SNAP organizers say the church's Music Director, Eric Holtan, should not be working at the church where he could be so close to children. Casteix says, "We feel that this is a serious problem. The fact that he's here is a violation of the churches own rules of having sex offenders in positions of power inside of churches."

In 2000, Holtan plead guilty to having sex with two underage female students in Minnesota. He served two years in prison and is currently on probation.

Casteix says she is fighting so hard to let people know about Holtan because she was molested as a teen by her own high school choir director. According to Casteix, as part of his probation conditions, Holtan is not allowed to be alone with underage girls.

Those we spoke we at the end of Sunday's service say they received a letter from the church this past Friday about Holtan's criminal past. Many were hesitant to comment about the matter, but Anita Balthaser told us, "He's always been very nice, very cordial to us. He's a great guy, he's a great music director. We've never seen anything other than that sight of him."

Casteix says she will not quit pounding the pavement to let people know about sex offenders, because for her, the cause is well worth it all, "It's about accountability to the most vulnerable people around us and those are our children."

We made several attempts to get comment from the Dove Peace Lutheran Church Pastor, but our calls and email have not been returned.

We also attempted to talk to Holtan at an address we found for him, but no one answered.

Contact: mmarin@tucsonnewsnow.com