Latest news with #LukeAdams
Otago Daily Times
31-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Rape victim: 'I don't know how I will move on from this'
Luke Adams has been sentenced to five years and eight months' imprisonment for rape and drug-related crimes. Photo: Felicity Dear A Dunedin man has been jailed for his involvement in a gang-related drug ring and raping a woman on New Year's Eve. Luke Patrick Andrew Adams, 35, appeared in the Dunedin District Court yesterday after earlier admitting charges of rape, permitting his vehicle to be used for drug offending, possessing cannabis for sale, selling cannabis and offering to sell cannabis. The court heard that on New Year's Eve 2023, the defendant and a woman were drinking and smoking cannabis at an address together. They had consensual sex before the woman said she was "done for the evening and did not want to be touched again due to their level of intoxication", a police summary said. She had a shower and went to bed. But early on January 1, the woman's friend drunkenly came to the house, undressed and got in the bed with the woman and Adams. The defendant then raped the woman he had earlier had sex with, who told the defendant "no, I am done — I don't want to". The defendant ignored her protests and continued while groping the other woman, but the next day told police the interaction was consensual. In a statement read to the court yesterday, the victim of the sexual assault said she had become "a frail shell of the strong person I was proud to be". "I don't know how I will move on from this. He has given me a life sentence," she said. The court heard that from August 2023 to May last year, Adams was involved peripherally in offending being investigated under Operation Leith, which was part of the inquiry into the drug supply activities of the Comancheros motorcycle gang. Police said the supply of methamphetamine into Dunedin and Invercargill was "significantly disrupted" after arrests were made as part of the operation. Adams bought cannabis from an associate and would on-sell to customers. Police found he made 43 sales of cannabis, which sold for about $7880. Adams offered to sell cannabis on 81 other occasions with a potential gain of $37,545 and nearly 4kg of the drug being involved. In late April last year, he offered to act as a drug mule for his associate, and in May he rented a vehicle and drove the man to Christchurch. Once there, the associate met suppliers and bought cannabis and methamphetamine. On their return journey south, police stopped the pair on the forecourt of an Ashburton petrol station. In the car, police found a bag containing 20 zip-lock bags each containing an ounce of methamphetamine (603g), which had an estimated street value of $140,000-$160,000. Also in the bag was 851g of cannabis, which had an estimated street value of $9120. A cannabis grinder, bong and $3000 cash was also found in the car. Yesterday, Judge David Robinson noted the defendant was remorseful and had been engaging in rehabilitative services while in custody. The judge sentenced Adams to five years and eight months' imprisonment — four years and two months for the rape charge and 18 months for the drug-related offending. The defendant was also ordered to pay $5000 emotional harm reparation to the victim.
Associated Press
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Debut Novel Chance Harvest by Luke Adams, Author and Mental Health Specialist, Announced by Limelight Publishing
An intimate novel intertwining love, current events, trauma, resilience, and queer joy, debuts from therapist and author Luke Adams. United States and United Kingdom, May 10, 2025 -- A Journey of Justice from Healing to Storytelling In a significant crossover from therapeutic practice to literary expression, Luke Adams — a seasoned psychotherapist and longtime advocate for queer liberation — has officially announced the publication of his debut novel, Chance Harvest. The novel reflects Adams' decades-long commitment to social justice and personal healing through the intersectional lens of love, queer joy, mental health, and resilience. Having spent more than a decade providing psychotherapy, counseling, and mental health education, Adams' foray into fiction offers a new medium to explore the themes that have shaped his life's work. Drawing from his own experiences and the lives he has touched, Chance Harvest emerges as a meditation on identity, love, and resistance, set against the backdrop of global social and ecological turmoil. The Narrative Weaves of Chance Harvest Chance Harvest follows the lives of young protagonists navigating the complexities of contemporary social unrest while building chosen families, experiencing unexpected romance, and discovering their true selves. Readers are brought into a world where trauma and tenderness intersect, and where emotional depth is illuminated by lyrical storytelling and historical relevance. The novel resonates with echoes of Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, not only in narrative scope but in its critique of systemic oppression and its human cost. Adams' skillful storytelling explores how deep interpersonal connections can become a foundation for healing and transformation in times of uncertainty. Acclaim from Educators, Activists, and Artists Adams' novel has garnered praise from notable voices across literary, educational, and activist communities. Amy E. Warman, an award-winning educator and artist-activist, describes the work as 'contemporary literature with structure and echoes of The Jungle... a must-read.' Stephan Ferris (known publicly as Blue Bailey), legal scholar and activist attorney, emphasizes the book's power: 'Chance Harvest offers a powerful narrative of self-discovery, inclusion, resilience, and love — and of making good trouble.' Literary critic Ruby-May Barameh applauds the emotional honesty of the novel, writing, 'The emotional depth and vivid characterizations make this book a compelling read.' The late David Mixner, renowned human rights activist and author, commended the work as 'a celebration of the strength of human connection and diversity.' A Voice Rooted in Advocacy and Service Before stepping into fiction writing, Luke Adams was already a prominent figure in mental health advocacy and queer community organizing. His activist journey blossomed as a student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he participated in the anti-Apartheid divestment movement and worked directly with the African National Congress. He later earned advanced degrees in spiritualist ministry and psychology, grounding his career in both clinical and grassroots healing. Adams was appointed by former San Francisco mayors Willie Brown and Gavin Newsom to task forces focused on harm reduction and the methamphetamine epidemic. His contributions to queer activism include creating the first LGBTIA2Q+ youth organizing model now used globally — a project recognized in queer studies textbooks and further documented in the Wikipedia entry on New Pacific Academy.. Adams also served as a behavioral health protocol developer at San Francisco City Clinic, contributing to a three-year federally funded initiative for the Minority AIDS Initiative Targeted Capacity Expansion (MAI-TCE). From Practice to Pages Adams continues to offer mental health and coaching services through his private practice, supporting a diverse client base that includes entertainers, public figures, and people at the margins of society. His interdisciplinary expertise — combining psychological, spiritual, and activist methodologies — gives him a distinct narrative voice in contemporary queer literature. According to Adams, fiction became the next logical step. 'Fiction gave me a way to carry forward the human stories I've been entrusted with — stories of survival, of reclamation, and of becoming,' he said. 'This novel is dedicated to the power of chosen family, to queer magick, and to the gentle audacity of hope.' About Luke Adams, Author and Therapist Luke Adams is a fiction author and psychotherapist with a long-standing record in community health, queer activism, and public policy. His work spans education, mental health, and spiritual practice, always centering the liberation of marginalized voices. With a foundational career in HIV/AIDS activism and queer youth organizing, Adams brings a nuanced lens to both his clinical work and his creative writing. Chance Harvest is his debut novel. Media Contact Luke Adams, Fiction Author and Mental Health Specialist Email: [email protected] Contact Info: Name: Luke Adams Email: Send Email Organization: Luke Adams Website: Release ID: 89159668 If you encounter any issues, discrepancies, or concerns regarding the content provided in this press release, or if there is a need for a press release takedown, we urge you to notify us without delay at [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our expert team will be available to promptly respond within 8 hours – ensuring swift resolution of identified issues or offering guidance on removal procedures. Delivering accurate and reliable information is fundamental to our mission.
