Latest news with #Peoplev.Preds
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
S.F. theater director resigns after anti-predator group posts alleged ‘catch' video
The executive director of Boxcar Theatre in San Francisco resigned Sunday, the organization said, after anonymous internet vigilantes accused him of attempting to meet up with someone who had posed online as a 14-year-old boy. The former executive director, Nick Olivero, did not immediately respond to the Chronicle's requests for comment on Monday. 'A private citizen's social media accounts personally accused Nick Olivero of sending inappropriate digital messages to someone who presented as a minor,' Boxcar Theatre said in a statement on its Facebook and Instagram accounts on Monday. 'We are shocked and appalled by these allegations and take them very seriously,' the statement said. 'Thankfully, we have expert leadership ready to assume executive duties and keep Boxcar Theatre's mission moving forward.' The social media account making the accusations, People v. Preds, had more than 67,000 followers on X and more than 24,000 on Facebook as of Monday. It referred to Olivero as 'Catch 540.' Around the country, a group of often unaffiliated groups has in recent years engaged in what is often called 'predator catching,' seeking to trick online targets into meeting with people pretending to be children and then filming the encounters. The phenomenon resembles the 20-year-old NBC show 'To Catch a Predator.' While these groups sometimes work with law enforcement and have prompted arrests, the methods are controversial, in part because the groups may be partially motivated by the prospect of making money or gaining online fame. Proving the cases in court can also be difficult. The Aug. 8 thread by People v. Preds contains a video showing a person strongly resembling Olivero walking out of a grocery store, into a parking garage and onto a street. The vigilante group said the store is in San Diego. A person holding a camera follows the man, saying, 'Yo, Nick, I have pictures of you, bro. I can turn it into the cops.' Then: 'You're here to meet a 14-year-old kid, dude,' and 'This ain't gonna look too good, dude.' Another video in the same thread shows what People v. Preds described as a text conversation with Olivero. One side identifies himself as Tim, who says he's 'bout to be 15' and that he 'can't put 14 on grindr :(.' David Oates, a spokesperson for Boxcar's board of directors, told the Chronicle that the board had planned to meet Monday to discuss Olivero's status with the company, but that Olivero resigned before they could do so. Managing Director Stefani Pelletier and Executive Producer Laura Drake Chambers will take over Olivero's duties. The conduct alleged in the vigilante group's posts appears to be unrelated to any activity by Boxcar Theatre. Boxcar Theatre was founded in 2005 and built a reputation for daring, gritty work. It had planned to mount the Halloween-themed show 'Nightmare: House on Franklin St.' at the Haas-Lilienthal House beginning in September, but that show has been canceled, Oates said. 'The company is working on a new haunted house production concept,' he said. The Chronicle last year investigated allegations of bullying, sexual harassment, racism, violence, wage theft, retaliation and more at the San Francisco theater company, which produced the long-running but troubled immersive, Prohibition-era show 'The Speakeasy.'
Hindustan Times
04-08-2025
- Hindustan Times
Who is Roger Haenke? On camera, San Diego pastor busted for allegedly messaging underage boys on Grindr
A San Diego pastor was busted by the group People v. Preds for allegedly messaging who he believed were 14 and 15-year-old boys on Grindr. The group says online, 'We catch online preds that prey on children.' Who is Roger Haenke? On camera, San Diego pastor busted for allegedly messaging underage boys on Grindr (@peoplevpreds/X) A video of Reverend Roger Haenke's interaction with members of People v. Preds has surfaced online. The clip shows Haenke, with St. John's Episcopal Church, emerging from his home with his husband after being confronted. While Haenke thought he was chatting with teenage boys, he was actually talking to members of People v. Preds waiting to bust him. Read More | Audrii Cunningham's family says suspect's name didn't show up in sex offender registration system: 'System failed us' On camera, Haenke admitted that he used the gay dating app. However, on being asked how many underage boys he has been talking to, he smacked the camera away. As the pastor turned to go back into his home, the group vowed to share the chat log with the church. Who is Roger Haenke? According to St. John's Episcopal Church's website, Haenke was born in Hastings, Minnesota and was raised in Rugby, North Dakota. He completed his BA in Business Administration with a concentration in Health Care, and later attended St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. Haenke was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on June 1, 1991. Over the years, he served churches in Jamestown, Grand Forks, Fargo, and New Rockford, North Dakota. 'After much discernment, Rev. Roger decided to leave active ministry as a priest of the Roman Catholic Church. He attended the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN where he completed a B.S. in Nursing. Rev. Roger worked as a pediatric nurse, then as an administrator for the Pediatric Specialty Clinics at the University of Minnesota Medical Center and then similarly at Seattle Children's in Bellevue, WA,' the website says. 'While in Seattle, Rev. Roger was an active member at St. Mark's Cathedral, where he was received into The Episcopal Church. Rev. Roger moved to San Diego in July of 2008, where he has held nursing director positions for Sharp Healthcare, St. Paul's Senior Services and as a clinic director for Family Health Centers of San Diego. Rev. Roger currently teaches nursing at San Diego State University, and will continue doing so in a part-time capacity,' it adds. The website explains that Haenke's transition to the Episcopal Church in San Diego 'was strengthened by his active ministry in St. Paul's Cathedral.' It adds, 'After several years of discernment and preparation, Rev. Roger was received as an Episcopal priest in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego by Bishop James Mathes on May 26, 2017. While preparing to be an Episcopal priest, Rev. Roger completed an eight-month pastoral field education assignment at St. John's, Chula Vista.' Haneke served a summer internship with St. Andrew's, Encinitas, before starting a curacy with Holy Cross, Carlsbad in September, 2017. In February 2019, he was named Interim Vicar of Holy Cross. He was later also elected to the diocesan Executive Council. The website says that Haenke 'has a passion for walking with others on their journey of faith' and is 'constantly in awe and celebrates with joy the action of the Divine in people's lives.'
