In a courts martial held Dec. 20 and Dec. 21 at the First Coast Guard District, Boston, Lt. Junior Grade Jay Coker pleaded guilty to 12 specifications of violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Several incidents happened in February 2005 when Coker was in Homer. He admitted to pulling down the pants of two boys in an Arby's Restaurant bathroom and to kidnapping a child from the basement of the Homer Christian Church.

"We pray for the fellow that he would have a healed heart," Ralph Crane, an elder at Homer Christian Church, said of Coker's conviction.

Coker was charged with 18 specifications. In an agreement with the Coast Guard, six of those specifications were withdrawn and dismissed.

The Coast Guard takes the charges seriously, said Lt. Cmdr. Benjamin Benson, a public affairs officer with the First coast Guard District, Boston.

"We want the public to see that when we find situations like this, we take appropriate action and deal with it in an honest and upfront way," Benson said.

Coker joined the Coast Guard in August 2003 and was on the Hickory from August 2004 to July 2005.

Coker pleaded guilty to charges of taking indecent liberties with children in the Arby's Restaurant incident and that he took a child out of the basement of the Homer Christian Church. He had been previously counseled by church leaders about inappropriate conduct with children. A second charge that he took away against his will a boy from the Homer Christian Church was dismissed.

In other charges, Coker pleaded guilty to kidnapping a child near the Father Capodanno Memorial Chapel, Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, N.Y., in March 2006, and in August 2006 kidnapping a child at a Coast Guard family picnic at Fort Wadsworth.

Charges that he lied to the Coast Guard about a prior felony conviction and made false statements were dismissed, as was a charge that he inappropriately tickled and touched a boy.

Coker pleaded guilty to other incidents of inappropriate sexual conduct that took place between November 2005 and August 2006 in Rhode Island and New York, including pulling down a boy's pants at the Father Capodanno Memorial Chapel. He also pleaded guilty to using his position as a Coast Guard officer to get close to children and for general conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman.

A military judge sentenced Coker to 30 years in prison. Under an agreement with Coker, in exchange for his pleading guilty to the 12 charges, he is to serve no more than 12 years in prison provided he successfully completes a sex offender treatment program and fulfills other conditions. He is in custody at the Naval Consolidated Brig, Charleston, S.C., and awaiting transfer to the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Crane said as a result of Coker's conduct at Homer Christian Church, church leaders took classes in recognizing pedophile behavior and its effects on victims. He encouraged other groups that work with children or have adult contact with children to learn about inappropriate behavior by adults toward children.

"Recognition and awareness is something we couldn't overemphasize," he said.

South Peninsula Haven House staff offer presentations to adults and children on how to be aware of inappropriate behavior, said Peg Coleman, executive director of Haven House. For example, children learn about "safe touch," or what is appropriate touching by adults. Warning signs to look out for include excessive interest by an adult in a child, an adult asking children to keep secrets or a child saying he or she is uncomfortable with an adult, she said.

Coleman cautioned that adults shouldn't interrogate children if they suspect sexual abuse. The best course is to notify police or child protection agencies. Staff are trained to interview children without making children feel shame.

"If you have a suspicion, have your child talk to an expert," she said. "Let the police do the investigation. They really do a good job of not scaring children."

Coleman urged people to report to police or troopers suspect behavior by adults toward children Ñ even if a person or group isn't required by law to make a mandatory report.

"When we don't report, we're leaving a perpetrator to do more harm to other children," she said.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.