Peter “Pete” Daniel Newman worked at Kanakuk Kamps, a popular Christian summer camp based in Branson, Missouri, from 1996 until 2009, at which point he confessed to crimes against children as the Director of K-Kountry (Kanakuk's camp for elementary-aged kids). He held various other student ministry and child-facing volunteer/employee roles before and after his Kanakuk tenure.

Newman was sentenced in 2010 to two life terms plus 30 years in Missouri state prison for numerous sex crimes against children. He was described as “the most prolific child molestor I have ever dealt with” by the prosecutor residing over his case:

• At the time of Newman's sentencing, prosecutors were aware of at least 57 alleged victims, but they estimated a true victim count in the hundreds. Clinical experts have estimated that Newman's victim count is actually in the thousands.
  
• Additional warrants exist/ed for Newman's arrest in other states and jurisdictions outside of Missouri, due to the global nature of his crimes. Newman sexually groomed and abused children across the United States and internationally on “mission trips.” Witnesses allege that Newman was creating CSAM (“child sexual abuse material") of boys in countries as far away as China on “Kanakuk International” trips.
  
• Several of Newman's friends and colleagues (fellow Kanakuk employees) have also been convicted of child sexual abuse, including Lee Bradberry, Ed Ringheim and Paul Kerr.
  
• At least 17 suicides are suspected to be related to sexual abuse and Newman's crimes against kids at Kanakuk Kamps.
  
• Newman used emotional and spiritual abuse tactics to groom and maintain minor victims. The prosecutor in his sentencing stated that “Mr. Newman told these children that this sexual abuse was a step on the spiritual path to maintain purity when actually he was trying to satisfy his own sexual desires.” He would often send and solicit explicit images on his cell phones and devices, which were not thoroughly investigated for this material in the criminal case. He deceived victims' parents to earn their trust and would stay in campers' homes across the country. A lot of his abuse occurred in hot tubs, hotel rooms and showers and also at Newman's personal residence in Branson, Missouri, during the camp season and year round.
  

While on bail and under criminal investigation, Newman repeatedly violated requirements and restrictions limiting his access to children and past victims:

• In June of 2009, after Kanakuk terminated Newman's employment and while under criminal investigation for child sexual abuse, he was photographed at a family festival in Georgia, surrounded by families with children.
  
• After he was terminated from his role at Kanakuk, Newman stayed in touch with his victims. A victim's father submitted this statement, which was read at Newman's 2010 sentencing:
  

  “Even after Pete was fired from camp he stayed in touch with my family. When Pete spoke to my son on the phone, Pete would ask him to get somewhere private, and then he would ask him if he told anybody. He always - he would always tell my son that he was Pete's favorite camper. And that if he told anyone they would not be able to be friends anymore.”
  

• While out on bond, Newman was caught four feet from a McDonald's “Play Place” playground area for children. His bail terms stipulated “no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 17, no contact with victim or victims family.”
  
• While incarcerated, Newman has maintained contact with various victims. He has written letters to multiple victims, including at least one who claims he did not give permission for Newman to contact him. The warden was notified about this violation.