MS - Child predator loses pharmacy license
At a public meeting today of the Mississippi Board of Pharmacy, the board accepted the voluntarily revocation of Rev. John Langworthy’s pharmacy license. Last month, Langworthy pled guilty to charges involving the sexual abuse of five boys between 1980 and 1984.
Langworthy was licensed as a Pharmacy Technician on November 28, 2011.
We are grateful for this decision,” said Mark Belenchia, SNAP’s Mississippi leader. “This will keep him out of a position that gives him authority and access to drugs that he could to abuse more kids. Consequently, kids in Mississippi are safer.”
“We are disappointed that he got a license in the first place,” said Amy Smith of Houston, a former colleague of Langworthy’s at a church there. “We still want the Pharmacy Board to explain how this happened and thoroughly review its procedures so that a child molester is not able to do this again. Vigilance must be the priority in the protection of children, so just because this one predator lost his license does not mean the process is fixed.
SNAP leaders are concerned because in order to get his license, Langworthy would have needed to pass a background check in order to prove he is of “good moral character.”
SNAP is also concerned because his job at Medicap Pharmacy in Clinton, MS could feasibly put Langworthy within access to drugs with which he could tempt young children today as he did in the 1980’s.
“Any time a predator is given a title or position of responsibility, he or she will try to use it to win the trust of parents and get close to kids,” said David Clohessy, SNAP Director. “Given Langworthy’s criminal record and history, we feel he is unworthy of this title.”
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director