Stanko Loses Another Case Before the Montana Supreme Court
Adding to his string of losses in court, Billings-area racist Rudy Stanko's claim that the Fergus County jail violated his constitutional rights were thwarted by the Montana Supreme Court. Stanko's complaints came from a 120-day sentence he served for reckless driving convictions. Stanko's lawsuit said the jail denied him the right to practice his religion.
Stanko is the self-proclaimed Pontifex Maximus of the racist Church of the Creator (COTC). COTC has a long history of violence. In the early 1990s, a COTC "Reverend" was charged with murdering a Persian Gulf War veteran, and other COTC activists were implicated in a plot to assassinate Rodney King. Most of the country became aware of COTC in July 1999 when Benjamin Smith went on a shooting spree in Chicago over the July 4th weekend. The rampage left two dead and eight wounded. COTC believes there will be a "RAHOWA," or racial holy war, that will cleanse the Earth of non-whites.
During the 1990s, there was a leadership struggle in COTC. Stanko had been named as a possible successor to the group's founder, Ben Klassen. However, Klassen committed suicide before settling on a new leader. Matt Hale eventually became the recognized leader of the group which is now known as the World Church of the Creator. However, Stanko has continued to use the title and sell COTC's books through his business, Creator Publishing. Hale claims Stanko was excommunicated from COTC and says, "Mr. Stanko is making a living off our money and selling our books" and is "interested in Rudy Stanko, and not the future of Creativity."
In his case against Fergus County jail, Stanko claimed he wasn't given meals suitable to COTC's concept of "salubrious living." Salubrious living, possibly COTC's only palatable belief, focuses on eating only organic foods. COTC believes all illness is caused by bad nutrition. Stanko also said he lost $1,000,0000 while he was incarcerated.
The Montana Supreme Court ruled the jail met state standards and did not violate Stanko's rights. It also threw out his demand for damages, saying he failed to follow proper procedure.
This case is not Stanko's first brush with the legal system. In the 1980s, Stanko was convicted of selling tainted meat to school lunch programs. In November 1999, the Montana Supreme Court denied Stanko access to women's prisons as a reverend of COTC. In March 2000, he was issued numerous citations when he drove his speedboat onto the shore of the Yellowstone River. In June 2000, he was fined for detaining a woman by handcuffing her to a staircase in his residence.