Churches face suit over abuse reporting
Court docs state counselor failed to report sexual abuse disclosure
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From staff reports
MIFFLINTOWN -- Three Juniata County religious organizations are facing a civil lawsuit alleging they failed to report a girl's disclosure of sexual abuse, allowing the abuse to continue and ultimately leading to her rape.
The lawsuit, filed June 16 in Juniata County Court, names Shepherd's Fold Counseling Ministry, Richfield Life Ministries Church and Cedar Grove Brethren in Christ Church as defendants. The plaintiff is represented by the law firm Andreozzi + Foote.
According to the complaint, the victim was sexually abused by Brian Timothy Wagner between 2006 and 2009. Wagner was convicted in April on multiple sex-related charges stemming from the abuse.
The lawsuit alleges that in 2009, when the victim was 13 and Wagner was 21, he took her to Shepherd's Fold Counseling Ministry for what was described as couples counseling, telling counselors she was struggling with the death of her mother.
During the counseling session, the girl disclosed the sexual abuse to Jerry O'Connell, a former pastor of Richfield Life Ministries Church who founded Shepherd's Fold Counseling Ministry after leaving the church in 2005, according to the lawsuit.
The complaint alleges O'Connell dismissed the allegations, failed to report the abuse to authorities and blamed the victim, telling her she was a "temptation" and that she was "going to hell."
The lawsuit states the girl did not return for additional counseling and alleges Wagner raped her later that summer.
According to the complaint, Shepherd's Fold Counseling Ministry operates as a nonprofit ministry sponsored by Richfield Life Ministries Church and Cedar Grove Brethren in Christ Church. The lawsuit alleges the two churches exercised control over the counseling ministry and are jointly responsible for its actions.
The suit contends the defendants failed to fulfill their obligations as mandated reporters and failed to establish adequate child abuse prevention policies, screening procedures and training. It further alleges that had the abuse been reported when it was disclosed, Wagner's later assault likely could have been prevented.
The plaintiff alleges she suffered severe emotional distress and other damages and is seeking punitive damages.