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	Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Filed against Methuen Church By Mark E. Vogler Eagle-Tribune May 15, 2008 http://www.eagletribune.com/punews/local_story_136041730.html METHUEN — A Boston law firm has filed a lawsuit against the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on behalf of a mother who says her young son was sexually abused by former church baby sitter Kevin Curlew at the Hill Avenue parish. The "John Doe" complaint filed this week in Lawrence Superior Court by Stanzler Levine LCC claims the church permitted Curlew to look after children despite a criminal record that included prior acts of sexual abuse. The church then failed to contact police after the mother notified church authorities about the abuse, the lawsuit alleges. "I brought this action only after it became came clear that the church's concern was not with my son's welfare, but with protecting themselves from bad publicity," the boy's mother is quoted as saying in a press release issued yesterday by attorney Liam Floyd of Stanzler Levine. "I was horrified that after I told the church officials about the abuse, they still allowed the perpetrator free reign at the church, and my son was terrified," said the woman, whose name was kept confidential to protect the boy's identity. Floyd said the boy suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and is in therapy to help deal with the trauma. The mother, who became a Mormon 20 years ago, left the church after reporting the abuse to officials in fall 2005, according to the law firm. Floyd could not be reached for comment last night. Curlew, 47, of Dracut is serving a nine- to 10-year prison sentence at MCI Cedar Junction. A Salem Superior Court jury convicted him in June 2006 of molesting a 9-year-old boy left in his care at the church two years earlier. At Curlew's sentencing, the prosecutor cited his past history — including charges of molesting a 4-year-old boy in Maine in 1981 — as well as two other boys there. Mention was also made of Curlew's admission to inappropriate conduct with a child in Lowell, though that did not lead to criminal charges. And after the allegations in this case became public, an estranged relative of Curlew came forward to say that Curlew had sexually abused her as a child as well. A key piece of evidence in the prosecution of Curlew was a lengthy confession to Methuen police in which he admitted to being a pedophile who should never be around children, that he had sexual fantasies about the boy, and that "I don't know if I could have stopped myself." During their investigation, police also arrested another church volunteer, librarian Peter Paquette of Andover, for failing to register as a sex offender. Methuen police detectives complained the church had not cooperated during the investigation. Police said Paquette and Curlew were friends. Curlew was volunteering at the church watching children while their parents attended meetings. Curlew had expressed interest in joining the church and was told he had to do volunteer service.
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