West Texas Megachurch Sued for $50m; Volunteer Pastor Accused of Sex Assault

By Brooke Self
Fox 28
January 14, 2016

http://myfox28columbus.com/news/nation-world/massive-west-texas-megachurch-sued-for-50m-volunteer-pastor-accused-of-molestation

Randy Castillo, 28, has been charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault of a child and two counts of sexual assault of a child. (Photo: Randall County Sheriff's Office)

A lawsuit is being filed against Trinity Fellowship Church in Amarillo -- one of the largest churches in West Texas -- over accusations that one of the volunteer pastors molested a girl.

The lawsuit is being filed by the law firm of Glasheen, Valles & Inderman, LLP on behalf of the child. The suit alleges the girl was subjected to sexual abuse by a volunteer youth group leader at the church.

In a statement provided by Trinity Fellowship Church the church stated that Randy Castillo served as an occasional volunteer in the Children's Ministry from October 2012 to July 2014. They said Castillo was not, at any time, employed by the church, given the title of Pastor, or even referred to as such.

TFC said Castillo occasionally served on the volunteer team, where he worked with 4-year-olds in the early childhood ministry. He also served at the summer camp for 1st through 4th graders in 2014.

According to TFC, Castillo underwent the required screening process to ensure he was not a registered sex offender prior to becoming a volunteer. He also attended a series of classes, furthering his volunteer training, in the fall of 2013. The church said Castillo also passed another background check in May 2014, before serving at the summer camp.

A member of TFC's pastoral staff confronted Castillo with concerns in August of 2014, TFC said. The concerns regarded a suggestion of improper contact with a minor female over SnapChat. Castillo denied the allegation, but was removed from volunteer services at TFC as a "precautionary measure."

The church said they took no further action because there were no records to substantiate the allegations.

According to TFC, after they were notified of Castillo's arrest in January of 2015, the pastoral staff cooperated fully with the Amarillo Police Department in their investigation. They said there is no evidence Castillo met the minor at the church or that the allegations happened during activities that took place on church property or during church-sponsored events.

The press release provided by the law firm alleges Randy Castillo, who was referred to as "Pastor Randy," utilized his position in the church to interact with multiple young female attendees at TFC. Attorneys said in addition to inappropriately communicating with the girl, Castillo sexually molested the minor on numerous occasions.

Glasheen, Valles & Inderman, LLP are filing the lawsuit against TFC because they allege the church was informed of Castillo's inappropriate relationships with children he met through the church. The law firm said the church was informed about Castillo's requests for pornographic materials from young girls and they never alerted authorities or parents, allowing the abuse to continue.

The press release provided by the law firm also alleges Castillo is a resident of Winkler County, Texas, but would travel to Amarillo to work as a volunteer pastor.

"We sued Trinity Church because we have learned that the church had information about Pastor Randy asking junior-high-aged girls for nude pictures," attorney Kevin Glasheen said. "The church failed to report that fact to any authorities or the parents of these children. The church instead allowed Pastor Randy to continue to participate in church activities. As a direct result of the church's neglect, Pastor Randy was able to continue sexually assaulting my minor female client for months. The abuse didn't stop until the victim's mom found suspicious texts on her daughter's phone and confronted her. We believe this conduct was not isolated to our client and ask that anyone with additional information including other victims please come forward and contact us."

As of Wednesday, this is merely an allegation against the church and the lawsuit seeks $50 million in damages.

Castillo has been charged in Randall County with two counts of aggravated assault on a child and two counts of sexual assault on a child.