Another Sex Abuse Victim Sues Former Children's Pastor and Church
By Patrick Ary
An abuse victim of a children's pastor at a Colbert County church is suing him and the church, claiming the church's actions enabled the pastor to commit crimes he's serving time for. The unidentified victim filed the lawsuit Monday against Jeffrey Dale Eddie and Highland Park Baptist Church in Colbert County Circuit Court. The victim, who is identified as John Doe in the lawsuit, claims Eddie abused him several times over a period from 2009 to 2013. The victim claims much of the abuse took place at Highland Park Baptist Church, mostly in Eddie's office and a storage closet attached to the office. Eddie, 44, is serving a 30-year sentence after pleading guilty to multiple counts of sodomy, sexual abuse and child pornography possession in 2014. He was accused of abusing multiple children during his 16 years with the church.
The lawsuit filed this week states that Eddie abused several children in his role as a children's pastor at Highland Park Baptist Church, including the plaintiff. Eddie, who also served as a church administrator, used his position to facilitiate the abuse and also to buy gifts for his victims, the lawsuit alleges. The church is accused of hiring and not properly training or supervising Eddie. The lawsuit seeks compensation and punitive damages by way of a jury trial. This is the third lawsuit filed against Eddie and the church. The first lawsuit was filed in federal court in July 2014, and two other victims sued in Colbert County in May. Contact: pary@waaytv.com
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