Judge: Sexual assault victims can stay anonymous in suit against Lenexa church

By Toriano Porter
Kansas City Star
October 11, 2016

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article105972327.html

Westside Family Church’s attorney was denied his request to lift the anonymity in court proceedings of sexual assault victims suing the church. Photo by Jill Toyoshiba

In a case scheduled to go to jury trial next year, a judge has ruled that two victims of sexual assault who filed a civil lawsuit against a Lenexa church will remain anonymous in court proceedings.

Johnson County District Court Judge Kevin Moriarty granted the plantiffs’ motion to proceed in the case using pseudonyms for the young victims and their mother. The ruling was issued Sept. 20.

Two girls — identified as Jane Doe 31 and Jane Doe 32 in court papers — and their guardian sued Westside Family Church in June, saying it knowingly let teen sex offender Kessler Lichtenegger be around kids.

Lichtenegger pleaded guilty last year to attempted rape and attempted electronic solicitation involving the two victims, who at the time were under age 14 and attended the church. He is serving a 17-year sentence for those crimes.

Moriarty also denied defense attorney Bradley Russell’s motion to dismiss the suit, which is scheduled for jury trial next August.