COLUMBIA (SC)
WIS-TV, Channel 10

October 17, 2017

By Caroline Patrickis

A popular Columbia church is at the center of a lawsuit claiming sex abuse – again.

The family of a teen filed a civil lawsuit in Richland County against First Baptist Church of Columbia accusing a former youth ministry volunteer of sex abuse last week.

The attorneys behind the lawsuit say they’re hoping to unseal documents in a previous civil lawsuit case from years ago. Among many allegations is that the church did not notify the police department about on-going sex abuse happening in the church.

The church is no stranger to child sex assault allegations: in 2002, the church was sued after a man was convicted of abusing a minor more than once at First Baptist Church.

The attorney behind this lawsuit, John Simmons, says he’s filed a motion to uncover the details in that case…