First Baptist Church of Columbia apologizes to victim of sex abuse

COLUMBIA (SC)
WACH FOX 57

February 2, 2018

By Michelle Zhu

A well-known Columbia church is at the center of a sex abuse lawsuit. The 7,000-member First Baptist Church reaching a settlement and apologizing to the victim in that case. The apology comes nearly four months after the victim’s parents filed suit against the church. They claim the child, who was 11 at the time, suffered injury and severe emotional distress.

The victim, who is referred to as Joel Doe in the lawsuit, is now 17 years old. The Suit says Andrew McCraw, who was a youth group leader at the church, inappropriately touched the victim and sent him sexually-charged text messages. According to the victim’s attorney, the family will be paid $300,000 and the church will accept responsibility for the incident. They’ve promised reforms to church policies.

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