KANSAS
KCTV
[with video]
By Kylie Callura, Digital Producer
kylie.callura2@kctv5.com
By Jeanene Kiesling, Reporter
LENEXA, KS (KCTV) –
A Lenexa church is facing a hefty lawsuit after a teenage member sexually abused children and one of the assaults happened at the church.
In October 2015, Kessler Lichtenegger was convicted on half a dozen charges including rape and sodomy after he was accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl in the parking lot of the Westside Family Church. He was also accused of using social media to make sexual advances toward an 11-year-old girl who was also a member of the church.
On Wednesday, the young girls’ families filed a lawsuit against the church insisting church leaders knew Lichtenegger had a previous conviction for sexual assault from 2012.
“We weren’t aware of events of 2012 where he was convicted of some kind of sexual offense,” said Brad Russell, who represents the church.
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