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BENTON, Ark. \u2013 Two men are seeking justice after they claim they were sexually abused by a former employee of the First Baptist Church of Benton when they were teens.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit filed in Pulaski County alleges the church and the entire Southern Baptist Convention knew or should have known the man posed a danger to the youth.<\/p>\n
\nLawsuit filed against The Lord\u2019s Ranch youth facility in central Arkansas, claiming staff member sexually abused its children<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The lawsuit claims the two men were sexually abused starting in 1994 by a former church employee who was fired after being arrested for 54 counts of sexual indecency in 2009.<\/p>\n
The 2009 arrest involving four juveniles associated with the church led to a 10-year sentence for the former church employee. That arrest and conviction were for a case that does not involve the two men filing this current lawsuit.<\/p>\n
Mary Liu with Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC is the lawyer representing the two men. She said they want justice from the First Baptist Church of Benton for putting this man in a position to sexually harm them.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe church knew or at least should have known that he was dangerous,\u201d Liu stated.<\/p>\n
The lawsuit claims sexual abuse took place at the First Baptist Church of Benton and at least one other church-affiliated location starting in 1994 when the two alleged victims were around 14 years of age.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cOur clients have been traumatized and will continue to be traumatized for the rest of their lives,\u201d Liu said.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Liu said the two plaintiffs are now in their 40s and that \u201cmost survivors of childhood sexual abuse do not disclose until they are 52.\u201d<\/p>\n