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Lane County man sues Seventh-day Adventist Church for $5.25 million, alleges sex abuse

Wednesday, February 23, 2011, 5:27 PM     

By Lara Takenaga, The Oregonian

A Lane County man filed a $5.25 million lawsuit Wednesday in Portland against the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its international conference for alleged sexual abuse by a former Junction City youth group leader.

The 49-year-old man, referred to as C.B. in court documents, claims Les Bovee abused him multiple times over several months in 1975. He is suing for sexual battery of a child, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligence in Multnomah County Circuit Court.

His attorneys, Peter Janci and Steve Crew, said C.B. was 12 or 13 when the abuse began and that the boy told a church official after the first incident. Crew said the church investigated, but Bovee, now 66, was allowed to continue working with the Pathfinder Club, a coed Seventh-day Adventist organization similar to Scouting groups.

During a campout after the investigation, Bovee "told my client verbatim, 'They didn't believe you,'" and abused him again, Crew said.

The suit alleges that the church did not report Bovee to police or tell parents about the victim's abuse claims.

Bovee, who lives with his brother in Myrtle Point, could not be reached by telephone for comment.

Richard Whittemore, a Portland attorney representing the Seventh-day Adventists, said he had not seen the suit yet and couldn't comment on specific claims.

"However, the Seventh-day Adventist church condemns child abuse, and the church is saddened by the possibility of abuse potentially occurring within its ranks," he said.

Steve Vistaunet, a spokesman for the Seventh-day Adventists' Northwest headquarters, said in a written statement that the church "will do all we can to resolve this appropriately."

Bovee was prosecuted and convicted of molesting a minor in 1979 and 1980 in two separate cases, according to Lane County Circuit Court records. While the 1979 case was pending and Bovee was out on bail, he sexually abused another child, the court documents show. C.B. was not involved in any of the cases.

C.B. is seeking $5 million for the suffering caused by the alleged abuse and an additional $250,000 for counseling and psychiatric treatment, the suit says.

His lawyers said he decided to come forward after reading about the Boy Scout sexual-abuse cases last summer and realizing the long-term impact of Bovee's actions.

"He's definitely suffered from depression and anxiety and self-esteem issues, relationship issues." Crew said. "I think he's just now beginning to delve into that."

--Lara Takenaga

[Johann]

At least the attourney for the church meets it head-on with a postivie reaction. How much better if others would do the same.

[Adam]

Trust me this won't be the only headline you see involving the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

[Gailon Arthur Joy]

There is no question the Seventh-day Adventist Church institutions will be in the crosshairs of pedophile claims for as much as a decade.

Every single claim needs to be explored and tested for its fundamental veracity and the value of damages based upon a number of demographic and documented valuation factors.

If you stand and fight, it will take the profitability out of all but the most outrageous claims and plaintiff's counsel will be reluctant to commit to five years of furious litigation on a contingency basis with weak supporting evidence or dubious damages.

Resolving to make a stand will go far toward eliminating weakly supported claims.

Gailon Arthur Joy
AUReporter

[princessdi]

There was a similar incident here in Northern California.  I believe I posted it here at the time.  I think the conference had to pay that woman between $5-10m.  I was really surprised when she sisn't include GC in her suit, as her offender was "transferred"(sound familiar, people?) to CA from Idaho(where he was convicted and registered as a sex offender), and then from CA to Nevada, where he offended again and was put in prison.

[childoftheking]

The church is very good aout talking the talk. But will they walk the walk?

[princessdi]

GJ, you do realize that they supporters of TS believe the charges against him are also, "weakly supported cliams", right?

There is no question the Seventh-day Adventist Church institutions will be in the crosshairs of pedophile claims for as much as a decade.

Every single claim needs to be explored and tested for its fundamental veracity and the value of damages based upon a number of demographic and documented valuation factors.

If you stand and fight, it will take the profitability out of all but the most outrageous claims and plaintiff's counsel will be reluctant to commit to five years of furious litigation on a contingency basis with weak supporting evidence or dubious damages.

Resolving to make a stand will go far toward eliminating weakly supported claims.

Gailon Arthur Joy
AUReporter

[Bob Pickle]

GJ, you do realize that they supporters of TS believe the charges against him are also, "weakly supported cliams", right?

I for one do not believe they think that the allegations against Tommy are weakly supported. Consider how many different victims have come forward. They can't all be lying.

[Gailon Arthur Joy]

No, they do not...they simply live in abject denial!!!!

Rick's letter (his son) alone is simply compelling beyond reasonable doubt. Add the FORTY YEAR HISTORY and it is WAY beyond a reasonable doubt and EVERY FAMILY MEMBER KNOWS IT!!!

Gailon Arthur Joy
AUReporter

GJ, you do realize that they supporters of TS believe the charges against him are also, "weakly supported cliams", right?

There is no question the Seventh-day Adventist Church institutions will be in the crosshairs of pedophile claims for as much as a decade.

Every single claim needs to be explored and tested for its fundamental veracity and the value of damages based upon a number of demographic and documented valuation factors.

If you stand and fight, it will take the profitability out of all but the most outrageous claims and plaintiff's counsel will be reluctant to commit to five years of furious litigation on a contingency basis with weak supporting evidence or dubious damages.

Resolving to make a stand will go far toward eliminating weakly supported claims.

Gailon Arthur Joy
AUReporter

[princessdi]

Now, here is where we are in full agreement, Whether they don't believe allof the evidence or just discount it, they are in living denial for sure.

No, they do not...they simply live in abject denial!!!!