June 18, 2005

Third youth leader accused of child sexual abuse

CHINO (CA)
Daily Bulletin

By Mason Stockstill, Staff Writer

CHINO - A third youth leader at a Chino church has been accused of child sexual abuse, according to new court documents.

Several additional plaintiffs have joined the lawsuit against Inland Community Church, which was initially filed in February when a family alleged two daughters were abused by youth counselors at the church.

The amended complaint, filed last week in San Bernardino Superior Court, now names Sunday school teacher Kelly Cisneros as a defendant alongside the church pastor and two other former counselors.

The five plaintiffs accuse Cisneros, Joel Kessler and Bill Wayne Lowder of abusing them when they were children. Four of the plaintiffs are now adults.

"This isn't something that occurred one time," said attorney Stephen Moran, who is representing the plaintiffs. "This is a pattern of conduct that went on for an extensive period of time."

Posted by kshaw at June 18, 2005 08:25 AM