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	Lawsuit Settled in Newberg Christian School Sex Abuse Case By Eric Mortenson The Oregonian May 15, 2007 http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2007/05/lawsuit_settled_in_newberg_chr.html Newberg — A thorough background check during the hiring process would have raised questions about two basketball coaches later convicted of sexually abusing three girls at a Newberg Christian school, an attorney representing the girls said. Portland attorney Kelly Clark announced a settlement Tuesday in the lawsuit he filed on the girls' behalf against Open Bible Christian School and Church. The settlement amount is confidential, he said, but the 2006 lawsuit in Yamhill County Circuit Court asked for $1 million each for emotional damages. The young women who were victimized, now ranging in age from 17 to 20, were members of the school's basketball team during the 2004-05 season. Two of them told police that coaches Edward Todd Woods and Christopher Charles Lasiter took them to Woods' home, got them drunk and sexually abused them. Lasiter had intercourse with one of the girls, and each of the girls reported other incidents of sexual abuse, according to Clark's lawsuit. Woods and Lasiter pleaded guilty and were sentenced to six months in jail. Woods was hired as a basketball coach and Lasiter got a coaching job at the school because he was a friend of Woods, Clark said. A background check "would have found a bunch of stuff inconsistent with the idea of being a role model at a Christian school," Clark said. The men did not have prior sexual misconduct, but their records included drunken driving charges, driving while suspended, evictions and child support action, he said. In addition, Woods would not have gotten a favorable recommendation from a previous school employer due to "character issues," Clark maintained. "It's the kind of situation where you say, well, in this day and age, how can a Christian school not call character references?" Clark said. "Wherever else you cut corners, you don't do it in the hiring process," he said. The school principal did not return a call seeking comment. —Eric Mortenson; ericmortenson@news.oregonian.com
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