Bishop Eddie Long | Fourth Accuser Speaks out, by Shelia M. Poole, Atlanta Journal-Constitution , September 29, 2010

Bishop Eddie Long | Fourth Accuser Speaks out

By Shelia M. Poole
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
September 29, 2010

http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/bishop-eddie-long-fourth-646389.html

Spencer LeGrande, the fourth young man to file a lawsuit accusing Bishop Eddie Long of sexual misconduct, said Wednesday he continues to pray for the megachurch pastor.

Spencer LeGrande, the fourth young man to file a lawsuit accusing Bishop Eddie Long of sexual misconduct, spoke to Channel 2 Action News.

Bishop Eddie Long prepares to speak at a news conference, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2010, at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta. Bishop Eddie Long, the pastor of a Georgia megachurch accused of luring young men into sexual relationships, has told his congregation of thousands that all people must face painful and distasteful situations. (AP Photo/John Amis, Pool)

"I pray for him too," he said. "I really do."

LeGrande, 22, who was interviewed by Channel 2 Action News at his home in Charlotte, N.C., said he told his family and a few friends, including a police officer, about the sexual relationship, but he didn't decide to come forward until he heard others had accused the bishop of sexual coercion.

"They said bishop has been accused of something, and my heart dropped," he said. "And that was my time that God told me to release what I had to say."

LeGrande first met Long when he was 15 and a member at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, where he and his mother were among the founding families, according to his suit. He said they first had sex when he was 17 and on a trip with Long to Nairobi, Kenya. He later moved to Atlanta.

He said that in the time since he filed the suit, he has "been free."

"Once God's time is ready for it to expose everything it's going to happen, and I just ... want people to know to keep praying," he said. "Keep praying for our strength and for us getting through this."

The three other plaintiffs, Maurice Robinson, Anthony Flagg and Jamal Parris, also allege that Long coerced them into having sex. They claim he took them on international trips and bought them gifts and cars. The lawsuits seek a jury trial and undisclosed damages. All four of the plaintiffs have sued Long and his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia.

Long denies the allegations. He made his first public appearance since the lawsuits were filed on Sunday when he addressed thousands of his congregants during two worship services. "This thing I'm going to fight," he told cheering church members. He said he planned to "vigorously" defend himself but would not play out the drama in the media spotlight.

Attorney B.J. Bernstein, who represents the plaintiffs, has tried to keep the young men under wraps, but two have done television interviews about Long. Bernstein's office said she would have no comment about the interviews.

On Tuesday, Parris, 23, told WAGA-TV that he loved Longbut now considers him "a monster."

"I'm always going to have love for the things that he taught me," Parris said. "But how he left us hurt worse than anything I ever felt in my life."

Parris said it was not easy to speak out.

"So, while the media and the rest of the people around the city, around the country look at us like how could grown men let another man touch him, what you have to understand is this man has manipulated us since childhood," he said. "This was our father and we loved him."

Long, speaking to his New Birth congregation Tuesday night, did not directly address the allegations against him or the individuals involved, but called the situation "spiritual warfare," according to Channel 2.

Dressed in a tight muscle shirt and vest, Long said that if he thought people believed media reports on the scandal, "I'd be scared to show up, I'd be scared to look at you. But there's something in me bigger than the situation."

Also on Wednesday, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution examined the 1985 divorce settlement from Long's first marriage. Dabara S. Houston said in court papers that she had been the victim of "cruel treatment" and was afraid of Long's "violent and vicious temper."

The couple was married in 1981 and separated after a couple years, the documents show. Long's first wife made the abuse allegation in a counterclaim after he petitioned for divorce. Houston, who lives in North Carolina, could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

In a statement to the AJC Wednesday afternoon, Long's attorney, Craig Gillen, said, "The allegations of a divorce pleading that is nearly 30 years old are absolutely ‘not true.' It's offensive and disappointing that the media would drag up these outrageous allegations and make them a part of their reporting."Staff writers Ty Tagami and Christian Boone contributed to this article.