Christian Camp Sued for Failure to Ensure Camper Safety

Daily America
December 10, 2012

www.dailyamerican.com/news/somerset/da-ot-summers-best-two-weeks-named-in-sexual-assault-lawsuit-20121210,0,5182108.story

Somerset County courthouse

The lawsuit claims the camp and the church failed to follow protocol when hiring Eric DeVries and failed to take action when the allegations surfaced. According to the lawsuit, the assaults took place in Pennsylvania and Virginia between 2003 and 2005 when the plaintiffs were between 13 and 17 years old. DeVries is not listed as a defendant in the lawsuit.

“Between 2001-2005, VPC provided DeVries with a breeding ground of young girls who he psychologically and spiritually manipulated, groomed and ultimately sexually assaulted,” attorney Benjamin D. Andreozzi of Harrisburg wrote in the lawsuit.

Many of the sexual assaults occurred during church outings to the camp and Seven Springs Mountain Resort, according to the lawsuit.

DeVries was never charged with a crime in Somerset County court, according to the clerk of courts. On Dec. 1, 2004, DeVries was charged with one count of delinquency of a minor in Fairfax County General District Court in Virginia. According to the court’s juvenile and domestic court records section, two hearings were held and a judge dismissed the charge on Jan. 29, 2007. The lawsuit states that DeVries pleaded guilty to the criminal offense in 2006.

The Vienna Presbyterian Church is a nonprofit religious organization based in Vienna, Va. The church’s attorney, David Rhode of Harrisburg, was at trial Monday and unavailable for comment.

Summer’s Best Two Weeks is a nonprofit business organization that operates a residential Christian sports, recreation and wilderness camp at 111 Lake Gloria Road in Boswell. The camp’s attorney, Thomas P. Birris of Pittsburgh, did not respond to a request on his voice mail for comment Monday.

Andreozzi explained the time lapse between when the alleged abuse occurred and when the lawsuit was filed this year.

“The girls had a very difficult time processing what happened,” he said. “They want closure. I had some cases where the victim actually thinks it is a consenting relationship. But years later they understand to the contrary that in fact they were manipulated and sexually exploited.”

The three woman are listed as Jane Doe No. 1,  2 and 3 in the lawsuit. They state in the lawsuit that they are using these identities because they were minors at the time they were assaulted by DeVries.