BENTON (AR)
Fox 16 News [Little Rock, AR]
February 15, 2024
By Gary Burton Jr.
Two men are seeking justice after they claim they were sexually abused by a former employee of the First Baptist Church of Benton when they were teens.
The lawsuit filed in Pulaski County alleges the church and the entire Southern Baptist Convention knew or should have known the man posed a danger to the youth.
The lawsuit claims the two men were sexually abused starting in 1994 by a former church employee who was fired after being arrested for 54 counts of sexual indecency in 2009.
The 2009 arrest involving four juveniles associated with the church led to a 10-year sentence for the former church employee. That arrest and conviction were for a case that does not involve the two men filing this current lawsuit.
Mary Lui with Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC is the lawyer representing the two men. She said they want justice from the First Baptist Church of Benton for putting this man in a position to sexually harm them.
“The church knew or at least should have known that he was dangerous,” Lui stated.
The lawsuit claims sexual abuse took place at the First Baptist Church of Benton and at least one other church-affiliated location starting in 1994 when the two alleged victims were around 14 years of age.
“Our clients have been traumatized and will continue to be traumatized for the rest of their lives,” Lui said.
Liu said the two plaintiffs are now in their 40s and that “most survivors of childhood sexual abuse do not disclose until they are 52.”
The lawsuit alleges that the former church official “kept a chart of measurements of their genitalia,” and that “he engaged in masturbation.”
The lawsuit also claims he would take the two plaintiffs and other boys on fishing trips where they were abused.Former patients, including children, sue Benton rehabilitation facility claiming sexual assault
According to the documents, in 2008, one of the victims told the pastor of First Baptist, Rick Grant, about the alleged sexual abuse that took place when they were teens.
The lawsuit claims that instead of reporting the church employee to law enforcement, Grant suggested that the employee apologize to each victim in order to keep his job with First Baptist.
The lawsuit said that two weeks after meeting with Grant, one of the plaintiffs met with Grant and the former church employee. It states that the former church employee explained to the plaintiff that “he has experienced a ‘rough patch’ when he abused AWKO DOE 47 and other victims.”
“They were under their care, custody and control at the time of their abuse, and they didn’t protect them,” Lui said.
Grant shared a statement in response to the lawsuit:
On Wednesday, January 24, we were made aware of a civil lawsuit that was filed earlier that day in Pulaski County regarding convicted abuser David Pierce with respect to his actions from over 15 years ago. Mr. Pierce was terminated from his employment, had no further involvement with the Church, and was subsequently prosecuted and convicted of his crimes. Mr. Pierce served a sentence in the Arkansas Department of Corrections. Our membership was made aware in 2009 of the investigation concerning his actions. Opportunities were made to provide licensed counseling, free of charge, to any affected individual needing such services, and which counseling would be provided by counselors who were not employed by the Church.
Last year, we were made aware of the potential for a civil lawsuit. In April 2023, our Senior Pastor, from the pulpit, made our membership aware of the potential civil litigation. The church family was made aware of the actual filing of the lawsuit on Sunday, January 28th.
The church will continue to cooperate with any investigation regarding the allegations made in this lawsuit, and will work with its legal counsel to respond appropriately to the lawsuit.
It is our hope and prayer that those victimized by Mr. Pierce’s actions can be healed and comforted.”
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BENTON PASTOR RICK GRANT
Liu said she plans to hold First Baptist and others responsible for the church employee’s alleged actions.
She said she believes there are more victims of the former church employee out there and hopes to help them too.