A 21-year-old Blaine man who says he was sexually abused at age 15 by his youth group leader at a Spring Lake Park church is suing its religious leaders.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Hennepin County District Court on the man's behalf by attorneys with Jeff Anderson & Associates, names as defendants Emmanuel Christian Center of the Assemblies of God, former youth group leader Paul Alan Brandon and the Minnesota District Council of the Assemblies of God.
The lawsuit claims the plaintiff, who is not named in the suit, was sexually abused by Brandon in 2005 at church-sponsored Friday night sleepovers the youth pastor held at his home in Brooklyn Park. The lawsuit alleges church officials failed to provide a safe environment for children.
Dwight Denyes, senior pastor at Emmanuel Christian Center, said Brandon served as an unpaid volunteer in the church's student ministry beginning in October 2000 and has not been a volunteer since August 2006. The church has also done away with sleepovers.
In 2010, Brandon was convicted of criminal-sexual conduct for molesting the plaintiff and another victim during church-sponsored sleepovers.
Rose French • 612-673-4352
