The civil case against a Morehead church and its former youth pastor is headed to trial.
The case is in regards to Jacob Steagall, 30, who was arrested on one count of indecent exposure in September, 2020. Four alleged victims came forward saying he had exposed himself to them on different occasions beginning in 2016 while he was employed as a youth pastor at Better Life Church: a position from which he resigned in the wake of the investigation.
Steagall entered an Alford plea in the criminal case, meaning the accused does not admit to the charges, but acknowledges there is sufficient evidence to convict them of the crime.
The civil case was in the discovery phase for some time, with Better Life Church requesting to mediate the file, but no settlement was reached. Documents filed in Rowan Circuit Court last month show the plaintiff's motion for a trial date has been sustained. The matter is now scheduled for a jury trial in September, 2023.