Better Life Church and its former youth pastor are the subject of civil suit regarding alleged sexual misconduct.
Court documents show three plaintiffs have come forward in the suit seeking punitive damages. It alleges several complaints, including sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, retaliation and negligence. The former youth pastor, 28-year-old Jacob Steagall, was charged in September for indecent exposure: a Class B misdemeanor.
The plaintiffs in the civil case claim Steagall repeatedly exposed himself to the plaintiffs during various incidents between early 2016 and January of this year. Two of the plaintiffs were minors at the time of their first alleged incident involving Steagall. The three also claim the harassment occurred at various locations, including the church’s sanctuary and a local high school prom where Steagall was working as a DJ for and Better Life Church.
The documents go on to say a plaintiff made multiple male supervisors, including Lead Pastor Daniel Lucas, aware of their situation as early as 2016. The plaintiff claims they were told Steagall’s behavior was accidental and instructed to never discuss it.
Another plaintiff says their mother was contacted multiple times by church supervisors after Steagall’s criminal investigation began in late August, reaffirming the behavior was accidental and the investigation was unnecessary.
The pretrial conference for Steagall’s criminal case is set for December 14th.