KS--New abuse & cover up lawsuit is filed
New abuse & cover up lawsuit is filed
It’s against big Lenexa non-denominational church
Officials there knew man had molested others before
Still, they let him volunteer at Vacation Bible School
And he assaulted two young kids and is now in prison
He told one girl he’d go after her youngster sister if she didn’t comply
SNAP: Independent ‘mega-churches’ are “next frontier” in abuse cases
WHAT
Holding signs and childhood photos at a sidewalk news conference, clergy sex abuse victims and their supporters will
-- disclose a new civil abuse and cover up lawsuit against a large KC area mega-church, and
-- urge parents and congregation members to require these churches to enact policies to protect children.
The group predicts that more and more sex scandals are emerging and will continue to emerge in large, independent ‘mega-churches’ because their pastors are often very powerful and charismatic and there’s little or no lay oversight or church hierarchy that might hold predatory preachers accountable.
WHEN
TODAY, Wednesday, June 8 at 1:00 p.m.
WHERE
On the sidewalk outside the Westside Family Church, 8500 Woodsonia Drive (off of W. 83rd) in Lenexa
WHO
Three-four victims of clergy sex abuse who belong to a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, including a St. Louis man who is the organization’s long time director
WHY
Last October, Kessler P. Lichtnegger was sentenced to 17 years in prison for sexually abusing two girls as a volunteer leader at Vacation Bible School at Westside Family Church (913 422 8257), a large, non-denominational ‘mega-church’ in Lenexa Kansas.
A new lawsuit, brought by those two children and their families, charges that church officials knew Lichtnegger had committed similar crimes years before but still gave him access to kids. Church staff claim they told Lichtenegger that he could be in the building only with his father. But they still let him be a leader in his small group and volunteer in Vacation Bible School.
In April 2012, church officials knew that Lichtenegger pleaded guilty to two counts of lewd and lascivious behavior and one count of battery against an adopted child who found just before dark by police at Windsor Park in Johnson County “catatonic,” with cuts, torn clothes and a fat lip.” At the time of the crimes, Lichtenegger was a freshman at Shawnee Mission East High School.
In the new lawsuit, two youngsters say that Lichtenegger engaged in lewd, lascivious and sexual behavior with them at church after having gotten their contact information in his role as a Vacation Bible School leader and volunteer. The suit charges that one of the girls was raped on church property. Lichtenegger forced her to perform sex acts on him under threat of going after her younger sister if she did not comply.
The victims are represented by Kansas City area attorneys Antwaun Lewis Smith (816 561 5500, 816 398 8861) and Rebecca Randles (816 510 2704, [email protected]).
Westside’s pastor is Rev. Dan Chaverin. Lichtnegger’s defense lawyer is Heath Stuart.
http://shawneemissionpost.com/2015/10/28/former-sm- east-student- kessler-lichtenegger-sentenced-to- 17-years- in-prison- on-attempted- rape-charge- 44094
http://shawneemissionpost.com/2015/04/15/kessler-lichtenegger- prairie-village- 2011-assault-38393
http://www.kshb.com/news/crime/court-documents- student-accused- of-rape- admitted-exchanging-pics- with-2- underage-sisters- to-pastor
CONTACT
David Clohessy 314 566 9790, [email protected], Barbara Dorris 314 503 0003, [email protected]
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director
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