Lawsuit: Two members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Napa sexually abused a child for years

A Contra Costa County resident has filed a lawsuit alleging that two members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Napa sexually abused her as a child about 30 years ago.

According to the lawsuit filed Sept. 4 in Napa County Superior Court, the plaintiff – then a member of the church and identified as “Jane Roe RW 100” – was “targeted, manipulated and sexually harassed, abused and assaulted” between 1988 and 1992.

The lawsuit names two members of the church, commonly known as Mormons, as alleged perpetrators of the abuse.

One of the members is accused of having groped and performed oral sex on the plaintiff when she was four to six years old (according to the indictment) and of having raped her when she was eight years old.

And the other member is said to have groped the plaintiff and had oral sex with her when she was 5 and 6 years old.

Neither the church in Napa nor its leadership in Santa Rosa immediately responded to a request for comment on Friday.

“The abuse of a child or any other person is inexcusable,” Sam Penrod, spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at its headquarters in Salt Lake City, said in a statement to The Press Democrat. “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes this, teaches this, and devotes tremendous resources and effort to preventing, reporting, and addressing abuse.”

“We are deeply concerned for all victims of abuse,” the statement continued. “Church leaders and members are instructed that their responsibilities related to abuse are to ensure that child sexual abuse is stopped; help victims receive care, including from professional counselors; and comply with all reporting obligations required by law.”

The alleged abuse occurred at the church's Napa meetinghouse at 2590 Trower Avenue, at the plaintiff's grandmother's home, and in the cars of one of the members.

The plaintiff reported the sexual abuse to her foster mother, her grandmother – also a member of the church – and the police in 1995, the indictment says. And she displayed behavior that indicated sexual abuse in childhood, including sexual behavior toward other children.

But according to the complaint, church leaders – including bishops and pastors – never spoke to her to investigate the abuse, “or even ask how she was doing.”

The lawsuit names the church, the Latter-day Saints Temple Corporation, the Santa Rosa California Stake President's Corporation, and unnamed others as defendants.

The lawsuit accuses them of, among other things, negligence, negligent supervision of minors, sexual abuse of minors, and negligent hiring and supervision.

According to the lawsuit, the defendants had a duty to protect the minor plaintiff, including having a warning system in place to identify and track down sex offenders.

The plaintiff is seeking unlimited damages and a jury trial.

This story is developing. Check back later for updates.

To reach Editor Edward Booth, call 707-521-5281 or [email protected].