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Hi - I'm Jason. I am an attorney who practices law in San Francisco, California. I represent survivors of sexual abuse and help people find justice caused by the negligence of others. My team and I are ready to help you.
Were you or a loved one sexually abused by Roy Long, a former deacon at First Baptist Church in Hesperia, California? Our experienced CA sexual abuse attorneys are here to help. Thanks to California’s strong tradition of civil law, you have powerful legal options, including the right to pursue a private civil lawsuit for financial compensation. Call today to speak with a California clergy abuse attorney.
Roy Long served as the deacon at the First Baptist Church of Hesperia. During his time at the church, he began to molest a pair of six-year-old sisters, according to the VV Daily Press. The abuse began in 1996, when the sisters were 7. Twelve years later, Long pleaded guilty to charges of sexual misconduct, admitting to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor under 18 years old. He was also convicted of molesting a child under 18 years old with a prior conviction.
Long, who died in 2013, was sentenced to 85 days in jail and 48 months of probation, which may seem a light punishment for crimes of this nature, but Long was of advanced age. Despite his death, the pain and trauma caused by Roy Long’s terrible actions live on.
Similar Case: Southern California Pastor John Rodgers McFarland Charged For Sexual Abuse
In a private lawsuit filed in 2008, victims of Long’s abuse accused the First Baptist Church of Hesperia of negligence in addressing the abuse. In court documents, survivors claim that First Baptist Church’s head pastor was aware of the molestation as it occurred, but failed to act.
Prior to his death, Roy Long, who was 88 in 2008, was punished for some of his crimes by the criminal justice system. But prosecutors at the time believed that Long had other victims, additional children and members of his church between 1996 and 2000.
According to Katherine Rosenberg of the Daily Press, “officials believe the abuse extended to other, unnamed juvenile victims.” Roy Long may have abused dozens of children during his reign of terror at First Baptist Church. For these victims, justice has yet to be done.
As we’ve seen, a 2008 lawsuit sought to hold First Baptist Church accountable for failing to protect children from Long’s abuse. Our attorneys believe that legal action may be possible for other victims of Roy Long. If you or a loved one were sexually abused by deacon Roy Long, our compassionate legal team can help. We believe you, and we believe your story deserves to be told.
The Southern Baptist Church has reached a point of crisis. In 2019, a joint investigation led by the Houston Chronicle revealed that at least 220 Southern Baptist deacons, pastors and volunteers have been convicted of sexual misconduct over the past 20 years. Roy Long is among them. Even worse, at least three dozen of these men remain in active ministry.
But the newspaper investigation is also deeply critical of the Southern Baptist Convention, as are many sexual abuse survivors. For decades, the Southern Baptist Convention has neglected to issue a concrete policy on sexual abuse, choosing to leave the matter up to local churches. Today, we know that many of those local churches have failed in their duty to protect children from dangerous sexual predators. Sexual abuse is widespread in the Southern Baptist community.
In the wake of these revelations, sexual abuse survivors have begun to file private civil lawsuits against the Southern Baptist Convention, accusing the organization of negligence and misconduct in the handling of sexual abuse cases. Many of these lawsuits have been filed over specific cases of sexual abuse involving individual Southern Baptist churches. Similar actions could be filed over the sexual abuse of Roy Long.
Your rights are important. As a resident of California, you have the right to pursue compensation from the parties responsible for your abuse. Don’t lose your chance to act. Let us help. Our compassionate CA sexual abuse lawyers have been supporting sexual abuse victims for decades. We have the resources and experience necessary to pursue your case with confidence.
To learn more about your legal options, contact our experienced lawyers today for a free consultation. You can find more information about your rights at no charge and no obligation. Just contact our attorneys now. Worried about the cost of filing a lawsuit? You don’t have to be. Our attorneys offer their services on a contingency-fee-basis, so you owe us nothing until we secure compensation in your case. There’s absolutely no risk in reaching out for help.
