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Hi - I’m Jeff. I am a lawyer licensed to practice law in Indiana. Our attorneys fight every day for the rights of sexual abuse victims.
My team and I are ready to help.
Were you or a loved one sexually abused by Scott Grose, a former volunteer at First Baptist Church in Sellersburg, Indiana? Scott Grose is now in jail; he was sentenced in 2010 to 20 years in prison on child molestation charges, but for some sexual abuse survivors, justice has yet to be done. While Grose has been imprisoned, the church at which he volunteered has not been held accountable for its alleged role in the misconduct. Contact our team to speak with an experienced church and Seventh Day Adventist sexual abuse lawyer.
Scott Grose, a registered sex offender in Indiana, molested at least two teenage girls between 2006 and 2007. The two girls, who have not been identified in media reports, say they were molested and forced to perform oral sex on Grouse on multiple occasions, both inside First Baptist Church and at church gatherings off-premises.
Police learned about the two alleged victims during an investigation of Grouse for allegedly using Myspace.com to solicit teens associated with the church for sex. After the girls stepped forward, investigators began to build their case against the Southern Baptist volunteer. In her own statement, one of the young victims told prosecutors that Grose began to molest her at the age of 13, including three incidents of misconduct at a movie theater with other church members present. The girl continued to say that, during games of hide and sex, she performed oral sex on Grose. A second victim told a similar story about the movie theater.
Similar Case: Indiana Southern Baptist Choir Director Nathan St. Pierre Pleads Guilty To Child Sexual Misconduct
Grose turned himself into the authorities on Tuesday, July 9, 2008. He was eventually convicted on 12 charges of molestation and criminal sexual misconduct. Following Grose’s guilty plea, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison and incarcerated in Indiana.
Yet questions still remain about First Baptist Church’s role in the misconduct. There is substantial evidence that Grose abused children on church premises, along with on church-sanctioned gatherings. With these facts in hand, observers can’t help but wonder whether more could have been done to save Grose’s victims from harm.
In a series of new lawsuits, a group of sexual abuse survivors have blown the lid off sexual abuse within the Southern Baptist community, revealing a sexual abuse crisis akin to the one in the Catholic Church. From recent media reports, it appears that child sexual abuse is both common and tolerated within some Southern Baptist churches.
Negligence is often at the root of child sexual abuse. In churches across the country, pastors, ministers and other leaders turn a blind eye to the misconduct of parishioners and volunteers, allowing dangerous sexual predators to prey on unsuspecting victims. As a slew of recent sexual abuse allegations have shown, the Southern Baptist community is no different.
There is substantial evidence from around the country that some Southern Baptist churches have actively worked to conceal sexual abuse cases from the authorities and public. Needless to say, this is unacceptable behavior. The Southern Baptist Convention is now struggling to respond to the crisis, which has seen the publication of around 700 sexual abuse claims.
There is no excuse for silencing victims and protecting predators. Our attorneys believe that sexual abuse survivors deserve strong, compassionate support during this time. With an eye to supporting victims, we have begun a full investigation of sexual abuse in the Southern Baptist community. Our attorneys are hard at work to help survivors as they pursue justice.
If you or a loved one were sexually abused by Scott Grose, our experienced attorneys are here to protect your rights. Indiana’s strong legal protections for sexual abuse survivors may allow you to file a civil lawsuit against the church where you were abused. In a civil lawsuit, you can pursue justice, demanding accountability and financial compensation from responsible parties. This is your right as a resident of Indiana – so long as negligence contributed to your suffering, the church can be held accountable for failing to protect you.
To learn more about your legal options, contact our compassionate Indiana sexual abuse attorneys today for a free, confidential consultation. We are here to help. Find more information at no charge and no obligation. Just contact our attorneys today.
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 pay nothing until we secure compensation in your case. There’s no risk to reaching out for help.
