ROCK HILL, SC - Attorneys for young victims sexually abused by a MorningStar Fellowship Church youth leader and former North Carolina police officer will hold a news conference 10:00 AM Monday, September 16 at 1539 Health Care Drive in Rock Hill, SC to announce multiple lawsuits against Erickson Lee (the Youth Leader) as well as the church, Morningstar, founder and senior pastor Richard Joyner, former church vice president David Yarnes, former head of security Douglas Lee, Chase Portello and others they say turned a blind eye to years of exploitation and abuse.
The attorneys have also alleged there were multiple instances of sexual assault which occurred prior to the current series of events that was never reported to law enforcement and supposedly handled in house.
The victims, identified only as John Doe #1, John Doe #2 and John Doe #3, are represented by Randy Hood and Chad McGowan of McGowan, Hood, Felder, and Phillips.
Due to the complaints from the victims’ parents, Lee was arrested by the York County Sheriff’s Office and, last week, pled guilty to criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the second degree, criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the third degree, assault and battery in the first degree, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and dissemination of obscene material to a minor.
Neither Lee’s crimes nor prior allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct at MorningStar Fellowship Church were reported to law enforcement by church leaders at the time of discovery.
