Bishop Eddie Long (PICTURES): Fourth Young Man Sues Megachurch Pastor
ATLANTA (CBS/AP/WGCL) Bishop Eddie Long has been sued by a fourth young man, Spencer LeGrande, who claims that the pastor coerced him into a sexual relationship.
The lawsuit filed by LeGrande, a member of New Birth Charlotte, a satellite church run by Long in Charlotte, N.C., says that Long told him "I will be your dad" and invited the 17-year-old to journey to Kenya with him in July 2005. LeGrande said that Long gave him a sleeping pill on that trip and that the two engaged in sexual acts.
LeGrande alleges that he met Long when he was just 15 years old at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte.
The lawsuit claims Long convinced LeGrande that "engaging in a sexual relationship was a healthy component of his spiritual life."
LeGrande, now 22, said the two continued their relationship on a February 2006 trip to South Africa and after he moved to Atlanta to attend Beulah Heights University at Long's encouragement. He said that Long also instructed him not to have girlfriends, but that he pulled away from Long in the spring of 2009 after he became "disillusioned." He moved back to Charlotte in October, it said.
The complaint, filed in DeKalb State Court, comes after three other men filed lawsuits on Tuesday and Wednesday saying they were 17- and 18-year-old members of the church when Long abused his spiritual authority to seduce them with cars, money, clothes, jewelry, international trips and access to celebrities.
The lawsuit alleges breach of fiduciary duty, negligence, fraud, and infliction of emotional distress, among other things.
"We will arise through this situation, and go forward, and we are moving forward," Long said on a conference call to parishioners today, according to CBS affiliate WGCL. The station reports that Long said several times that he didn't know who was on the call, so he had to be careful what he said because the case is in litigation. He also said he would not take any questions.
Long is expected on Sunday to deliver his first message for the public since being accused of having sexual relationships with the young men. He has vehemently denied any wrongdoing through his lawyer and a Twitter posting.
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