Suit: TV Pastor Sexually Assaulted Boy A Decade Ago
CHICAGO (STMW) -- A lawsuit filed in federal court Monday by an Illinois man claims a pastor employed by a Christian television station sexually assaulted him in Virginia and Illinois a decade ago when he was a child.
Alex Walker claims pastor Tommy Shelton sexually assaulted him from 1997 to 2001, according to a suit filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago.
The suit claims Shelton served as pastor at the Ezra Church of God in West Frankfort, Ill., until 1991, when he left amid allegations of sexually abusing children. Three Angles Broadcasting Network hired Shelton, who moved to Virginia to promote the network after additional allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior, the suit said.
Shelton's brother was president of the network when he was hired, the suit said. The network, part of the Seventh-day Adventist denomination, said it does not believe the suit has any merit and will fight the allegations.
In 1995, Shelton became involved in the Community Church of God in Dunn Loring, Va., where he met Walker, according to the suit. Shelton began sexually assaulting the then-11-year-old Walker until he resigned amid sexual abuse allegations and moved to Marion, Ky., the suit said.
The suit claims Three Angles continued to employ Shelton and gave him unfettered access to children in and around its facilities.
In 2001, Walker began working part-time in the production department at the Three Angles in West Frankfort, according to the suit. When Shelton discovered Walker was working for the network, he would travel to Illinois and sexually assault the then-15-year-old.
The four-count suit claims negligence against Three Angels Broadcasting and sexual assault and battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, and travel with intent to engage in illicit sexual contact against Shelton.
Shelton currently resides in Virginia, where he is awaiting trial on charges he sexually abused children there, the suit said.
Walker is seeking more than $5 million in damages, plus the cost of the suit.
Three Angels issued a statement Wednesday that said Walker's attorneys sent a letter to the network in August 2010 demanding money.
The network contends the Church of God denomination is not affiliated with it in any way, nor is it affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventists, the statement said.
Shelton left his position with the Church of God and was rehired by the network in January 2001, where he worked in the production department until he retired in 2007, the statement said.
"At no time did Tommy Shelton ever pastor, preach or teach on behalf of 3ABN or the Seventh-day Adventist denomination. The religious work that allegedly brought him into contact with the claimant was for a different Christian denomination …," the statement said.
"To the best of our knowledge, as an employee of 3ABN, Tommy Shelton's duties never caused him to have contact with Alex Walker, who was supervised during the few weeks of employment at 3ABN by his own adult brother."
© Sun-Times Media Wire Chicago Sun-Times 2011. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed
