PHOTO Fourth accuser Spencer LeGrande in Bishop Eddie Long sexual coercion lawsuit
In a similar scene to what we saw with Tiger Woods and Jesse James the damn has burst in the Bishop Eddie Long sex scandal as more and more young men are coming forward claiming the prominent pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia took advantage of his authority to coerce them into having sexual relations.
The fourth man to step forward is 22-year-old Spencer LeGrange of Charlotte, North Carolina who first met Bishop Eddie Long when he was 15 and allegedly had his first sexual encounter with him on a trip to Kenya. According to the complaint:
On the first night in Nairobi, Defendant Long telephoned Plaintiff LeGrande in Plaintiff LeGrande’s hotel room and asked Plaintiff LeGrande to come to Defendant Long’s hotel room. Plaintiff LeGrande told Defendant Long that he was having trouble falling asleep. Defendant Long provided Plaintiff LeGrande the drug known as Ambien and told him it would help him fall asleep.
Plaintiff LeGrande ingested the Ambian. Defendant Long ingested an Ambian. After Plaintiff LeGrande had taken the Ambian, Defendant Long gave Plaintiff LeGrande a prolonged hug. Following the prolonged hug, Defendant Long kissed Plaintiff LeGrande on the lips, licked Plaintiff LeGrande’s lips in a circular fashion, and rubbed Plaintiff LeGrande’s chest.
Defendant Long and Plaintiff LeGrande slept in the same bed the first night in Kenya. Defendant Long and Plaintiff LeGrande slept in the same bed each night thereafter on the Kenya Trip.
In addition to the sexual encounters and trips, Bishop Long allegedly took Spencer on multiple shopping sprees and treated him to expensive dinners.
Long convinced LeGrande to move to Atlanta where the New Birth Church furnished him with a free place to live, paid his tuition to attend Beulah Heights University and gave him a Dodge Intrepid. All the while Long allegedly continued with the shopping sprees, dinners and sexual encounters.
Eventually LeGrande would get a roommate while living in an apartment furnished by Long and the New Birth Church at which point he began to pull away from Long. LeGrande was asked to pay rent and Long refused to meet him at the apartment because of the roommate, but the two still had occasional sexual encounters at other locations.
LeGrande moved back to Charlotte last year.
The photos in this post are from a MySpace profile for a 22-year-old “Spencer LeGrande” living in Decatur, Georgia in 2009 with the same birth sign. Interestingly enough, under his movie preferences, Spencer writes, “ALL WILL SMITH FILMS, LIKE FUNNY MOVIES, ACTUALLY I LIKE ALL MOVIES THAT WERE MADE 2003 THROUGH NOW, EXCEPT BROKEBACK MOUTAIN. LOL,”
You can read about the initial allegations and see a couple photos Bishop Eddie Long sent to the plaintiffs HERE. Also, find out about two of the accusers’ involvement in a robbery of Bishop Long’s office including mug shots HERE. UPDATE – Watch the video of Bishop Long addressing his congregation about the scandal HERE!
Here are the factual allegations from the lawsuit. (You can download the complete complaint as a Word document HERE or view/download it as a PDF file HERE.)
FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
6. Defendant Long is the Bishop, senior pastor and chief executive officer of Defendant New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Inc.
7. New Birth has grown to over 25,000 members since Defendant Long first served as pastor in 1987.
8. Defendant New Birth’s website proclaims, “[A]s a man of vision, Bishop Long is revered locally, nationally and internationally as a dynamic man of leadership, integrity and compassion.”
9. In addition to acting as the Bishop, head pastor and chief executive officer of Defendant New Birth, Defendant Long also heads several offshoot ministries.
10. In March 2003, Defendant Long founded New Birth Baptist Church in Huntersville, North Carolina, a suburb of Charlotte, as the first New Birth church outside the state of Georgia.
11. Terrell L. Murphy is the senior pastor of the North Carolina New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, which is now located in Charlotte (“New Birth Charlotte”).
12. Defendant Long is the Bishop who presides over New Birth Charlotte.
13. New Birth Charlotte has close ties with Defendant New Birth.
14. Defendant Long frequently speaks and delivers sermons at New Birth Charlotte.
15. Members of New Birth Charlotte frequently travel to Atlanta to participate in events at Defendant New Birth and lead by Defendant Long.
16. At all times material hereto, Defendant Long has established a confidential relationship with Plaintiff LeGrande, while acting as Plaintiff LeGrande’s spiritual advisor, Bishop, and leader of the Defendants’ various ministries.
17. Defendant Long has utilized his spiritual authority as Bishop and leader of Defendants’ ministries to coerce certain young male members and employees of Defendant New Birth and New Birth Charlotte into engaging in sexual acts and relationships for his own personal sexual gratification.
18. Defendant Long has a pattern and practice of singling out young male church members and using his authority as Bishop over them to ultimately bring them to a point of engaging in a sexual relationship.
19. Defendant Long uses monetary funds from the accounts of Defendant New Birth and other corporate and non-profit corporate accounts, to entice the young men with cars, clothes, jewelry, and electronics.
20. Defendant Long’s chosen young men are taken on public and private jets to U.S. and international destinations, housed in luxury hotels and given access to numerous celebrities including entertainment stars and politicians.
21. Typically, when the young males, confused by the sexual contact with Defendant Long, find girlfriends, engage in sexual contact with females, or attempt to pull away from Defendant Long, pursuant their own personal desires, Defendant Long initially attempts to block those relationships and pursuits by increased contact and spiritual talk as to the relationship between the Spiritual Son and himself.
22. Plaintiff Spencer LeGrande (“Plaintiff LeGrande”) is one of the young male church members described above.
23. Plaintiff LeGrande was born on April 5, 1988.
24. Plaintiff LeGrande is a resident of Charlotte, North Carolina.
25. In or about March, 2003, Plaintiff LeGrande and his family attended the very first service ever held by New Birth Charlotte.
26. Plaintiff LeGrande and his family joined New Birth Charlotte during the very first service ever held by New Birth Charlotte.
27. Plaintiff LeGrande was 15 (fifteen) years old when he joined New Birth Charlotte.
28. New Birth Charlotte’s first service was held at North Mecklenburg High School in Huntersville, North Carolina.
29. Defendant Long graduated from North Mecklenburg High School.
30. Plaintiff LeGrande was an Armor Bearer for Pastor Terrell L. Murphy (“Pastor Murphy”) at New Birth Charlotte at the age of 15.
31. As an Armor Bearer, Plaintiff LeGrande was a direct assistant of Pastor Murphy, assisting with day to day duties as well as assisting Pastor Murphy during New Birth Charlotte church services.
32. Plaintiff LeGrande first saw Defendant Long preach when Plaintiff LeGrande travelled with his family to Atlanta for the Spirit In Truth summer revival.
33. On or about May 5, 2005, Plaintiff attended the International Men of War conference at New Birth Charlotte (“Men of War Conference”).
34. Defendant Long delivered a sermon during the Men of War Conference with the theme of forgiving fathers who had been absent from their son’s lives.
35. Plaintiff LeGrande’s father had not been an active part of Plaintiff LeGrande’s life since Plaintiff LeGrande was an infant.
36. Plaintiff LeGrande was personally moved by Defendant Long’s sermon, as his father had not been part of his life.
37. Following the service, Plaintiff LeGrande approached Defendant Long to tell him how moved he had been during Defendant Long’s sermon.
38. When Plaintiff LeGrande approached Defendant Long, Defendant Long hugged Plaintiff LeGrande and Plaintiff LeGrande began to cry.
39. Defendant Long held on to Plaintiff LeGrande and assured him, “I got you,” “I will be your dad.”
40. When Plaintiff LeGrande collected himself, Defendant Long asked his assistant to take Plaintiff LeGrande’s contact information.
41. Defendant Long told Plaintiff LeGrande that he would call him.
42. Following the Men at War Conference, Defendant Long began to call Plaintiff LeGrande on the telephone.
43. Defendant Long demanded that Plaintiff LeGrande call him often.
44. Defendant Long would become angry if Plaintiff LeGrande failed to call Plaintiff Long on a frequent basis.
45. Defendant Long told Plaintiff LeGrande to call him “Dad.”
46. Plaintiff LeGrande would see Defendant Long in person when Defendant Long was present at New Birth Charlotte and when Plaintiff LeGrande’s family would travel to Defendant New Birth in Atlanta.
47. In early 2005, when Plaintiff LeGrande was sixteen (16) years old, Defendant Long asked Plaintiff LeGrande to accompany Defendant Long on a trip to the nation of Kenya in Africa (the “Kenya Trip”).
48. On July 26, 2005, when Plaintiff LeGrande was seventeen (17) years old, Plaintiff LeGrande departed with Defendant Long on an eight day trip to Kenya, with stops in London (the “Kenya Trip”).
49. During the Kenya Trip, Plaintiff LeGrande visited the city of Nairobi with Defendant Long.
50. On the first night in Nairobi, Defendant Long telephoned Plaintiff LeGrande in Plaintiff LeGrande’s hotel room and asked Plaintiff LeGrande to come to Defendant Long’s hotel room.
51. Plaintiff LeGrande told Defendant Long that he was having trouble falling asleep.
52. Defendant Long provided Plaintiff LeGrande the drug known as Ambien and told him it would help him fall asleep.
53. Plaintiff LeGrande ingested the Ambian.
54. Defendant Long ingested an Ambian.
55. After Plaintiff LeGrande had taken the Ambian, Defendant Long gave Plaintiff LeGrande a prolonged hug.
56. Following the prolonged hug, Defendant Long kissed Plaintiff LeGrande on the lips, licked Plaintiff LeGrande’s lips in a circular fashion, and rubbed Plaintiff LeGrande’s chest.
57. Defendant Long and Plaintiff LeGrande slept in the same bed the first night in Kenya.
58. Defendant Long and Plaintiff LeGrande slept in the same bed each night thereafter on the Kenya Trip.
59. Defendant Long would take Plaintiff LeGrande out to dinner each night of the Kenya Trip.
60. Defendant Long would take Plaintiff on shopping sprees during the Kenya Trip.
61. Defendant Long engaged in intimate sexual contact with Plaintiff LeGrande each night in Kenya, including kissing and licking on the lips, touching Plaintiff LeGrande’s chest, and sleeping in the same bed.
62. On or about February 28, 2006, Defendant Long took Plaintiff LeGrande on an approximate five night trip to Johannesburg, South Africa (the “Johannesburg Trip”).
63. Defendant Long introduced Plaintiff LeGrande to Winny Mandela on the Johannesburg Trip.
64. Defendant Long took Plaintiff on shopping sprees during the Johannesburg Trip.
65. Defendant Long took Plaintiff to expensive dinners on the Johannesburg Trip.
66. During the Johannesburg Trip, Defendant Long and Plaintiff LeGrande slept in the same bed.
67. During the Johannesburg Trip, Defendant Long engaged in intimate sexual contact with Plaintiff LeGrande.
68. In or about June, 2006, Plaintiff LeGrande graduated from high school.
69. On or about July 31, 2006, Defendant Long took Plaintiff LeGrande on a trip to Zimbabwe and Kenya (the “Zimbabwe- KenyaTrip”).
70. Defendant Long took Plaintiff LeGrande on shopping sprees during the Zimbabwe-KenyaTrip.
71. Defendant Long took Plaintiff LeGrande to expensive dinners on the Zimbabwe-Kenya Trip.
72. During the Zimbabwe-Kenya Trip, Defendant Long and Plaintiff LeGrande slept in the same bed.
73. During the Zimbabwe-Kenya Trip, Defendant Long engaged in intimate sexual contact with Plaintiff LeGrande.
74. Following the Zimbabwe-Kenya Trip, Defendant Long encouraged Plaintiff LeGrande to attend Beulah Heights University (“Beulah”) to prepare to enter the ministry.
75. Plaintiff LeGrande abandoned his plans to pursue a collegiate basketball career and applied to Beulah.
76. In or about January, 2007, Plaintiff LeGrande moved to Atlanta to attend Beulah.
77. Defendant Long told Plaintiff LeGrande that he expected Plaintiff LeGrande to go to school, keep up with his Armor Bearer duties, attend church, and have no girlfriends.
78. Defendant Long paid all tuition and expenses for Plaintiff LeGrande’s attendance at Buelah.
79. Before Plaintiff LeGrande moved to Atlanta, Plaintiff LeGrande’s mother, Deborah LeGrande, wrote Defendant Long a letter and thanked him for looking after her son. (the “Letter”).
80. When Plaintiff LeGrande arrived in Atlanta, Defendant Long placed him in the Hyatt Place hotel in Lithonia, Georgia.
81. Defendant Long paid for the Hyatt Place hotel.
82. Defendant Long purchased a Dodge Intrepid for Plaintiff LeGrande.
83. After approximately one to two months, Defendant Long placed Plaintiff LeGrande in a home located at 1024 Harwell Street, in Atlanta, Georgia (the “Harwell House”).
84. On information and belief, the Harwell House is owned by Anthony Moman.
85. Anthony Moman is a minister at Defendant New Birth and serves as its Athletic Director.
86. Plaintiff LeGrande lived alone in the Harwell House.
87. Plaintiff LeGrande did not pay rent to live in the Harwell House.
88. Defendant Long would visit Plaintiff LeGrande at the Harwell House.
89. Defendant LeGrande would engage in intimate sexual contact with Plaintiff LeGrande at the Harwell House.
90. After living in the Harwell house for approximately two (2) to five (5) months, Defendant Long moved Plaintiff LeGrande to a home used by Defendant New Birth as a community center (the “Community Center”).
91. The Community Center was located on Parsons Road in Atlanta, Georgia.
92. Plaintiff lived alone on the second floor of the Community Center.
93. Plaintiff LeGrande did not pay rent at the Community Center.
94. Defendant Long would visit Plaintiff LeGrande at the Community Center.
95. Defendant LeGrande would engage in intimate sexual contact with Plaintiff LeGrande at the Community Center.
96. After approximately two (2) to three (3) months, Defendant Long moved Plaintiff LeGrande into an apartment located at 170 Northside Drive in Atlanta, Georgia (“the Northside Apartment”).
97. Plaintiff LeGrande had a roommate at the Northside apartment.
98. Plaintiff LeGrande began to pull away from Defendant Long.
99. Defendant Long required Plaintiff LeGrande to pay rent at the Northside Apartment.
100. Defendant Long would not visit Plaintiff LeGrande at the Northside Apartment because he had a roomate.
101. Defendant Long would instead direct Plaintiff LeGrande to meet him at other locations where Defendant Long would engage in intimate sexual contact with Plaintiff LeGrande.
102. During the time Plaintiff LeGrande lived in the Hyatt hotel, the Harwell House, the Community Center, and the Northside Apartment, Defendant Long would frequently give cash to Plaintiff LeGrande.
103. During the time Plaintiff LeGrande lived in the Hyatt hotel, the Harwell House, the Community Center, and the Northside Apartment, Defendant Long would frequently take Plaintiff on shopping sprees.
104. Defendant Long would occasionally ask Plaintiff LeGrande to go with him to a house located on Huntsman Bend in Decatur, Georgia (the “Huntsman Bend House”).
105. Defendant Long would engage in intimate sexual contact with Plaintiff LeGrande at the Huntsman Bend House, including “dry humping,” kissing, and caressing.
106. On or about October 11, 2008, Defendant Long took Plaintiff LeGrande to his private office at Defendant New Birth Missionary Baptist Church (the “Private Office”).
107. The Private Office includes a bed, bathroom and living area.
108. On or about October 11, 2008, Defendant Long engaged in intimate sexual contact with Plaintiff LeGrande in the Private Office, including dry humping, kissing, and caressing.
109. Defendant Long and Plaintiff LeGrande spent the night in the same bed in the Private Office.
110. In or about the Spring of 2009 Plaintiff LeGrande began to become disillusioned and confused by Defendant Long’s actions and began pulling away from Defendant Long.
111. In or about the Spring of 2009, Plaintiff LeGrande stopped attending Beulah.
112. In the Spring of 2009, Plaintiff LeGrande left the Northside Apartment.
113. From the Spring of 2009 up through October 2009, Defendant Long continued to contact Plaintiff LeGrande.
114. From the Spring of 2009 through October 2009, Defendant Long occasionally had intimate sexual relations with Plaintiff LeGrande.
115. In October of 2009, Plaintiff LeGrande left Atlanta, and moved back to Charlotte, North Carolina.
116. At all times relevant and pertinent to the claims alleged herein, Defendant Long was in a confidential relationship with Plaintiff LeGrande defined by O.C.G.A. § 24-9-22.
117. At all times relevant and pertinent to the claims alleged herein, Defendant Long was Plaintiff’s spiritual advisor as defined by O.C.G.A. § 24-9-22.
118. At all times relevant and pertinent to the claims alleged herein, Defendant Long was in a confidential relationship with Plaintiff LeGrande and was thereby situated to exercise a controlling influence over the will, conduct, and interest of Plaintiff, as defined by O.C.G.A. § 23-2-58.
119. At all times relevant and pertinent to the claims alleged herein, Defendant Long was involved in advising and counseling Plaintiff LeGrande in areas of Plaintiff’s personal life.
120. Defendant Long, through manipulation, coercion, deception and fraud resulting from the abuse of his confidential relationships with Plaintiff LeGrande, convinced Plaintiff LeGrande that engaging in a sexual relationship was a healthy component of his spiritual life.
121. Various individuals working for Defendant Long and Defendant New Birth Baptist Church, including but not limited to Andrew Moman and April McLaughlin, knew of Defendant Long’s sexually inappropriate conduct and did nothing to warn or protect Plaintiff LeGrande.
122. Defendant New Birth, had a duty to warn and protect Plaintiff LeGrande.
123. Various individuals working for Defendant Long and Defendant New Birth Baptist Church, including but not limited to Andrew Moman and April McLaughlin, knew of Defendant Long’s conduct and did nothing to warn or protect Plaintiff LeGrande.
124. At all times material hereto, Defendant Long, Moman, and McLaughlin acted within the course and scope of their employment for Defendant New Birth.
125. The course of conduct by Defendant Long described herein was known to individuals working for Defendant New Birth Baptist Church, including but not limited to Moman and McLaughlin.
