{"id":54437,"date":"2025-03-07T20:06:58","date_gmt":"2025-03-08T01:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=54437"},"modified":"2025-03-07T20:07:15","modified_gmt":"2025-03-08T01:07:15","slug":"victorys-church-current-and-former-pastors-being-sued-for-battery-intentional-infliction-of-emotional-distress-and-vicarious-liability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2025\/03\/07\/victorys-church-current-and-former-pastors-being-sued-for-battery-intentional-infliction-of-emotional-distress-and-vicarious-liability\/","title":{"rendered":"Victory\u2019s Church Current and Former Pastors being sued for BATTERY, INTENTIONAL INFLICTION OF EMOTIONAL DISTRESS, and VICARIOUS LIABILITY"},"content":{"rendered":"
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M. WAYNE BLACKBURN Senior Pastor Victory Church<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

WALTER KEITH STEVERSON, M. WAYNE BLACKBURN, and ASSEMBLIES OF GOD, PENINSULAR FLORIDA DISTRICT are all being sued. \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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WALTER KEITH STEVERSON
Guilty10\/16\/1991 LEWD, LASCIVIOUS CHILD U\/16; F.S. 800.04 (PRINCIPAL) 9101102 Polk \u00a0Currently lives in KINGSPORT, TN\u00a0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Quotes for lawsuit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While driving, DEFENDANT STEVERSON reached over and touched PLAINTIFF on the inner thigh. DEFENDANT STEVERSON tried to make it seem like an accident, but then he did it again, this time putting his hand up PLAINTIFF\u2019S shorts, almost touching his genitalia.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although PLAINTIFF did not want to attend because he knew that DEFENDANT STEVERSON would be there as his Royal Rangers leader, he was afraid to tell his mother what had happened because DEFENDANT BLACKBURN had told PLAINTIFF that his mother would not believe him. On the camping trip, DEFENDANT STEVERSON got into PLAINTIFF\u2019S sleeping bag with PLAINTIFF. DEFENDANT STEVERSON then repeatedly caressed PLAINTIFF\u2019S thigh.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DEFENDANT BLACKBURN abused PLAINTIFF, when he instructed PLAINTIFF to keep DEFENDANT STEVERSON\u2019S abuse a secret, told PLAINTIFF that his mother would not believe him if he told her about DEFENDANT STEVERSON\u2019S abuse, and continued to allow DEFENDANT STEVERSON to be alone with PLAINTIFF.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Rev. Karl Strader: died in 2020, but according to the suit, he knew about the issues<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Quote for lawsuit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DEFENDANT BLACKBURN took PLAINTIFF to report the abuse to Pastor Strader. When PLAINTIFF reported the abuse to Pastor Strader, Pastor Strader told PLAINTIFF that DEFENDANT STEVERSON was a good man who was spreading the gospel, and he told PLAINTIFF that the abuse was likely an \u201caccident.\u201d Pastor Strader promised PLAINTIFF that it would not happen again. DEFENDANT BLACKBURN was present and overhead PLAINTIFF report the abuse to Pastor Strader.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

So far no comment from anyone out of Victory Church <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read the filed Pdf below:<\/p>\n\n\n

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