Montgomery County Circuit Court (Case No. C-15-CV-24-0006194)

 

 

John Doe is suing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and several church leaders for allowing and covering up his childhood sexual abuse. The goal of sharing this summary is to help other survivors understand what happened, see patterns of abuse and cover-up in the LDS Church, and know they're not alone.

 

Plaintiff (Survivor): John Doe, now an adult, who was abused starting at age 12 in the mid-1990s. He lived in Montgomery County, Maryland, at the time.

Abuser: Richard Kent James, an LDS Church elder and "Young Men's Director" in the Potomac South Ward. He was also involved in church youth programs like scouting.

- The LDS Church (headquartered in Utah but operating in Maryland).

- John Willard "Bill" Marriott Jr. and Donna Garff Marriott (owners of a home where some abuse happened; James was house-sitting for them).

- Church leaders: Lynn Paul Seegmiller (a bishop in Washington State), Ronald Taylor Harrison (stake president in Maryland), Bradley Hugh Colton (bishop in Maryland), Stephen Charles Wilcox (educator and friend), and Nolan D. Archibald (stake president in Virginia).

- These leaders are accused of knowing about risks, failing to act, and covering up the abuse.

 

- Doe met James around 1993 through the LDS Church when Doe was about 12. James was in a position of trust as a church leader and youth mentor. Doe's dad wasn't around much, so James stepped in as a "father figure," counseling Doe on spiritual matters, buying gifts, taking him on outings, and spending lots of alone time with him—this is classic grooming behavior.

- The abuse started in 1994-1995 at the Marriotts' home in Bethesda, Maryland, while James was house-sitting. Doe was invited over to "hang out" and play video games. One night, James sexually assaulted the sleeping 12-year-old Doe (including sodomy). James told Doe it was "okay" and not to tell anyone, or "bad things would happen."

- The abuse continued regularly for 4-5 years, until Doe was 16-17 and could finally get away. It included fondling, oral sex, and anal sex, happening in places like:

- Church buildings (e.g., 11700 Falls Rd., Potomac, MD).

- James's car and home.

- Motels, a Marriott property in Maine, and spots in Virginia, South Carolina, and D.C.

- Church-sponsored activities like scouting trips and overnight campouts, where James was often the only adult supervisor (against church policy).

- The church encouraged James's close relationship with Doe and a small group of boys called "The Guys." They funded trips, like a week-long "High Adventure" in Maine, and ignored red flags like excessive alone time, gifts, and Doe being called the "teacher's pet."

- The church didn't train leaders or parents on spotting grooming, didn't warn about abuse risks in youth programs, and broke their own rules (e.g., sending only one adult on campouts).

- In May 2001, when Doe was about 18, he reported the abuse to Bishop Seegmiller in Washington State. Seegmiller dismissed him, said there wasn't enough evidence, blamed Doe ("You need to repent for your part"), and discouraged reporting to police.

- Within 48 hours, other leaders (Colton, Wilcox, Archibald) contacted Doe and did the same—dismissing him, not investigating, and covering it up. They didn't tell Doe's mom, police, or scouting officials. Instead, they protected James and the church's reputation.

- Doe was shunned by the church community, called a liar, and ostracized.

- In August 2001, police (Montgomery County Pedophile Section) arrested James on charges like child abuse and sex offenses. Leaders rallied support for James, enlisting church members to write letters backing him to law enforcement.

- James pled guilty to one count of child abuse in 2002, got a 10-year sentence (9 suspended), and served only a few days in jail—thanks partly to church support.

- The complaint says the church had a pattern of ignoring abuse reports, not reporting to authorities (breaking laws), shielding abusers, and blaming victims. This created a "safe space" for predators.

 

Doe says the abuse was preventable and prolonged because of the defendants' failures. He's suing for:

1) Negligence (Carelessness): They didn't screen James properly, supervise him, enforce safety rules, or report abuse. They ignored risks in youth programs and sent kids on unsupervised trips.

2) Constructive Fraud: They betrayed Doe's trust by hiding dangers, not warning about past abuses in the church, and letting James groom him under the guise of spiritual guidance.

3) Breach of Fiduciary Duty: As trusted leaders, they had a duty to protect Doe (like a guardian would), but prioritized the church over his safety. They knew about the special bond but did nothing.

4) Negligent Misrepresentation and Fraud: When Doe reported, they lied (e.g., "not enough evidence"), misled him, and hid info about other abuses or their cover-up habits, making him feel guilty and alone.

5) Civil Conspiracy: Leaders worked together to dismiss Doe, cover up, and rally support for James—ratifying (approving) the abuse. They also conspired to break reporting laws nationwide.

6) Respondeat Superior: The church is responsible for James's actions as their employee/agent, since the abuse grew out of his church role (counseling, youth activities).

Doe wants compensation for lifelong harm: emotional trauma, therapy costs, lost income, and pain. He also seeks punitive damages (extra money to punish) because of "ill will, evil motive, and actual malice"—like blaming the victim and protecting abusers.

 

- This case highlights how LDS Church leaders allegedly ignored red flags, covered up abuse, and shunned victims to protect their image—patterns seen in other lawsuits against the church.

- Doe didn't fully realize the harm until around 2022, showing how trauma can delay understanding or action.

- If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Many survivors have come forward about abuse in religious groups like the LDS Church or Scouts. Resources like therapy, support groups (e.g., via SNAP or Protect LDS Children), or legal help can make a difference. This lawsuit was filed under Maryland's laws allowing survivors to sue without time limits for child sex abuse.