Thursday, May 19, 2011

Settlement Made In LaBelle Church of God Sex Abuse Lawsuits


Alleged Victims Settle With Church and Former Youth Leader

LABELLE, Fl. -- The Law Offices of Jason Turchin in Weston, Florida today announced that a settlement has been reached in two civil lawsuits filed on behalf of two young teens allegedly sexually abused by their Youth Leader at the LaBelle Church of God. 

The church organization called Church of God Florida State Offices, Inc. and Edwin Nathan Smith were defendants in a negligence civil suit brought by the mother and grandmother of the alleged victims in March and April 2010, according to Hendry Circuit Court records. The names of the children and the plaintiffs are confidential.

"It is with great satisfaction that these settlements were reached, to get justice for these young girls and to help them heal from their trauma," said Turchin. The terms of the settlement are confidential.

The lawsuit was based on civil claims stemming from the arrest and conviction of Edwin Nathan Smith, (dob 9/14/82) a one-time Youth Leader at the Labelle Church of God in Labelle, Florida. Smith was convicted of Lewd or Lascivious Battery for the sexual assault of one of the minors, and Lewd or Lascivious Molestation of the other young teen.

In December 2009 Smith (photo above) was found guilty of lewd or lascivious battery, lewd or lascivious molestation, and battery. He was sentenced by Circuit Judge Christine Greider to 14 years in prison on the 1st charge, 1 year in county jail on the 2nd, and 10 years probation on the 3rd. He is incarcerated at the Moore Haven Correctional Facility.

Smith's wife divorced him in 2009. She was the daughter of the Pastor of the church at the time.

The Plaintiff's sued the Church of God Florida State Offices, Inc. because they had reportedly hired the church pastor.  The Plaintiff's were planning on amending to complaint to add the local LaBelle Church of God as well, but a settlement agreement was entered into by the original defendants.


The officers shown for the church corporation on state records are Tampa residents, David J. Stephens, Pres.; Waymon C. Miller, VP; Francis Horton, Sec.; and Barbara Stentz, Treas.  The church is located at 590 E. Hickpochee (State Road 80) in LaBelle.

Florida law permits civil claims for crime victims for those who could have prevented or otherwise contributed to the lewd or lascivious acts. "In the criminal case, the focus is on punishing a criminal for committing crimes against the State of Florida," said Turchin. "In the civil case, we focus on the crime itself. Could it have been prevented? Was it foreseeable?"

The settlement brings closure of the civil cases to all parties, said Turchin.

Many victims of crimes, especially those victims of sexual assault, rape and molestation, may not be aware that they may be able to pursue a civil claim independently from the criminal case. Florida law may allow a victim to pursue a civil claim for pain and suffering, emotional trauma, counseling and therapy expenses, and other damages. said attorney Turchin.


Previous story on the Smith Arrest:
 http://swflorida.blogspot.com/2008/10/church-of-god-responds-to-arrest.html

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous12:07 AM

    The mother Carmon that has been apart of the whole suing process will pay for what she has done, just to get money... especially from a church how freaking sad... What has America came too?. You will burn in Hell.

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  2. Anonymous4:46 PM

    Jhn 3:16
    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
    no matter what we feel is wrong or what wrong we feel is done to us we need to forgive & pray for all concerned not judge or condemn. JESUS taught forgiveness and love, that is whats wrong with the world today we need to follow the teachings of our LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!!!! remember GOD loves the sinner as much as HE loves HIS saints!

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  3. Anonymous12:54 PM

    I doubt you would be saying that if it were your child he had assaulted. Jesus forgives, but we are still to be held accountable to the law of the land. Would you rather he be kept in his position to continue to abuse others. I was abused by a minister and it was all swept under the rug by church of God. Guess what, a few years later, he had struck again..... If he had been held accountable maybe he wouldn't have hurt someone else. Where is the compassion for the victims?

    So sad.

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  4. Anonymous3:27 PM

    From what the story was told was that the girls had pushed thereselves onto him...yea was wrong for what he did but some girls will do such things and then because they cant get what they want they blackmail until it can no longer happen then go and report it as rape .. But honestly them girls were young and should have been accompanied by there mother ..any mother in there right mind would think its fishy for there underaged daughter to be left alone with a grown man anyway if he can be trusted...

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