West Dundee church responds to sex assault lawsuit
Lawyers for a West Dundee church and former youth minister have responded to a lawsuit seeking damages in the sexual assault of a teenage church member in summer 2013.
In court filings, the First Congregational Church of Dundee has denied its pastor oversaw activities of Chad Coe, 34, who is charged with rape and wants proof the girl attended the church.
The girl's family filed suit earlier this year against the church at 900 S. Eighth St., and Coe, a former church youth minister who was charged in summer 2013 with sexually assaulting the 15-year-old girl.
Coe, of Lakewood and formerly of Elgin, faces up to 22 years in prison if convicted of criminal sexual assault and child pornography. He is free on bond and due in court Nov. 18.
The lawsuit seeks damages for negligence, arguing the church didn't conduct a thorough background check on Coe and failed to protect the girl from the assault.
The suit also accuses the pastor, the Rev. Aaron James, of ignoring communication from the girl's parents and alleges Coe showed the youth group inappropriate videos and was allowed to go on a trip to Costa Rica with 34 minors.
James has not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing.
"Rev. James knew or should have known that a 30-year-old man demonstrating a predilection for a 14-year-old girl was an indication that the man may be a pedophile," argued the lawsuit filed by the girl's family.
Coe is accused of using his position of trust and authority to groom the Sleepy Hollow girl in summer 2012 when she was just 14.
Messages left for Thomas Scherschel, the defense attorney for the church, were not returned.
The two sides are due in court Dec. 3.