Philandering Pastor Fathered Her|’Devil Child,’ Parishioner Claims

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (CN) - Saying "God would protect her" during unprotected sex, a Pentecostal pastor impregnated a parishioner, called their son a "devil child" after she refused to have an abortion, and blew off court-ordered child support, the woman claims in court.

Erica Hollinger sued the pastor, Clarence Johnson III, in Jackson County Court.

Johnson is still a pastor at co-defendant Life Tabernacle Pentecostal Church, at Kansas City, Mo., which is controlled by the Indianapolis-based defendant Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, according to the complaint.

Hollinger claims that Johnson abused his power as her pastor and therapist to gain her trust and have sex with her.

So gross were Johnson's predations, Hollinger claims, that his "pattern of intentional sexual exploitation included sending sexual, inappropriate texts to women while they were in church and while CJIII sat behind the pulpit."

The complaint states: "This pattern of sexual exploitation included CJIII engaging in multiple extramarital affairs and/or attempted affairs.

"This pattern of sexual exploitation has produced no fewer than two children who were born out of wedlock, including plaintiff's minor son.

"This pattern of sexual exploitation included utilizing claims that exploited CJIII's position as pastor of LTPC such that defendant CJIII ordered, cajoled or encouraged plaintiff to engage in conduct which she believed was improper including but not limited to demanding that plaintiff engage in unprotected premarital sex and that 'God would protect her' from becoming pregnant.

"This pattern of sexual exploitation included asking for sexual acts from plaintiff and groping plaintiff while she was on the premises of LTPC.

"CJIII after he learned that plaintiff had become pregnant for the second time demanded that plaintiff abort the child and when plaintiff refused CJIII told plaintiff that his child was 'devil child' and made numerous other emotionally damaging statements to plaintiff while on the premises of LTPC."

Hollinger claims that church supervisors knew about this, including Johnson's late father, the Rev. Clarence Johnson II, the church's board of directors, including a bishop, and Johnson III's mother, Betty Johnson, whom the complaint describes as the church's "First Lady."

Hollinger claims that First Lady Berry Johnson "was aware of her son's improper conduct since at least 2009, when she was advised by plaintiff that CJIII had engaged in sexual relations with plaintiff and other women."

The complaint continues: "When advised that plaintiff had become pregnant for a second time, Mrs. Johnson as board member for LTPC demanded that plaintiff 'prove' that her grandson was indeed her grandson. In January of 2012 plaintiff advised Ms. Johnson that genetic testing proved that plaintiff's son was in fact Mrs. Johnson's grandchild.

"Upon learning of this Ms. Johnson told plaintiff that plaintiff was 'not welcome' at LTPC any longer and thereafter continued to refuse or acknowledge her grandchild and continued to demand that plaintiff not attend LTPC, where she had attended since she was eight (8) years old."

Hollinger claims Johnson has never seen, talked to or held his son, "nor has CJIII paid the child support a court was forced to order after Rev. Johnson had refused to be financial[ly] responsible for his child."

And she says she is not Johnson's only victim.

"This intentional pattern of sexual exploitation included but it is not limited to sexually propositioning female parishioners who were under the age of seventeen (17) to whom CJIII gained access through his position as youth pastor and/or pastor at LTPC," the complaint states.

"This intentional pattern of sexual exploitation included utilizing his role as a marital/relationship counselor with TLPC as an opportunity to engage in sexual relations with women patients, clients and/or parishioners, including at least one woman who was married."

To top it off, Hollinger claims: "Defendant CJIII engaged in improper sexual acts while on the premises of LTPC including but not limited to, while seated behind his father while his father preached to the parishioners of LTPC."

Hollinger seeks punitive damages for intentional failure to supervise clergy, intentional infliction of emotional distress, reckless infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

She is represented by G. Michael Fatall.

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