The Bishop Eddie Long sex scandal continues as a fourth lawsuit has been filed against him in Dekalb County Court.
In the new lawsuit there are allegations the Atlanta-area pastor coerced a 15-year-old boy into having sex with him during a trip to Africa!
The alleged victim, Spencer LaGrande now lives in North Carolina and is now 22 years old. He filed suit against Long and the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church and, like the other three alleged victims, accused the powerhouse pastor of forcing him into a sexual relationship while treating him to trips around the world, travel in private planes and stays in luxury hotels.
LeGrande, claims he was 17 when he began a sexual relationship with Long while accompanying the bishop on a trip to Nairobi, Kenya.
LeGrande, of Charlotte, N.C., alleges in a civil suit filed Friday in DeKalb County that Long gave him an Ambien, a popular prescription sleep aid, followed by a “prolonged hug,” kissing and rubbing, according to the suit.
The suit claims the two shared a bed for the remainder of their trip.
In a statement released immediately after the 4th case was filed, Long again denied the allegations through a church spokesman:
“Bishop Long categorically denies the charges,” church spokesman Art Franklin said Friday.
“We believe that it is unfortunate the young men have chosen to take this course of action. The defense team will review the complaints and respond accordingly at the appropriate time and in the appropriate forum.”
LaGrande’s lawsuit alleges he met Long in March 2003 during the very first service at a branch Long’s
Georgia-based church opened in a suburb of Charlotte, N.C.
LeGrande said Long agreed to be a father figure for him because his own father was an absentee father, according to court documents, and that Long began asking LaGrande to call him “dad.”
Long has vehemently denied all the accusations and said in a statement this week that the charges in the lawsuits have “hurt me deeply.” He has said that he plans to defend himself against the “ugly charges” from the pulpit Sunday, although word on the street is that he will step down from his position as head of the church.
I guess we’ll find out Sunday…. stay tuned.