Tulsa church: Mother can't claim damages for abuse

Monday January 7, 2013 8:45 AM

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — A Tulsa megachurch is asking for the dismissal of a civil lawsuit that accuses employees of trying to cover up the rape of a 13-year-old girl by a worker on the church's campus.

The Victory Christian Center argues that the girl's mother, who filed the suit, is not entitled to any relief under the law. A hearing is set for Monday at the Tulsa County courthouse.

Ex-janitor Chris Denman was sentenced to 55 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple sex-related charges. Denman admitted raping the teenage girl in a stairwell on church property.

The lawsuit accuses employees of not reporting the August rape to the authorities while the church conducted an in-house investigation.

The mother is seeking more than $75,000 in damages.

©2013 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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