In the District Court of Harris County, Texas, plaintiffs Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, and Jane Doe 3 have filed a lawsuit against Champion Forest Baptist Church, Timothy Jeltema, and the Southern Baptist Convention. The case was filed on April 19th, 2024 under the court case ID 2024-25267.
The plaintiffs allege that they were sexually assaulted by Timothy Jeltema, a youth pastor at Champion Forest Baptist Church. They claim that despite being aware of the risks associated with churches as hunting grounds for individuals seeking to prey on children's innocence, the defendants invited and enabled Jeltema to be part of their trusted inner circle. The church's initial response was to question the plaintiffs' veracity and tip off Jeltema about the police investigation.
Jeltema has pleaded guilty to criminal charges of sexual performance by a child, indecency with a child, and online solicitation of a minor. He is currently serving time in jail. The lawsuit seeks to hold Champion Forest Baptist Church and the Southern Baptist Convention accountable for their neglect and misconduct.