S. Carolina megachurch has history of child sex abuse claims

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Updated 7:45 am CST, Friday, March 8, 2019

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A newspaper is reporting that a South Carolina megachurch with a volunteer accused of sexually assaulting 14 children has a history of child sexual misconduct cases.

The Post and Courier reports 28-year-old Jacop Hazlett is the fourth NewSpring Church worker to be accused since 2016.

The Southern Baptist church has 14 campuses where 20,000 weekly attendees donate $41 million a year.

In each case, the paper says, church officials have expressed shock and fired the accused.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/S-Carolina-megachurch-has-history-of-child-sex-13673019.php

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From last December:

Davidson Police investigating man accused of child sex abuse in North Charleston

"Jake Hazlett previously attended and served at The Cove Church during portions of 2010-2014," said a spokesperson for the church in Mooresville.

Author: WCNC Staff
Published: 10:55 PM EST November 30, 2018
Updated: 6:17 PM EST December 4, 2018

MOORESVILLE, N.C. — A church daycare volunteer accused of sex crimes with more than a dozen children in North Charleston is now being investigated by Davidson Police.

North Charleston Police said 28-year-old Jacob Hazlett was arrested after surveillance video at Newspring Church caught him sexually abusing a three-year-old boy in the bathroom.

A lawsuit against the church and Hazlett accused him of sexually abusing 14 children in the last 90 days. The acts were all reportedly caught on church surveillance video.

"The evidence was there on their video cameras, their security cameras, that are monitored live as it's being recorded. It was under their nose and they just missed it," said attorney Joshua Slavin.

More:
https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/davidson-police-investigating-man-accused-of-child-sex-abuse-in-north-charleston/275-619235310

[SWBTATTReg]

1. Another one? Somehow I am no longer surprised. I guess that before casting that ...

first stone at others' so called misdeeds, they should look first at themselves, eh?
What a horror and hurtful event for the kids (and their families too).

[SCantiGOP]

3. Not a bit surprising

Since the Boy Scouts instituted strong controls to stop the abuse that was threatening their organization, the best place left for a man who wants to molest young children is to serve as a Youth Pastor.
The good thing is that when the predator monsters are thrown in jail they are regarded as the lowest form of life in the prison system, as they should be.

[Initech]

2. I'm shocked! Shocked!!!!

[olegramps]

4. The only shock is when it becomes public. Where was the oversight? Yeah, right, shocked not.

[keithbvadu2]

5. Of course they fired him. Problem solved. Give more money.

Of course they fired him. Problem solved. Give more money.

[not fooled]

6. No prior record

Those individuals are the Achilles' heel of the system because the church did get an extensive background check. Of course, the church appears to be at fault for not adequately scrutinizing the video.

At some point these places probably are going to have to institute a system where no one adult can be alone with children. Work in pairs, like lds missionaries. Not foolproof but would help.

[CottonBear]

11. I'm a Scouts BSA Cub Scout leader. We have 2 deep leadership.

One trained and registered (background checked, Youth Protection trained) Scout Leader plus another adult leader or parent must ALWAYS be present when leading a group of Scouts or an individual Scout.

[mpcamb]

7. "In each case ... church officials have expressed shock and fired the accused."

How much "shock" can these church officials take?

[mahannah]

8. Tax and prosecute churches.

[Sherman A1]

9. Hopefully the parents will file civil suits

For damages and tap into that rather hefty looking cash resource. I really don’t believe the church will do much of anything until their piggy bank is threatened.

[czarjak]

10. Just a humble servant...

Trying to do God's will. Obviously.