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AMARILLO -- Tuesday morning, a lawsuit was filed against Paramount Baptist Church in Randall County. The lawsuit alleges the church neglected to protect the congregation's child from a known pedophile, who was employed with the church.
In August of 2006 40 year-old Patrick Farmer was convicted on four counts of indecency a child sexual contact. The plaintiff's said Farmer had molested them while they were under his supervision at church activities.
The Plaintiffs named in that case, feel this would have never had happened if the church had done something years ago.
"They should have let the congregation know that complaints had been made," the Plaintiff's Attorney Stan Broome said. "Immediately took action whether or not they were valid. In the beginning they should have immediately took action to pull him away from children while they investigated the complaint and they didn't."
The lawsuit claims from 1995 to 2004 parents complained to church authorities that Farmer was acting inappropriately around children. But nothing was done. Plus a church worker wrote a letter to a local school district where Farmer was once employed. The letter requested a recommendation for Farmer to be around children. The former employer replied by warning the church not to allow Farmer to work with children. It was only filed in the church records.
Broome said these are the reasons why Farmer would later be convicted on those four counts. In this latest lawsuit, the plaintiffs are asking to be awarded for damages their children received.
"We think the community needs to know what happened," said Broome. "We think the community needs to know what Paramount Baptist Church did to cover up all the complaints made."
Paramount Baptist leaders released a limited statement. They said Farmer was a long time member and later became a paid worker from 1995 to 2004. But now they have nothing more to do with him.
"We take these claims and allegations very seriously, and we are currently investigating all of these claims," said Executive Pastor Dave Anderson. He also said "I can attest both as a staff person and a parent, that Paramount Baptist Church continually strides to provide an environment where families are safe, where they are secure."
A security Broome said his clients didn't have. But a judge or jury will have the final say on that argument.
