A former pastor of a Riverside megachurch is facing serious allegations of sexual abuse and human trafficking at a shelter he managed in Bucharest. This accusation comes from a lawsuit filed by two Romanian men in a California federal court.
The claimants, Marianne Barb, 33, and Mihai Constantine Petchu, 40, allege that Paul Havesgaard, the ex-pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, abused many children over the course of eight years at the shelter.
The lawsuit also names Greg Laurie, the church’s founder and senior pastor, who is a well-known evangelist and author.
According to the complaint, Havesgaard allegedly lured vulnerable street children with offers of food, shelter, and education.
Jef McAllister, the London-based attorney representing Barb and Petchu, stated, “We are a company that represents Barbu and Petcu.”
The Associated Press typically refrains from identifying sexual abuse victims unless they choose to come forward publicly, as Barb and Petchu have done.
The church has distanced itself from Havesgaard, stating it did not have direct contact with him. Attempts to reach him via email and phone were unsuccessful. Harvest Christian Fellowship, however, expressed shock at the lawsuit, insisting that Havesgaard, not the church or its prominent pastors, should bear the responsibility.
The church’s statement claimed the lawsuit incorrectly targets them as part of a financial ploy and fails to seek the truth, focusing instead on attacking their integrity.
The complaint argues that the church exhibited negligence, accusing Laurie and other senior leaders of failing to monitor Havesgaard despite various warning signs, such as reports of sexual abuse and poor living conditions at the shelter.
Additionally, the lawsuit highlights that the church provided minimal oversight while allegedly transferring $17,000 monthly into Havesgaard’s personal account.
Havesgaard’s prior claims of raising funds for his charitable work in Romania, which allegedly involved abused children, are also mentioned in the lawsuit.
The church acknowledged supporting Havesgaard’s initiative for a period but emphasized that many lawsuits against them are baseless.
They claimed to have tried cooperating with the plaintiffs and reported their accusations to law enforcement, but the plaintiffs and their attorney reportedly declined to engage with U.S. authorities.
Barb described life in the shelter as akin to “a torture room in a prison,” alleging that Havesgaard would often intrude while boys were bathing, displaying inappropriate behavior.
Both men accused Havesgaard of exploiting older boys for online sex work, lowering their income due to such exploitation.
The allegations detail instances of severe sexual assault and emotional abuse, with distressing practices like forcing children to kneel on walnut shells or tying them to beds.
The lawsuit claims that Havesgaard made abusive comments to children during these incidents, with McAllister expressing hopes of expanding the lawsuit to include at least 20 more individuals who claim to have experienced abuse in the shelter.
While recognizing the challenges faced by these children, McAllister mentioned, “Even though they lived in homes meant to educate them, many remain illiterate. They struggle with trust and support each other.”
Most of these children live in poverty, seeking financial assistance and validation for the injustices they have endured, according to McAllister.
“They’ve really faced hardships,” he said. “It’s important for them to feel that the injustices they’ve faced are recognized.”
