Mormon church, Boy Scouts accused in sex-abuse lawsuit

Deseretnews.com

Mormon church, Boy Scouts accused in sex-abuse lawsuit

Associated Press
Monday, January 22, 2007

PORTLAND, Ore. — Two brothers who claim they were sexually abused as children by a "home teacher" filed a $6.5 million lawsuit Monday against the Mormon church and Boy Scouts of America.

The lawsuit, filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, alleges the Boy Scouts and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints were responsible because Timur Dykes was their authorized representative in the mid-1980s.

Dykes was convicted of child sexual abuse, according to the lawsuit filed by Portland attorney Kelly Clark, who has represented victims of alleged abuse by Roman Catholic priests.

Dykes, also known as Timur Van Dykes, is listed on the Multnomah County Department of Community Justice Web site as a "predatory sex offender" who gains access to vulnerable boys and families through positions of trust.

Dykes is serving probation until 2015, said Robb Freda-Cowie, department spokesman.

Efforts to find a phone listing for Dykes were unsuccessful.

The church and Boy Scouts said they had not seen the lawsuit and had no immediate comment. The brothers were born in 1972 and 1973.

The lawsuit alleges the church never reported sex-abuse allegations involving the older brother to police. If so, police would have discovered other victims, the lawsuit claims.

Each brother seeks $3 million in general damages and $250,000 in economic damages.

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