ROCK HILL, S.C. – Attorneys for young victims sexually abused by a MorningStar Fellowship youth leader and former North Carolina police officer announced a lawsuit against the youth Leader, Erickson Lee. Lawsuits were also filed against the church, Morningstar, founder and senior pastor Richard Joyner, former church vice president David Yarnes, former head of security Douglas Lee, Chase Portello and others they say turned a blind eye to years of exploitation and abuse. The attorneys say the abuse of the victims began as early as 13-years-old. Due to the complaints from the victims’ parents, Lee was arrested by the York County Sheriff’s Office and, last week, pled guilty to criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the second degree, criminal sexual conduct with a minor in the third degree, assault and battery in the first degree, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and dissemination of obscene material to a minor. Neither Lee’s crimes nor prior allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct at MorningStar Fellowship Church were reported to law enforcement by church leaders at the time of discovery. According to the lawsuit, several of those named as defendants actually witnessed much of Lee’s misconduct firsthand and did nothing to stop it. In fact, at least one of the defendants, Chase Portello, helped Lee threaten and intimidate his victims. “The simple fact is that the leaders of MorningStar Fellowship Church not only failed to protect these young victims, they enabled and protected their abuser even after witnessing much of the abuse firsthand,” said Hood. “They had the chance to do the right thing on multiple occasions but, instead, tried to sweep it under the rug with at least one of them trying to help Lee try and intimidate his young victims.”