California Woman Sues Salvation Army for Negligence in Alleged Child Sexual Abuse Case

A California woman is suing the Salvation Army and its Pomona branch, alleging she was sexually abused by a youth group leader when she was a minor. The lawsuit, filed Dec. 29, 2022, identifies the plaintiff only as Jane Doe and names three tiers of the Salvation Army as defendants, including The Salvation Army Corp., The Salvation Army Southern California Division, and individuals listed as “Does 1 through 100” of The Salvation Army Corps Community Center in Pomona.

Doe alleges that she and her family were parishioners at the Pomona Corps Community Center, which also functioned as a church. There, she met her alleged abuser, pastor Luis “Ben” Deras, in 2005. The complaint states that Deras was both the pastor and youth leader at the center during that time and became close to Doe’s family, offering her special attention and gifts.

The lawsuit claims Deras began molesting Doe in 2006 and continued the abuse for the next six years. It describes how Deras spent significant alone time with Doe, all while church leadership was present. Doe alleges that Deras gained custody of her and her brother in 2008 through an elaborate scheme, using his authority within the organization.

The complaint further claims that the Salvation Army defendants knew about Deras’ abuse but failed to protect Doe or inform her and her parents about the organization’s knowledge of clergy sexual misconduct. Doe alleges that the defendants ratified and approved of the abuse, continuing to employ Deras and ignoring clear signs of his inappropriate behavior.

The lawsuit asserts that the Salvation Army defendants consciously disregarded Doe’s safety, failing to supervise her or take action against Deras. This case adds to a growing number of allegations against religious organizations, highlighting the need for accountability and protection of vulnerable individuals.

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