Darius Pridgen and the True Bethel Baptist Church are named in an 18-page civil suit that alleges that Pridgen, the senior pastor at the church and Buffalo Common Council President, committed acts of sexual abuse. This suit was filed by a Buffalo woman in her late 40s under the Adult Survivors Act, which became effective in November of 2022.

Allegations of the Lawsuit

The lawsuit contains three main allegations:

• The plaintiff was sexually abused by Pridgen at the True Bethel Baptist Church.
• The abuse occurred in 2020.
• The abuse occurred approximately seven times after church.

According to the plaintiff’s lawyer, she was subjected to serious abuse that has changed her life forever, and the Adult Survivors Act allowed her a means to come forward and seek justice.

Adult Survivors Act

New York’s Adult Survivors Act was designed to allow adult victims (18 years of age or older) of sexual abuse to come forward for a one-year period that began in November of 2022 and ended in November of 2023. The lawsuit in question was filed during the summer of 2023. Since the plaintiff in this suit is in her late 40s, the Adult Survivors Act allowed her to bring this civil suit before the New York courts.

Response of the Accused

In an interview with Buffallo’s WGRZ, Pridgen claimed he has no idea what the suit is about and has no recollection of ever meeting a woman who fits the description of the accuser either privately or as a member of the congregation, despite the accuser’s claims that she was a volunteer at the church. Pridgen said outright that he is not stepping down from either of his positions and that he has “so much grace” for people who have been accused similarly to how he was.

You can read more about the suit by clicking the link below.