Editors’ word: This text contains graphic particulars about alleged sexual assaults
Pastor Ronnie Goines and his Koinonia Christian Church in Arlington, Texas, have been slapped with a lawsuit in search of greater than $1 million in damages by a dentist and former member who alleges she was sexually assaulted twice by the divorced pastor six months after she joined the church.
Tolu Fadipe, who’s represented by attorneys Keith L. Langston, John C. Hull, Shawn A. Latchford and T. Wesley Holmes of Bruster PLLC in Texas, in addition to Boz Tchividjian of BozLaw PA in Florida, filed her lawsuit on Feb. 28 within the Tarrant County District Court docket in Texas the place she resides.
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In keeping with the lawsuit reviewed by The Christian Publish, Fadipe, who turned a member of the church on Oct. 2, 2022, alleges she was sexually assaulted by Goines on or about March 3 and March 4, 2023, after a interval of grooming. She subsequently lower off all ties with Goines and the church, and reported the assaults to police in early June 2024.
After surrendering to police, Goines was charged with sexual assault and indecent assault, which he insists have been consensual acts with Fadipe. Goines was launched from jail final July after posting $23,000 in bail for the 2 fees, courtroom data present. He stepped away from his pulpit for 3 months and returned final October.
Fadipe is now in search of damages from Goines for the alleged assaults. She additionally accuses each the church and Goines of negligence, fraud and intentional infliction of emotional misery.
The lawsuit argues that Koinonia had an obligation to forestall Goines from participating in non-therapeutic and unethical counseling practices and from sexually exploiting Fadipe because of the particular relationship between Koinonia and Goines as his employer and supervisor.
Below Texas regulation, Fadipe’s attorneys argue that Koinonia is responsible of negligence as a result of the church breached “its responsibility to regulate Goines by failing to implement and implement applicable counseling practices, failing to observe interactions between Goines and weak congregants, and failing to oversee Goines’ counseling relationships with congregants.”
“Koinonia was negligent in permitting Goines to supply counseling to weak feminine congregants. Koinonia knew, or moderately ought to have recognized, that Goines posed a danger to weak congregants in search of counseling but continued to permit him unrestricted entry to such congregants,” the lawsuit argues.
“Moreover, and within the various, Koinonia was negligent within the choice, coaching, supervision, and retention of its pastoral employees, together with Goines, significantly with respect to applicable boundaries in counseling relationships and communications with congregants.”
In her YouTube profile, Fadipe describes herself as not only a dentist however “a minister and life coach enthusiastic about preaching the gospel” with an curiosity in “trend, health and extra.” Movies posted on her Instagram web page present her participating in these passions, like figuring out on the fitness center.
She first attended Koinonia in August 2022 after her brother invited her to the church. After her second Thursday Bible examine, she launched herself to Goines and shared that she was scuffling with emotional and relationship points after shifting to the Dallas space. Fadipe says Goines linked her along with his assistant pastor and felt like she had discovered a protected group to worship.
Shortly after that assembly, the dentist mentioned she attended a singles occasion on the church and took part in a dialogue about how males usually mistreat ladies.
Through the occasion, she mentioned Goines famous that males usually have “unhealthy motives” when they’re close to ladies and acknowledged that he knew males who joked about how ladies could be “bought” by merely “isolating them from their pack.”
Goines subsequently assured Fadipe that the church group was a protected house that she may belief and didn’t need to “be so guarded and overly suspicious of the boys at Koinonia.”
“Plaintiff was unaware that, whereas Goines was reassuring her that she was in a protected setting with reliable people, he was in reality grooming her and would finally sexually victimize her,” the lawsuit states.
“The predatory grooming means of Plaintiff wherein Goines engaged was supposed to trigger, and actually precipitated, Plaintiff to belief Goines and to speak essentially the most private particulars of her life to Goines. Each facet of Plaintiff’s life, together with her work, her fears, her feelings, and her aspirations, was laid open to Goines.”
After turning into a member of the church in October, Fadipe famous that her brother knowledgeable her that Goines was asking about her after she missed some mid-week church occasions resulting from work at her dental observe.
On Jan. 1, 2023, after a church service, Fadipe mentioned Goines confirmed “apparent pleasure” to see her and so they had a dialogue about her occupation.
“Goines confirmed apparent pleasure when he noticed Plaintiff and hugged her. He then requested her what she did for a residing, and she or he replied that she was a dentist who labored in the course of the week at a dental workplace in Lubbock. Goines confirmed her his tooth and requested a fast prognosis. Plaintiff supplied her opinion, noting that he seemingly floor his tooth and may gain advantage from an evening guard. He replied, ‘Actually, you’re proper.’ I’ve been beneath plenty of stress, however issues are going to enhance quickly,’” the lawsuit says. “Plaintiff inspired him to contact her workplace if he ever needed a complete dental examination without charge.”
Goines then proceeded to contact Fadipe incessantly after that regardless of being married. He tried participating her by way of FaceTime a number of instances and was offended when she informed him she “doesn’t FaceTime males.”
By Jan. 13, 2023, the lawsuit says Goines known as Fadipe to search out out if she had seen an announcement about his divorce.
“He expressed disappointment that she had not inquired about it or reached out to him. Plaintiff responded that she meant no disrespect however felt it was not her place to ask about such issues,” the lawsuit says.
Quickly after, Goines allegedly requested Fadipe if she may cook dinner for him, amongst different interactions he begged her to maintain personal.
“Between February 15 and February 18, 2023, Goines texted Plaintiff quite a few instances, persevering with his manipulative techniques and his specific sexual feedback and questions. As an illustration, he questioned her a few previous relationship and whether or not her boyfriend ‘bought exhausting,’” the lawsuit says. “Extraordinarily embarrassed, she informed him that she didn’t know. He then requested her if she was a virgin. Plaintiff hesitated to reply, suggesting that the query was too private.”
Fadipe alleges that the primary time she was sexually assaulted by Goines, he claimed he was having automotive bother after an accident and requested her for a trip to his dwelling. She agreed, however moments later, he was capable of begin his automotive, and he requested her to comply with him dwelling in her automotive simply in case he broke down.
Once they bought to his home, Goines prompt they get one thing to eat at a close-by espresso store, however Fadipe needed one thing extra filling. Goines prompt they may get meals delivered to his dwelling and she or he agreed to dine with him there. As soon as she was inside his dwelling, nonetheless, Goines allegedly “resumed his manipulation and grooming,” in line with the lawsuit.
“He informed Plaintiff that his day had been loopy and annoying. He mentioned that he felt offended and upset. He defined that many individuals had been frequently betraying him and turning in opposition to him since his divorce. He described his ex-wife as a ‘horrible individual’ and talked about that one other girl had known as him a ‘narcissist,’ which had harm him deeply,” the lawsuit explains.
Goines allegedly informed Fadipe that one other girl accused him of constructing “inappropriate” advances though he was “good to her.”
“He pleaded with Plaintiff to know that he was a great individual and she or he ought to by no means query his integrity or intentions. He then tried to kiss her, however Plaintiff instantly pushed his face away and mentioned, ‘No, sir.’ He then tried to kiss her neck, and she or he once more mentioned ‘no’ and moved her face away,” the lawsuit notes.
Goines made additional makes an attempt to kiss Fadipe on each her lips and neck, supplied a therapeutic massage, “then tried to place his arms down Plaintiff’s pants to rub her legs, and she or he informed him ‘no,’ holding her pants closed.”
Nonetheless, the pastor allegedly refused to cease.
“Goines pulled Plaintiff’s bra down and kissed her on the breast. At that time, she jumped, jerked away, and pulled up her prime. Goines then stopped, walked over to a chair, sat down, and commenced speaking as if nothing had occurred,” the lawsuit explains.
“Plaintiff was in a state of shock, confusion, disbelief, and humiliation. She couldn’t comprehend what had simply occurred and was struggling to course of how somebody who had simply sexually assaulted her may disregard his actions and begin discussing mundane issues.”
Fadipe says after that, she informed Goines she was going dwelling however needed to make use of the toilet first. The pastor allegedly adopted her inside the toilet and tried to sexually assault her as soon as extra.
“Goines adopted her into the toilet, turned off the lights and commenced kissing her neck. He then lifted her up onto the sink and pulled her prime and bra down; all of the whereas Plaintiff was begging him to cease. He then proceeded to try to unbutton Plaintiff’s pants, however she mentioned, ‘no’ and grabbed his arms. This didn’t cease him. Goines continued making an attempt to take away her pants,” the lawsuit claims.
She escaped the house however discovered herself again on the pastor’s home the next day as a result of she had made a promise to fulfill with him to look at a play. Fadipe mentioned what occurred to her with a buddy and she or he determined to make use of the chance to confront Goines about what he did.
“She couldn’t settle for that she had simply been sexually assaulted by her pastor. Plaintiff started to doubt her personal traumatic expertise, discovering it tough to imagine that such a godly man may really be a sexual predator,” her attorneys wrote.
As part of her plan to confront Goines, Fadipe felt that carrying an extended gown to the assembly “would make her much less interesting and cut back the prospect of his appearing out once more,” but it surely didn’t work.
“After the play, Goines prompt they seize some meals and eat at his place. Once they first arrived at Goines’ home, all the pieces appeared tremendous. Nonetheless, it didn’t take lengthy for Goines to begin kissing Plaintiff’s neck and flattening her bra. Plaintiff felt nervous and uncomfortable as she tried to regular her respiration to forestall a panic assault,” the lawsuit continues.
“Goines then tried to elevate her lengthy gown, however she mentioned ‘no’ and tucked the gown beneath her ft. He then tried unsuccessfully to tug her gown off and commenced kissing her once more, however Plaintiff instantly turned her face away from him. Goines then pulled her gown out from beneath her ft, parted her legs, and tried to tug her gown up.”
Goines allegedly climbed on prime of Fadipe, “put his arms into her underwear and pressed his genitalia in opposition to hers” whereas finishing up different actions on her physique though she begged him to cease.
“Ultimately, Plaintiff managed to flee from his home and drive dwelling, feeling traumatized, humiliated, and profoundly embarrassed,” the lawsuit states. “After the assaults on March third and 4th, Plaintiff struggled to make sense of what Goines had achieved to her.”
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