Fort Mill Community in Shock Following Disturbing Abuse Allegations
The small town of Fort Mill, South Carolina, is grappling with the fallout from a disturbing case involving former Cornelius police officer Erickson Douglas Lee. After pleading guilty on September 6 to multiple charges related to sexual abuse, including criminal sexual conduct with a minor, Lee has been sentenced to nine years in prison. Unfortunately, the resolution of Lee’s case does not seem to bring solace to the local community or the church he was affiliated with, MorningStar Fellowship Church. Instead, it is just the beginning of a much larger and troubling story.
New Lawsuits Surface
On September 16, a group of lawyers gathered in Rock Hill to announce a slew of new lawsuits targeting not only Lee but also the leadership of MorningStar Fellowship Church. Richard Joyner, the founder and senior pastor, along with former church vice president David Yarnes, and several others are included in the legal action. The accusations are grave: the lawyers assert that church leadership ignored years of exploitation and abuse, turning a blind eye even as they witnessed horrifying misconduct.
The Allegations Against Lee
Erickson Lee volunteered as a youth leader at MorningStar, and the allegations against him are deeply alarming. According to the attorneys from McGowan, Hood, Felder, and Phillips, Lee offered alcohol, vapes, and pornography to boys as young as 13 between 2019 and 2023. Tragically, this behavior escalated into sexual abuse. When Lee was arrested in April 2023, he lost his job with the Cornelius Police Department, and the legal repercussions of his actions have just begun.
Lee’s guilty plea included charges such as assault and battery in the first degree and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. More lawsuits are expected as multiple victims have come forward, implying that the danger was not limited to just one or two isolated incidents.
Turning a Blind Eye?
The lawsuits allege that church leaders, despite being aware of Lee’s actions, failed to act responsibly. The court filings claim that previous allegations of abuse were either ignored or handled “in house,” avoiding police intervention altogether. This culture of silence, as attorney Hood articulated, allowed for a predatory environment, where misconduct could flourish hidden in the shadows.
“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,” Hood stated candidly. He went on to describe how Lee’s grooming behavior morphed into fully-fledged sexual abuse, culminating in acts of both emotional and physical violation against vulnerable children.
A Safe Environment for Children?
Creating a safe space for children should be a non-negotiable aspect of any church or community organization. According to Hood, “There’s only one choice, and that choice is that you have to protect them.” It’s heart-wrenching to think that instead of implementing the appropriate policies and monitoring—actions that could have prevented this tragedy—leaders chose to overlook troubling signs.
During the press conference, Hood emphasized the existence of other victims who might still be out there. “I think that there are a lot more victims that we don’t know about that will become known in the weeks, in the months ahead,” he revealed, piquing concerns that this dark chapter is far from over.
MorningStar’s Response
In response to the barrage of lawsuits, MorningStar Fellowship Church expressed its sadness and shock over the mistreatment of its young members. The church has reiterated that their faith in Lee was, at least initially, rooted in his position as a police officer. They insisted that multiple background checks had been done on him, which raised no red flags. According to them, Lee acted completely out of character, leading to a betrayal of trust that they are still trying to understand.
In a revealing twist, MorningStar claimed that Lee lived in a garage apartment next to one of the victim’s families, and the majority of the maltreatment happened there. They argue that prior to any knowledge of Lee’s behaviors, he was regarded as an asset to their youth program, making the betrayal all the more shocking.
Community Backlash
The situation even led to the resignation of Chris Reed, the CEO, President, and Pastor of MorningStar, who felt caught between defending the church and supporting the victims. His resignation has fueled a firestorm of emotions, both among church attendees and the broader community.
As allegations and investigations continue to unfold, it’s clear that Fort Mill has reached a critical point where trust has been shattered, and communities are forced to reckon with these unsettling revelations. The impact of these events will likely linger, leaving deep scars on everyone involved as they navigate the challenging waters of recovery and justice.
