Two Romanian men have filed lawsuits in U.S. District Court in California accusing former Riverside megachurch pastor Paul Havsgaard of sexually abusing and trafficking children at a shelter he ran in Bucharest. The plaintiffs, Marian Barbu and Mihai-Constantin Petcu, allege that Havsgaard abused them and dozens of other children for eight years while operating the shelter under the auspices of Harvest Christian Fellowship, a well-known church based in Riverside, California.
Allegations of Abuse and Church Negligence
The lawsuits claim that Havsgaard lured vulnerable street children with promises of food, shelter, and education, only to exploit them sexually and force them into sex work. Barbu and Petcu, who have come forward publicly with their accusations, describe the abuse they endured as “torture” and have expressed ongoing struggles with PTSD and social difficulties.
In addition to the abuse claims, the lawsuits accuse the church’s founder and senior pastor, Greg Laurie, and other church leaders of failing to intervene or supervise Havsgaard despite receiving multiple reports and red flags about his conduct. The church allegedly continued to fund Havsgaard’s operation, depositing $17,000 monthly into his personal account, and even allowed him to return to California with some of the children, fundraising on the basis of his work rehabilitating street kids.
Church’s Response and Legal Battle
Harvest Christian Fellowship has denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit a form of “financial extortion” and arguing that the focus should be on Havsgaard, not the church or its leadership. The church claims it provided financial support for Havsgaard’s mission at one point but denies the more serious allegations in the lawsuit.
Despite the church’s claims of cooperation with law enforcement, the lawyer for the suit asserts that the church neglected to prevent the abuse.
The Fight for Justice and Healing
At Helping Survivors, we stand with those who have experienced clergy abuse and offer support to help them on their journey. If you or someone you know has been impacted by sexual abuse or trafficking, it’s important to understand your legal options. Contact Helping Survivors today to learn more about your legal rights and options.
