RENTON, Wash. — The KING 5 Investigators have found that in a report released last year, 37 people told Highlands Community Church investigators that they either experienced or witnessed the pastor grooming, manipulating, or sexually abusing boys and young men for two decades. The former youth pastor from the church in Renton denies engaging in any illegal activity.
Church records show, the pastor has been fired, but to date – no one’s been held criminally accountable.
“It was just normalized because it was talked about. In many places this is happening in the dark but it was just hiding in plain sight,” said another former Highlands Church Pastor Alex Johnson, who was one of the first on record to demand accountability.
Four years ago, he sent a scathing letter to church leaders saying this was a “crisis” that the youth pastor was a “skilled manipulator” and allowed to “operate unimpeded” for 25 years. Instead of acting, Johnson said the church turned on him and forced him out.
“I got practically a cease-and-desist letter from our executive pastor of HR that I just need to shut up, that the church was handling it. It got to the point that I said, I can’t do this anymore, so I put in my resignation,” said Johnson.
Two months later, the church finally acted, and emails show they hired outside investigators to look into the alleged abuse. They found decades of alleged harm done to children and young adults at the hands of the youth pastor and that the church knew or should have known about it. The youth pastor told KING 5 by phone that the investigation was flawed and was conducted by a “biased” organization.
KING 5 interviewed the investigators from the Godly Response to Abuse in the Christian Environment or GRACE. While the organization could not speak in detail about this specific investigation, Executive Director Pete Singer, said investigators, “maintain a high level of independence and a high level of impartiality. I don’t think we’re biased in doing our investigation.”
Church investigation findings
It took the church’s investigators three years to issue a report in 2023 with detailed findings, including: that the youth pastor hosted hot tub parties for teens who at times were naked. By phone, the pastor denies that ever happened. Investigators also found he slept in the same bed with boys--which goes against church policy—and that he would grab, touch or smack boys private areas while playing games.
By phone the youth pastor told KING 5 the allegations sound horrible, but he did “not engage in grooming behavior.”
“We would get access to different hot tub parties or get Airbnb’s when other kids were left at camp,” said James Miller, who attended Highlands Church summer camps as a teenager. He said he wasn’t a victim, but the youth pastor did give him and other campers special treatment like staying offsite in nicer accommodations and enticing them to go out with him by buying them meals.
“It’s hard because when you’re so young you don’t process things like that and I’ve known him for so long but there definitely was oversteps of boundaries,” said Miller.
The worst of the allegations go beyond crossing boundaries. Two young men say the youth pastor sexually abused them. In police and court records and the church’s own report, both men said he began grooming them as teenagers and as they became young adults the youth pastor offered them counseling sessions.
They said they were in their 20’s and about to get married, when the pastor insisted, he prepare them for their upcoming sex lives. They say what transpired was the youth pastor practicing sex acts on them. According to court and police records, neither realized this was abuse at the time and both said they were uncomfortable but felt they could not say no.
Neither of the alleged victims wanted to talk on camera but did send statements to KING 5.
One alleged victim said, "We prefer not to make an elaborate statement based on how damaging an dismissive any interaction with the Highlands Church leadership has been for us. We are rebuilding after the abuse from [the pastor] and the deep betrayal by past and current church leadership."
James Miller was friends with both men. “My heart breaks for the victims and the people he did hurt and affect that way," he said.
Another alleged victim said, "My family and I are still rebuilding our lives after enduring the abuse from [the pastor]. The abuse turned our lives upside down and I need to prioritize supporting my family during this time. I hope that justice finds [the pastor] quickly so that those that trust him may be safe."
When we talked to the former youth pastor on the phone, he told KING 5 that “while inappropriate, these were consensual relationships.” He also said that he’s “not a predator” and he’s “taken responsibility and apologized for abusing his leadership position."
One of the alleged victims sued the church and youth pastor citing that he lost the enjoyment of life after this alleged abuse. The civil court case was settled for an undisclosed amount.
Renton Police Department reopens the case
KING 5 talked with 11 people associated with the church, who all asked the same question: “Why hasn’t anything been done?” Especially since one of the alleged victims filed a police report in Renton three years ago and considering the 67-page report that came out last year by the church’s own investigators.
Police in Renton said they never heard of or saw the report until KING 5 called to ask about it. Two days after we called Renton Police, they re-opened the case. Detectives say the report is concerning.
In a statement, Highlands told KING 5 it made the “report widely available but did not think to send it to Renton PD since they had previously closed the case. And that they are cooperating with law enforcement.”
In the state of Washington, churches are not considered mandatory reporters. In 2024, Senator Noel Frame (D-Seattle) introduced a bill that would require members of the clergy be mandatory reporters. That bill did not pass in the last legislative session.
Last year, the church did make an explosive announcement, they sent a letter to their entire congregation admitting they failed to keep their youngest parishioners safe. They wrote the “‘spiritual and sexual abuse…is horrific’" and they ‘"lament this took place under their leadership.’"
“It’s easy looking back now and know I did the right thing but at the time everyone is telling you you’re wrong,” said Johnson, who first tried to get the church to do something is now dedicating his life to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
In June Johnson got a doctorate in psychology from Seattle Pacific. He’s starting his own company to help churches hire the right kind of leaders. “Something different needs to happen. Their care was not prioritized. The organization protected itself over the people.”
Renton Police Department said the criminal case is still open and they are hoping to talk with former church members about these allegations. Those interested are encouraged to email Renton PD detective Scott Barfield at Sbarfield@rentonwa.gov.