Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo Common Council President, Rev. Darius Pridgen is facing a sexual assault suit filed by a parishioner at True Bethel Baptist Church in Buffalo.
The suit, first reported by WKBW, alleges that Pridgen sexually assaulted a 45-year-old woman in 2020 while she was a parishioner and volunteer at the True Bethel Baptist Church, where Pridgen serves as senior pastor.
The plaintiff, whose name WBEN is withholding because she is an alleged sexual assault victim, is a Buffalo resident and alleges that Pridgen assaulted her after church services on approximately seven different occasions. She is seeking damages for emotional and physical suffering.
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In a brief telephone interview Wednesday morning, Pridgen told WBEN he was "surprised" to learn of the lawsuit.
The suit alleges the abuse occurred at True Bethel Baptist Church, and not while Pridgen was acting in his role as Buffalo Common Council President.
"I'm very disappointed, because we have not been served at all," Pridgen told WBEN on Wednesday.
"We do not know the person at all. I won't go into detail because there's a lawsuit, but I can just tell you this: If you look at the dates, True Bethel wasn't operating. So I'm not really sure of what this is about, but we definitely will address this when we are made aware of it formally. But until this point, the only thing I've been given is just things from the News. Very, very, very hurt, because we have no idea of anything about this person."
True Bethel Baptist Church is also named as a defendant.
The woman alleges she "suffered catastrophic and lifelong injuries as a result of defendants’ (True Bethel's) negligence and by allowing Bishop Pridgen to continue his role where he would have the access and the means to prey on parishioners... and they failed to adequately supervise Bishop Pridgen" who had a "reputation of being a sexual predator."
"As alleged in the complaint, my client was subjected to prolific abuse that has altered her life forever," said Antigone Curis, the plaintiff's attorney, in a statement.
"This lawsuit is the first step toward healing and justice and we are thankful for the Adult Survivors Act."