Former Youth Pastor Charged with Child Sexual Abuse

Brett Bymaster, executive director of a San Jose non-profit organization, was arrested on April 11, 2024 and charged with 6 counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child. The charges involve allegations of incidents that occurred between 2013 and 2019, when Bymaster was serving as a youth pastor. The reported victim, who is now an adult, claims that she was sexually abused by the former pastor between the ages of 8 and 14.

Bymaster is currently in jail, and his original bail amount of $400,000 has been revoked at least until April 19, when he will reappear before the court. His current employer, the Healing Grove Health Center, released a statement saying that Bymaster has been “placed on unpaid leave pending [the] outcome of the investigation.”

As for the church that he worked at prior to his role at the Healing Grove Health Center, Bymaster apparently had a sordid and disturbing history while he served as their youth pastor. Known as The River, the church began investigating Brett Bymaster after repeated complaints from students and staff members. According to church officials, the complaints were about his “spiritually abusive” behavior towards others, which made him a “toxic leader.” He was asked to step down from his role by the church, but in January of this year, a letter was sent to church members informing them of abuse allegations that were uncovered during the initial investigation.

Very little is known so far about what was found by the church, but it’s clear that based on the recent arrest by San Jose Police, there were accusations of sexual abuse against children by Brett Bymaster. Unfortunately, we are only aware of two of the victims (unidentified), due to a protective order that was issued on their behalf by Judge Hector Ramon, which prohibits Bymaster from contacting them. The church acknowledged that there were other victims who were not included in their original investigation. Thus, the criminal charges currently filed against the youth pastor do not reflect these incidents.

To put it bluntly, this is a complicated web of abuse, neglect, and incompetence that resulted in many children being scarred from the trauma of sexual abuse by a trusted member of their church. If you are one of these victims, you can still obtain justice through the civil courts, even if you are unable to pursue a case for criminal prosecution. For more information on suing for childhood sexual abuse, contact our office to schedule a free case review.

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Who Can I Sue if I was Sexually Abused by a Religious Leader?

You have the right to sue the person that abused or assaulted you, but what about the church that’s in charge of youth pastors and leaders in the congregation? Stories of poor leadership, lack of supervision, and deliberate concealment of evidence are not unusual when it comes to religious groups and sexual abuse. And we can see that may be the case at The River as well, considering the findings of their own investigation in 2021.

The investigation by the church concluded that Bymaster was poorly supervised, which is an admission of negligence on their part. In addition, it appears that he was able to sidestep allegations of sexual misconduct, though it’s clear that there were signs of inappropriate relations between him and his students. This is an area that merits further investigation, which we expect will happen now that two of the victims have filed criminal charges.

Victims also have the right to sue the church for their failure to protect them from sexual assault and other forms of child abuse. After all, they have already admitted that supervision of Bymaster was inadequate, and somehow, he was let off the hook for possible incidents of sexual abuse against his students. This seems incredible, but it’s fairly standard when it comes to houses or worship and how they deal with the sexual abuse of minors.

We will need more information in order to figure out exactly how the church is liable in the case of Brett Bymaster. But rest assured that our attorneys have decades of experience in the investigation of sexual abuse claims against churches, mosques, synagogues and other religious organizations. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you were sexually abused by Brett Bymaster or any other religious leader in the state of California.

How Much can I Potentially Receive from a Lawsuit?

Lawsuits for the sexual abuse of a child are usually settled within the range of $400,000 to $5,000,000. Claims of sexual assault tend to generate higher settlements that than case of sexual exploitation, though there are many other factors that are used to calculate a sexual abuse case value. The majority of cases that are settled by our attorneys are worth between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000. Occasionally, there are victims that receive close to or over $10,000,000, but these cases involve extreme circumstances that are not applicable to most lawsuits. Still, you can generally expect to receive 6 to 7 figures in compensation as someone that was sexually abused by a youth pastor or another religious leader.

How Long Do Child Sexual Abuse Lawsuits Take to Settle?

We generally find that cases of sexual assault or exploitation during childhood take around 1 to 2 years to settle. Cases that are especially complex will take up to several years, especially if we need to ask for a trial date. But these are rare instances, and for the most part, sexual abuse claims against a church or church member are settled out of court. Sometimes, it can take 6 months or less for both sides to agree on a settlement amount. However, it’s more realistic to say that lawsuits for the sexual abuse of a minor take at least 12 months from start to finish.

How Long Do I have to Sue for Sexual Abuse by Brett Bymaster?

In California, the statutory deadline to sue for sexual abuse that occurred before you were 18 is the date of your 40^th birthday. So, you have 22 years after you turn 18 if you wish to file a lawsuit against Brett Bymaster, The River Church, and anyone else that’s liable for the abuse you suffered.

Alternatively, you can file a lawsuit within 5 years of discovering an injury caused by the emotional or physical trauma of sexual abuse. This is relevant for many people who were sexually abused as children, which is a time when they are unable to deal with the ramifications of what they went through. Most victims don’t tell anyone, but even the ones that do may not be provided with the help and protection they deserve by law. That’s why many of them develop mental health issues associated with the suppression of childhood abuse.

At some point, they are likely to make the connection between their anger issues, suicidal thoughts, and other problems associated with being sexually abused as a child. No matter your age at the time of realization, you have 5 years to sue for monetary damages under California’s discovery rule for child sexual abuse victims.

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As a victim of sexual abuse, we believe that you are entitled to advice and representation from an experienced attorney. That’s why clients here at Normandie Law Firm pay $0 towards the cost of legal expenses. The Zero Fee Guarantee is our assurance to you that all legal fees are covered by the negligent party. Furthermore, we only get paid by securing your settlement, so we make absolutely nothing if you don’t receive compensation at the end of your lawsuit.

In essence, there is nothing to lose by taking a moment to contact us here at our law firm. We look forward to speaking with you and fighting for justice on your behalf.

Other Pages on Our Website Related to This Topic
Richmond Pastor Charged with Sexual Assault – Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Lawyers
Covington Pastor Charged with Sexual Abuse of a Child