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Couple sues church

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By Megan Gildow, Staff writer Updated 1:03 PM Tuesday, July 14, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — A man who pleaded no contest to misdemeanor sexual offenses involving a juvenile in 2008 and his wife are suing their former church and its pastor, alleging harassment, intimidation and misrepresentation.

Former Northwestern Local Schools board member Robert Freeze, 59, and his wife, Linda, filed a lawsuit July 6 in Clark County Common Pleas Court against North Hampton Community Church and its pastor, James Welch, seeking a total of $50,000 in damages, according to a complaint filed with the court.

Freeze pleaded no contest in May 2008 to charges of sexual imposition and disseminating harmful material to a juvenile, according to Clark County court records. He was accused of abusing a 15-year-old relative.

The Freezes allege that Welch tried to coerce Robert Freeze into pleading guilty to the charges by threatening to revoke his church membership, told church members and Freeze’s grandchildren, that he abuses children and commits other crimes. They also allege that Welch tried to de-rail a business deal and threatened to “shun” Linda Freeze if she did not divorce her husband, according to court documents.

The couple also charged that the church and Welch “unlawfully” revoked Linda Freeze’s elected status as church deacon and revoked Robert Freeze’s church membership and that Welch told church members they “would face legal problems, including lawsuits against the members personally” if they did not revoke Freeze’s membership.

The Freezes are seeking $50,000, as well as “punitive damages, reasonable attorney fees and any other relief to which (Freeze) is entitled” for the extreme psychological injury and mental distress” caused by NHCC and Welch.

Welch and an attorney for the Freeze family did not return calls for comment.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0373 or mgildow@coxohio.com.

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