Man ‘evading’ officials in $18M Canadian abuse lawsuit believed to be in Tulsa

https://ktul.com/news/local/man-evading-officials-in-18-m-canadian-abuse-lawsuit-believed-to-be-in-tulsa

TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — A man embroiled in an $18 million proposed class-action lawsuit in Saskatoon, Canada, involving allegations of abuse against children, is believed to be in Tulsa, “evading” service.

A Saskatoon judge has granted a request to have former Saskatoon pastor Keith Johnson substitutionally served after unsuccessful attempts were made to track him down in Tulsa at his son-in-law’s home and Church On The Move, where he’s believed to attend.

“The process server actually got ahold of [Johnson] by phone,” said Grant Scharfstein, who represents the plaintiffs. “He answered the phone once, basically said he wasn’t going to accept service and to quit trying to serve him.”

More than 75 former students allege they were subjected to physical, sexual, emotional, and spiritual abuse by 21 listed defendants of the former Christian Centre Academy and Saskatoon Christian Centre Church, now called Legacy Christian Academy and Mile Two Church, respectively. NewsChannel 8 reached out to both the church and school but did not hear back.

“It’s just kind of curious to me that [Johnson] is hiding because if he believes in what he’s done and believes in what he did was the right thing, then why wouldn’t he be there to back it up, unless he knows that what he’s done is wrong,” said plaintiff Caitlin Erickson.

Erickson posted a video on TikTok in September, alleging Johnson was “hiding at the assistance of family members in the United States.” The video also states Johnson is the uncle of Church On The Move founder Willie George.

Church On The Move released the following statement to NewsChannel 8:

We are surprised by the TikTok video connecting one of our pastors to law enforcement’s challenge in serving lawsuit documents to Mr. Johnson. While one of our pastors is related to Mr. Johnson, we are not connected with him, nor are we sheltering him in any way. We hate to see anyone hurting or suffering, and our prayers are with everyone involved.

NewsChannel 8 also attempted to reach Johnson numerous times by phone and at his son-in-law’s Tulsa address but was unsuccessful.

A training manual written by Johnson, titled “The Child Training Seminar”, with photos and directions for how to paddle children is quoted in the claim. Johnson writes that spanking should be a “ritual” and practiced “repeatedly in a set, precise manner.”

“[The manual] was a very well-known document in the church and they would sell paddles with them as well,” said Erickson.

The Supreme Court of Canada banned corporal punishment in schools in 2004.

The civil claim is still ongoing, and no verdict has been rendered. There is also an ongoing criminal investigation.

Saskatoon police have received more than 40 formal reports.

A spokesperson for the Saskatoon Police Service issued the following statement to NewsChannel 8:

As police, we understand that the decision to file a formal report is a personal one; particularly when it relates to interpersonal violence. We continue to encourage those who have information believed to be relevant to the investigation to come forward.