Cult-Like Ohio Church is Secret Hotbed of Incestuous Abuse, Ministers Niece Says

Athens County Prosecutors Office; Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail

In the 22-page civil suit, filed Feb. 21 in Cincinnati federal court, Serah Bellar says her parents mandated that all of their 18 biological children and one adopted child attend their uncles Dove Outreach Church in Waverly, Ohio.

This cult-like church is owned, operated, and ministered by Defendant James Bellar, the brother of Defendant Robert Bellar, the suit states. Defendant James Bellar preaches that siblings are meant to procreate with one another.

James Bellars ministry is here according to the call of God to serve you in Jesus' name, his website tells visitors. If you have a need that I am able to help you with just ask. This Homepage will provide you with useful tools and information to help any along in their spiritual walk; who will turn from the world of sin unto God the Father in the name of the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

In her lawsuit, Bellar, now 18, says two of her older brothers, Josiah and Jonathan, regularly sexually assaulted her beginning at the age of 5. This went on until Bellar was 12, with the knowledge and protection of parents Robert, 54, and Deborah, 49.

The suit accuses the Bellars of civil conspiracy, sex trafficking of children, obstruction of justice, compelling and promoting prostitution, child endangerment, and violations of the Ohio Corrupt Practices Act as well as the U.S. Racketeer Influenced Criminal Organization Act. Jimmy Childs, a sergeant with the Athens County Sheriffs Department and a close friend of the Bellars, is accused of negligence in relation to his duties and obligations as a sworn law enforcement officer. The lawsuit was filed under the name Jane Doe, but Bellars attorney has since confirmed that it is in fact her.

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio

In the post, Bellar said she had been taken in and cared for by an elderly couple until she was ready to go public, and that she waited until she turned 18, and was legally an adult, to come forward.

But Bellars lawsuit lays out a raft of sordid allegations against Childs that include intimidation, harassment, and deliberate indifference to what was happening inside the Bellar home.

In addition to allegedly providing her parents with Bellars whereabouts after she was at one point placed in foster care, Childs sexually harassed Bellar when she was underage, the suit claims.

Once, when Childs was watching a then-14-year-old Bellar lift weights, he moan[ed] at her and stated, Im sure you already did that this morning, implying that [Bellar] had masturbated that day, according to the lawsuit. He would often give her butt bumps, and once told Bellar that he was trying to lose weight so that he could see his junk, the filing continues.

Bellars suit also takes aim at Athens County, whose child services agency was repeatedly informed of the abuse occurring in the Bellar home but allegedly did nothing.

After criminal charges were filed against the Bellars last year, James Bellar posted a response on his churchs website calling the allegations salacious, and complete lies.

The lawyer handling Bellars lawsuit, Michael Fradin, did not respond to ishonests request for comment. Efforts to reach James, Robert, Deborah, Jonathan, and Josiah Bellar, as well as Jimmy Childs, by phone and email on Wednesday were unsuccessful.

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