In the 1990s, Herman Glenn was a youth pastor at Bethel Christian Assembly (now known as Church For All Nations) in Tacoma, Washington. In 2003, Glenn pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree child rape related to his sexual abuse of boys affiliated with Church For All Nations.
This article provides further details about Herman Glenn, Jr., and his history of sexual abuse committed against minors who attended Church For All Nations when he was a youth pastor. This article also details what Church For All Nations knew about Glenn’s danger to children and how Church For All Nations handled the allegations of sexual abuse, as well as general information about church sexual abuse and what you can do if you or someone you know is a victim.
If you have information pertaining to sexual abuse perpetuated by Herman Glenn, Jr., please reach out to us via our online contact form to help aide us in our investigation.
Who is Herman Glenn, Jr.?
Herman Glenn, Jr. was a youth pastor at Church For All Nations in Tacoma, Washington. He came to Church for All Nations in early 1990s after living in the Chicago area, where he had been involved in Homewood Full Gospel Church in Homewood, Illinois.
What criminal charges has Herman Glenn, Jr., faced?
In 1999, Herman Glenn admitted to sexually abusing boys affiliated with Church For All Nations. Glenn was then arrested and charged with six counts of third-degree rape, one count of second-degree rape, and one count of child molestation.
In 2003, Glenn pleaded guilty to three counts of third-degree child rape. Under the plea deal, Glenn faced a longer prison sentence than is the standard for third-degree child rape. He also was forced to register as a sex offender and be supervised in the community for three years after his release.
Did Herman Glenn, Jr., sexually abuse other victims?
Yes, sadly. Herman Glenn admitted to sexually abusing at least seventeen people, fourteen of whom were affiliated with Church For All Nations.
PCVA has been in contact with some survivors of Herman Glenn’s sexual abuse and is seeking additional information from witnesses and other survivors. If you have any information that you think can assist in our investigation, please contact us.
How did Herman Glenn, Jr., gain access to his victims?
As with many incidents of child sexual abuse, Herman Glenn gained access to his victims by holding a position of authority with Church For All Nations and gaining trust of children and adult family members alike. This is especially common in sexual abuse perpetuated by members of a church.
According to prosecutors, Herman Glenn habitually groomed his victims in a process that involved progressive levels of contact. A part of this grooming process included Herman Glenn pretending to have an alter ego who could be purged only through sex acts.
Herman Glenn would also host sleepovers at his residence with multiple minors and use the opportunity to assault the boys in their sleep, according to a survivor.
Did Church For All Nations know about Herman Glenn’s danger to children?
Yes. As early as 1993, a senior pastor at Church For All Nations, Pastor Bill Wolfson, received a report that Herman Glenn had sexually abused two young men at Herman Glenn’s former church in Homewood, Illinois. Despite this report, Herman Glenn was allowed to continue serving as a church leader and youth pastor for Church For All Nations until he was arrested in 1999.
PCVA is currently investigating what else Church For All Nations knew about Herman Glenn’s danger to children. If you have any information that you think can assist in our investigation, please contact us.
How does sexual abuse impact its victims?
Even if there is no outward injury to the body, sexual abuse can have serious psychological effects.
The effects of sexual violence can include:
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Flashbacks
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Dissociation
- Panic attacks
- Substance abuse
- Disordered sleep
- Sexual dysfunction
These are serious issues that can harm a person’s ability to work, study, maintain relationships and enjoy their lives the way they used to. Treatment for sexual abuse-related damage can take a long time and become very expensive.
What is the current statute of limitations for child sex abuse in Washington State?
Washington’s statute of limitations allows adult survivors to file civil claims arising from childhood sexual abuse within the later of the following periods:
- Three years from the time of the sexual abuse itself;
- Three years from the time the survivor discovered that an injury or condition was caused by the sexual abuse; or
- Three years from the time the survivor discovered that third party negligence caused the injury;
This means that in Washington, an adult survivor can file a lawsuit arising from childhood sexual abuse many years after the sexual abuse occurred.
For further context, here is a hypothetical example: A woman in her early thirties decided to seek mental health treatment for lifelong anxiety, recurring depression, and chronic sexual dysfunction. During therapy, she realized that her mental health issues are connected to sexual abuse she suffered as a child. By making that subjective connection, the woman triggered the running of the statute of limitations, even though the sexual abuse happened decades ago. The woman would now have three years to file a lawsuit for her civil claims arising from the sexual abuse.
Please keep in mind that the above example is simply illustrative of one of the ways Washington’s civil statute of limitations for cases involving childhood sexual abuse is applied. There are many other ways the statute of limitations can be triggered, so if you have any questions about its application in other scenarios, please contact us directly.
Learn more about Washington State’s statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse.
Can I come forward or sue anonymously if I’m worried about my privacy?
Most likely. The law usually allows attorneys to file lawsuits on behalf of survivors of sexual abuse using a pseudonym, like “John Doe” or “Jane Doe,” or their initials. Moreover, it may be possible to resolve your case privately without filing a lawsuit or going to court.
How can survivors receive damages for sexual abuse?
Our attorneys have been involved in some of the most complicated and concerning sexual abuse cases in the country and are often consulted by other law firms for guidance and expertise when representing sexual abuse survivors. We take a trauma-informed approach to our representation that acknowledges the sensitive nature of these cases.
Every case is different and results – which depend on the facts of the case – cannot be guaranteed. However, we will fight to hold accountable the institutions and individuals who failed to protect survivors. Through our efforts, we have helped recover hundreds of millions of dollars in damages on behalf of abuse survivors. While no amount of monetary compensation can erase the trauma of abuse, the financial assistance can help pay for necessary expenses to allow the healing process to begin.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual abuse at the hands of Herman Glenn, Jr., our attorneys are here to listen and help. Learn more about how we help sexual abuse survivors or schedule a no obligation consultation with one of our lawyers by completing our online form or by calling us at (206) 536-2850.
How much do you charge?
Our work is done on a contingency basis. This means that you do not pay us on an hourly basis, and we advance the costs of litigation. If we help you resolve your case, we receive a percentage of the amount you receive, and you reimburse us for the costs we advanced on your behalf.
Our Case Results
PCVA has a lengthy history of pursuing damages from religious institutions that employed individuals who abused their positions of authority to sexually assault others. This includes cases involving the Catholic Church and the Church of Latter-day Saints. See below for links to some of our case results involving religious institutions, sports teams and other organizations. You can also see more of our results here.
$7.5M Settlement Reached in Coach Sexual Abuse Case Against Black Hills Football Club
$4.9M Settlement Reached in Toutle River Boys Ranch Sex Abuse Lawsuit
$4.2M Settlement Reached in Coach Sexual Abuse Case Against University Place School District
$3.9M Settlement Reached in Sexual Abuse Lawsuit with the Tahoma School District
$1.3M Settlement Reached with Seattle Archdiocese for Sex Abuse
$1.1M Settlement Reached in Church of Latter-day Saints Sex Abuse Lawsuit