Bishop Eddie Long | fourth lawsuit filed

LeGrande's lawsuit contains much more detailed allegations than the earlier suits. LeGrande alleges that Long took him on trips to Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe that included dinners and shopping sprees. Long also later bought LeGrande a car, paid for his education, furnished some of his housing in Atlanta and gave him money, the suit says.

It claims that the sexual contact began in 2005 on an eight-day trip to Nairobi, Kenya, when LeGrande was 17. On the first night in Nairobi, according to the suit, Long called LeGrande and asked him to come to his hotel room. Long allegedly gave the teenager Ambien, a drug used to treat insomnia, after the young man told him he was having trouble falling sleep.

Long then gave LeGrande a "prolonged hug," according to the suit, kissed him and rubbed his chest. That night they slept in the same bed, the lawsuit says, and continued to do so each night of the trip. The lawsuit alleges they had "intimate sexual contact."

Other trips followed, including one to South Africa, where, the suit says, Long introduced him to Winnie Mandela, the former wife of Nelson Mandela.

LeGrande graduated from high school in June 2006. About a month later, Long took him to Zimbabwe and Kenya, the lawsuit said. It alleges that Long encouraged LeGrande to attend Beulah Heights University in Atlanta to prepare for the ministry. LeGrande says he abandoned his plans to play college basketball and applied to Beulah. Long, he alleges, told LeGrande he expected him to go to school, attend church and have no girlfriends. In return, he says, Long paid all tuition and expenses at the school.

He says he moved to Atlanta in January 2007.

LeGrande's father, Eddie LeGrande, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Friday that he knew that Bishop Eddie Long had come to play the role of father to his son. LeGrande admits that, for a long time, he wasn’t much of a father to the boy.

But he also admits that he resented Long for becoming such a large part of his son’s life.

“He was doing all these things for him. I couldn’t compete,” LeGrande said in a phone interview Friday. “He would call him dad in front of me. That would hurt me.”

LeGrande separated from his son’s mother before the boy could walk. After that, he said, he saw him only on the occasional Christmas. But he said he started building a relationship when the boy reached the age of 11. Then it grew to weekend visits.

Just a few years later, LeGrande said, he lost his son again -- this time to Eddie Long.

LeGrande learned Friday, for the first time, that Spencer alleges Long used his pastoral influence to coerce his son into sex at age 17. He learned that from a reporter from The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Spencer LeGrande's association with New Birth began when he was 15, when he joined New Birth Charlotte, his lawsuit says.

The suit says LeGrande first saw Long preach when LeGrande went with his family to Atlanta for the Spirit in Truth summer revival. In May 2005, it says, LeGrande attended the International Men of War conference at the Charlotte church, where Long delivered a sermon on the theme of forgiving fathers who had been absent from their son's lives. LeGrande says he was moved by the sermon because his father had not been an active part of his life.

Later, LeGrande says, he began to cry as he told Long how much the sermon had affected him. Long, according to the suit, hugged the boy and assured him "I got you. I will be your dad."

The suit alleges that Long then asked his assistant to take LeGrande's contact information. It says Long began to call LeGrande and "would become angry" if he failed to call Long on a "frequent basis."

Eddie LeGrande, a furniture store worker in Greensboro, N.C., said his son never mentioned any inappropriate behavior by Long.

But looking back, he said, “There were red flags.” The trips, the gifts, the attention, he said.

“I’m very upset about it,” he said. “I’m very hurt about it. I’m very hurt for my son.”

If the accusations are true, he said, “I think he should be banned from his church. I think he should do jail time, and he should pay the victims for the hurt. He should be used as an example.”

Spencer LeGrande moved back to North Carolina about a year ago. The father and son last saw each other in January.

“I held him in my arms on my mother’s funeral day,” he said.

The suits seeks a jury trial and unspecified damages. Unlike the other three lawsuits, this one does not name the LongFellows Youth Academy as a defendant.

J. Lee Grady, a contributing editor for Charisma Magazine and the author of a book about the integrity of the ministry, said Friday the fourth lawsuit "certainly puts more pressure on [Long]. He's got a lot to answer for."

Grady said Long could argue that the lawsuits are part of a conspiracy. The AJC asked Grady whether Long's  congregation would believe in such a conspiracy, now that the fourth action has been filed.

"That's a good question for the congregation," Grady said. "This is not going to make it easy for him on Sunday. That's really sad."

Staff writer Megan Matteucci  contributed to this article.

Long to speak Sunday

Bishop Eddie Long on Sunday is expected to make his first public appearance to address allegations  that he used his influence and power to coerce young men to have sex.

Long denies the allegations. Three lawsuits were filed against him, New Birth and the LongFellows Youth Academy earlier this week. A fourth was filed against Long and New Birth on Friday.

He is scheduled to appear Sunday at his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, 6400 Woodrow Road, Lithonia, at both the 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. services.

Both services are expected to be streamed live on the Internet. Go to http://198.106.21.96/video_on_demand.asp and click on the "NewBirth View Live Service" link. You must complete a free registration.