Lawsuit Filed Against Former Priest James Beine

A civil lawsuit claiming sexual abuse against defrocked catholic priest James Beine was filed Monday in St. Louis City Circuit Court. Tony Pettus says the alleged abuse happened while at camp more than 30 years ago. Pettus says he decided to file the lawsuit after Beine was released from prison earlier this month.

“I was ashamed of it.” Tony Pettus says he was just 11 years old when Beine molested him while on a camping trip. “I slept in a tent with him and my no sooner I went to sleep he started masturbating, and sticking my hands on him and wiping it on me and wiping it on me.”

Pettus says his motivation for coming forward was Beine’s release from prison earlier this month. “He needs to stay in jail. When I seen him on TV that’s when it brought everything back.”

Pettus’ Attorney, Kenneth Chackes, says “He is now filing this lawsuit again as I said to seek healing for himself and to protect and seek healing for other victims of sexual abuse in this community.”

At least 40 people have reported being sexually abused by Beine, and church officials have settled at least nine lawsuits involving Beine. Several city school kids have charged that Beine indecently exposed himself. Beine was convicted on those charges, but that conviction was later overturned after the state’s indecent exposure statute was deemed unconstitutional by missouri’s highest court.

On Monday, the Survivors Network of those Abused by priests or SNAP released the names of three more parishes where Beine worked. St. Mary Magdelan in St. Louis, St. Monica in Creve Coeur and St. Mary’s in Bridgeton. SNAP National Director, David Clohessy, says
“Beine remains a threat today not only catholic parishioners which is why again we believe Archbishop Burke should reach out to these churches. But he remains a threat
to literally any child of any faith who happens to stumble across his path.”

Beine’s attorney refused to comment on the civil lawsuit.