Lawsuit Alleges Abuse at Brooklyn Bethel

Brooklyn Bethel, Watchtower headquarters, before it was sold in 2017.

Written and Published by: Miss Usato, June 23rd, 2026

A newly filed lawsuit in New York alleges that a Jehovah’s Witness elder sexually abused a minor girl for years, including during multiple trips to the religion’s former world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York.

Thank you to Watching Watchtower for publishing this news on their channel.

According to court filings released on June 16th, 2026, Preston Green, an elder in the Sherwood Park Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, allegedly used his position of trust to gain access to a young female congregant and subject her to repeated sexual abuse.

The complaint further alleges that Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses (CCJW), and members of the Governing Body failed to protect the child and concealed information regarding Green’s conduct.

Allegations of Abuse at Bethel

Among the most striking allegations in the lawsuit are claims that Green took the minor plaintiff to Jehovah’s Witness headquarters, commonly known as Bethel, on at least five separate occasions. This occurred while the Organization had the Bethel location in Brooklyn Heights, New York. It has since been sold for $340 million.

In complaint:

“On at least five separate occasions, GREEN took PLAINTIFF to the world headquarters of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, known as Bethel.”

The lawsuit further alleges:

“On every occasion that GREEN brought PLAINTIFF to Bethel, he committed the aforementioned sexual abuse on Bethel property.”

The plaintiff alleges that Watchtower and the Governing Body knew Green was bringing an unrelated minor girl to Bethel without her parents present.

If proven, these allegations would raise serious questions regarding supervision, safeguarding procedures, and institutional accountability at one of the organization’s most important facilities.

The lawsuit also references internal Jehovah’s Witness correspondence concerning child sexual abuse reports.

Longstanding Knowledge of Child Abuse Problems

As stated in the complaint, Watchtower’s Service Department receives reports from congregations identifying allegations of child molestation involving Jehovah’s Witness members and elders.

The plaintiff alleges that despite receiving those reports:

Effective child protection policies were not implemented.
Members were not adequately educated about recognizing abuse.
Children were not provided meaningful safeguards.
Congregational elders were directed to contact Watchtower’s Legal Department regarding allegations of abuse.

The complaint further expresses that Watchtower maintained policies that hindered law enforcement investigations and discouraged disclosures that could expose abuse outside the organization.

The complaint does not merely accuse Green of misconduct.

It alleges that Watchtower, CCJW, and related defendants aided, enabled, ratified, concealed, or failed to act upon reports of abuse.

Among the claims are allegations that the organizations:

Failed to prevent foreseeable abuse.
Failed to investigate warning signs.
Failed to report abuse.
Failed to respond appropriately after learning of allegations.
Allowed Green to continue serving in positions of authority.

The lawsuit specifically alleges that Watchtower and CCJW “aided and abetted” Green and later “ratified” his conduct by failing to act.

Negligent Appointment and Supervision Claims

The plaintiff states that the abuse resulted in severe and lasting psychological injuries, including:

Emotional distress
Anxiety
Humiliation
Mental anguish
Psychological trauma
Ongoing medical and therapeutic expenses

The lawsuit seeks damages under multiple legal theories, including negligence, negligent supervision, negligent retention, and claims under New York’s Gender-Motivated Violence Act.

In Compaint:
“Elders [were required] to contact Defendant WATCHTOWER’s Legal Department about child abuse allegations instead of cooperating with law enforcement or reporting child molestation allegations to the police.”

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This case is significant because it combines allegations of child sexual abuse with claims of institutional knowledge and repeated abuse occurring at Jehovah’s Witness world headquarters itself. This is not the first time CSA has been exposed to an elder abusing a minor, and unfortunately, it will not be the last.

For years, former Jehovah’s Witnesses, survivors, and legal advocates have argued that the organization’s internal handling of abuse allegations prioritizes institutional protection over child safety. Yet, around the world, when Organizations and government officials have called on the Governing Body to release such reports on CSA or even to apologize for their negligence, the Governing Body has refused.

While these allegations remain unproven until adjudicated in court, the complaint presents one of the more direct challenges to Watchtower’s leadership and safeguarding practices, particularly regarding alleged misconduct connected to Bethel.

In Complaint:

“Defendants WATCHTOWER, CCJW, and DOES 1-50, by their intentional acts, omissions, negligence, knowing and willful failure to act affirmatively to prevent, detect, report, or investigate, aided and abetted GREEN.”

You can find this document here:

Summons and Complaint D.B. DOE v. THE GOVERNING BODY OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

AvoidJW will continue monitoring developments in this case as court proceedings move forward.