Orange County Woman Files Lawsuit Against Crossline Community Church Over Secret Recordings of Her as a Minor
ORANGE COUNTY, CA – A lawsuit has been filed against Crossline Community Church and unidentified defendants (ROES 1-50) by Jane Doe, who was a minor at the time of the incidents. The complaint alleges that former employee Jacob Hart secretly recorded Jane Doe in private settings, including the shower, over a period of several years, causing ongoing emotional and psychological harm.
Jane Doe and her family began attending Crossline Community Church in 2004. In 2012, the church hired Hart to manage audiovisual and technical operations at the church including events involving children and minors. Despite Hart’s prior conviction for secretly recording minors and his known addiction to pornography, the church allegedly failed to conduct proper background checks or implement safeguards to protect vulnerable individuals.
Between 2015 and 2018, Hart allegedly installed covert recording software on a laptop computer that he provided to Jane Doe to use for school. The software secretly recorded her for several years without her knowledge. Hart’s actions were discovered only after his 2025 arrest for child sexual abuse material, when investigators found videos of Jane Doe and potentially other victims on his devices. Hart had previously been criminally convicted in 2006 for secretly recording minors in a Christian camp bathroom and shower, demonstrating a prior history of illegal sexual misconduct.
The lawsuit alleges that Crossline Community Church’s failure to properly vet, supervise, or retain Hart allowed him to exploit his position, constituting institutional abuse and directly contributing to Jane Doe’s ongoing trauma. Jane Doe continues to experience severe anxiety, emotional distress, fear, and a loss of privacy and dignity. The lawsuit seeks general and special damages, including past and future medical expenses, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and punitive damages.
“No institution should put children in harm’s way,” said Katie Llamas of Singleton Schreiber, representing Jane Doe. “Our client endured profound violations of her privacy and dignity, and those responsible must be held accountable. Accountability matters here, not just for her, but to ensure organizations take real responsibility for protecting minors and safeguarding the children in their care.”
The lawsuit also names unidentified defendants (ROES 1-50) who may have contributed to or been aware of the misconduct but failed to act, underscoring the need for full accountability.
Singleton Schreiber is a client-centered law firm specializing in civil rights, sexual abuse, mass torts/multi-district litigation, and personal injury/wrongful death. With over a decade of unwavering commitment to justice, the firm has built a reputation for standing up for communities that have been marginalized, harmed, or silenced. As leaders in litigating sexual assault and abuse cases, Singleton Schreiber relentlessly pursues accountability for perpetrators and institutions that enable abuse. The firm also excels in environmental litigation, advocating for those impacted by corporate negligence and environmental disasters. Through a deep dedication to its clients, Singleton Schreiber fights to restore dignity and secure justice for all who have suffered from systemic wrongdoing.
