A man claiming he was abused by members of the Word of Faith Fellowship church in North Carolina has filed a motion for District Attorney Ted Bell's disqualification from his case. Matthew Fenner argues that Bell is biased towards the church, which has faced numerous allegations of abuse from former congregants.
Fenner has expressed frustration over the delay of his retrial, stating that he has been waiting for over eight years and was dismayed when Bell scheduled it during a critical week for his medical residency interviews. The DA has refused to push the trial date back, which Fenner alleges shows a preference for the church.
In a recent sworn statement, Fenner accused Bell of stopping all communication with him, ignoring new evidence, and even suggesting he abandon the case. Bell has publicly stated that the accusations against him are false and that he will address them in court.
Fenner's attorney emphasized that if Bell doesn’t step down, the trial may be compromised due to the DA's alleged actions. The trial for church leader Brooke Covington, who faces second-degree kidnapping and simple assault charges, has been postponed to evaluate Fenner’s claims. Covington has maintained her innocence.
The Word of Faith Fellowship, founded in 1979, has repeatedly denied any allegations of abuse, framing the accusations as efforts by former members to target the organization. Reports from the Associated Press have previously shown that the church exercises extensive control over its congregants, including their personal lives, education, and social interactions.
The ongoing situation highlights the complexities and challenges faced in bringing allegations of abuse by influential religious organizations to light, in a case that has drawn both local and national attention.
