Assault Allegations against Pastor John-Paul Miller Arise Almost a Year after Wife’s Suicide
A 43-page lawsuit has been filed against Pastor John-Paul Miller for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl over 25 years ago and sexually assaulting her again in 2023. His wife, Mica Miller, committed suicide last year.
The lawsuit, filed in the Horry County Circuit Court in South Carolina Tuesday, named Miller, his father, Reginald Wayne Miller, their connected religious organizations — All Nations Cathedral Church, Cathedral Baptist Church of the Grand Strand, and Solid Rock Ministries — as defendants.
"For years, John-Paul Miller ...and Reginald Wayne Miller. .. have presented themselves as devout religious leaders. They built their reputations in the Myrtle Beach community and beyond as men of faith, dedicated to spreading God's word and training future church leaders. But this image was a lie," the lawsuit states.
"Behind their religious facade, John-Paul Miller and Reginald Wayne Miller engaged in sexual abuse and predatory conduct — often targeting minors. They used their positions of power to manipulate and exploit vulnerable victims while concealing their actions from the public."
The woman, identified as Jane Doe #1 from Indiana, is suing the defendants for negligence, civil conspiracy, assault and battery, infliction of emotional distress, and violation of the South Carolina Unfair Trade Practices Act, The Christian Post reports.
Jane Doe claimed that the first incident took place on or about July 19, 1998, when a 19-year-old Miller had engaged in a "seemingly innocent conversation" with her before forcing her into his father's office and ultimately towards his truck where he raped her at the age of 15 and was a virgin.
"At the time, she did not fully comprehend the nature of what had happened to her or the extent of the harm it caused. The trauma was deeply buried, and for decades, she had no conscious recollection of the assault," the lawsuit stated.
In 2023, Miller allegedly sexually assaulted her again while she was out with a friend, which triggered the repressed memory from their prior encounter.
"Despite being in a public setting, [John-Paul Miller] leaned into Jane Doe #1 as if to hug her and shoved his hand down her pants, touching her genitals without consent," the lawsuit notes.
The Millers are also accused of running their ministries to enhance their "predatory behavior."
"The churches and their related entities operated without adequate protections for minors, creating an environment where abuse could thrive. Upon information and belief, this was not accidental — it was part of a calculated plan to groom victims while simultaneously gaining the community's trust and financial support," the complaint contends.
Regarding Mica Miller's suicide, the lawsuit states that the pastor may have played a role in her death, which he denies any involvement with and was not charged.
"Recently, the death of John-Paul Miller's ex-wife, Mica Frances Miller, has once again drawn attention to both John-Paul Miller and Reginald Wayne Miller," the lawsuit states. "Mica Frances Miller's relationship with John-Paul Miller was deeply troubled. Upon information and belief, it exemplified the power and control he exercised over women in the church."
According to sworn affidavits from Alison Williams, John-Paul's ex-wife, and Susan Miller, Reginald Wayne's ex-wife, both men were allegedly sexually inappropriate with minors.
"Plaintiff is informed and believes that JPM openly admitted to engaging in sexual misconduct with minor female members of Solid Rock Ministries, an admission that was corroborated by multiple witnesses," the lawsuit says.
"In her sworn affidavit, Alison Williams (formerly Miller) testified that JPM confessed to her that he had been sexually inappropriate with several underage female members of their church. JPM attempted to justify his behavior by blaming his own history of childhood sexual abuse by his father, RWM," it added.
"Williams' affidavit further states that when JPM's sexual misconduct became known to the church leadership, he was ordered to enroll in a sexual addiction rehabilitation program. However, upon information and belief, he never complied."
Additionally, the lawsuit claims that John-Paul Miller and his church leadership attempted "to suppress the allegations and silence victims, enabling his continued leadership within the church."
"This failure to investigate and allowing JPM to maintain access to young congregants allowed him to continue his predatory behavior," the lawsuit continued.
Related Article: Mica Miller Informed Police about Committing Suicide in Phone Call
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/NewYorkPost
Originally published February 28, 2025.
