Man claims church member sexually abused him as a boy before moving to Charlotte
CHARLOTTE, NC — A Texas man is coming forward with accusations claiming a man of god sexually abused him as a child.
The abuse allegedly happened in New Orleans almost 30 years ago. However, the alleged victim says his abuser has been living in the Charlotte community for the past 20 years.
Barry Davis says Joseph Hall took him under his wing around the age of ten. Both were members of the Uptown Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in New Orleans.
“He was what’s called the ministerial servant, which would be kind of like equal to a deacon in a church,” Davis said of Hall’s position at the church.
Davis claims Hall began abusing him at a young age.
“When I was like around 11, closer to 12, he we started doing things like hugging and kissing and fondling, making out and things of that nature and that kind of like that went on for a while,” continued Davis, “then it progressed to like taking showers together or taking naps together naked whenever his wife was away.”
Davis said eventually the two began having sex. Eventually, Davis claims he ended his relationship with Hall and told his mother and the congregation. Davis and his family never pressed criminal charges.
“It was like nothing happened. So he got to move on with his life,” said Davis.
About 20 years after the alleged acts, Davis decided he was ready to tell his story.
A 2021 law in Louisiana allows victims of child molestation to sue for damages, regardless of when it happened.
In 2024, Davis filed a civil suit against Hall, the church in New Orleans and Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York.
the Jehovahβs Witnesses website says the Watchtower assists the Governing Body of Jehovahβs Witnesses.
An attorney representing Watchtower tells WCCB:
“Thank you for allowing my clients to have an opportunity to respond to your questions. Β Since this matter is currently pending in court, my clients are unable to provide an on-air or recorded interview. Β That having been said, my clients are deeply distressed by the sad events surrounding these allegations.
Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York, Inc. does not oversee congregations of Jehovahβs Witnesses, it supports the faith by providing religious literature and Bible-based assistance to congregations. Β Mr. Hall has never been a member, employee, agent, or administrator of Watchtower.
In the late 1990s, the congregation that Mr. Hall attended in New Orleans became aware of allegations against Mr. Hall after the purported abuse had ended and removed Mr. Hall as a member of the congregation. Mr. Hall had no oversight role in the congregation (he was not an elder). Β Mr. Hall later rejoined the congregation in New Orleans as a congregant based on the Christian tenets of repentance and forgiveness.Β He later moved away. Neither Watchtower nor the congregation is aware of any further allegations of misconduct against Mr. Hall. My clients understand that he does not serve as an elder.”
In response to the the civil suit, Hall wrote a letter to the courts, that wrote: “I am guilty of have(ing) an inappropriate relationship with B.D. (Barry Davis)”. Hall also wrote the two did “fondle with each other and played with each others sex organs”.
In a deposition, Hall said he moved to Charlotte in the early 2000s and is currently a member of the church on Monroe Road in south Charlotte. and he said he still does about 10 hours of field service per week, often going door to door in the community.
We attempted to reach Hall multiple times but never got an answer.
