This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
A new lawsuit has been filed against a controversial South Carolina pastor, John-Paul Miller, whose wife, Mica Miller, tragically took her own life last spring. The lawsuit also names his father, Reginald Wayne Miller, accusing both men of "sexual abuse and predatory conduct" and allegedly using their church as a "sexual playground" for decades.
The lawsuit, obtained by Fox News Digital, claims that John-Paul Miller, now 45, sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl in 1998 while at Sunday school at his father’s church.
"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 complaint states.
The 43-page lawsuit alleges that Miller, then 19, took the girl into his father’s office at All Nations Church before forcing her outside and sexually assaulting her inside his truck. The woman, now living in Indiana, is identified as "Jane Doe" in the lawsuit to protect her from potential "humiliation and embarrassment."
At the time of the alleged assault, John-Paul was described in the lawsuit as a "troubled individual with a history of reckless behavior, including prior legal troubles, a child born out of wedlock, and a pattern of misconduct."
"Behind their religious façade, 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 complaint continued.
Years later, the same woman reportedly encountered John-Paul again during a trip to Myrtle Beach in 2023. According to the lawsuit, he allegedly hugged her and "shoved his hand down her pants, touching her genitals without consent." When confronted, John-Paul allegedly attempted to justify his actions by quoting scripture, saying, "No man is without sin and temptation. God understands that."
"This church was [John-Paul Miller’s] sexual playground," the complaint asserts.
The lawsuit also raises questions about the financial dealings of the ministries and their leaders. John-Paul has been at the center of controversy since the death of his wife, Mica, in April 2024. Mica, 30, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in North Carolina’s Lumber River State Park on April 27.
Her death brought attention to the couple’s troubled relationship. The two were separated, and Mica had filed for divorce two days before her death, according to FOX 8 Greensboro. Investigators from the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office determined that John-Paul and a woman he was allegedly romantically involved with were not in Robeson County at the time of Mica’s death.
John-Paul was arrested in November on charges of assault and battery after a reported confrontation with protesters outside his church, Solid Rock at Common Market. Additionally, the FBI searched his home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in November.
Fox News Digital reached out to John-Paul’s attorney for comment but did not receive an immediate response. His father and their churches also could not be reached for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
Stepheny Price is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, illegal immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas can be sent to [email protected].
Stay updated with the latest news by visiting [ZTC News](https://ztc