A civil lawsuit filed April 1 in Durham County Superior Court accuses former Durham Rescue Mission volunteer coordinator Leonard Eugene Sutherland of sexually assaulting a resident for nearly a year, using the threat of eviction to keep him silent.
The anonymous plaintiff, identified as John Doe, arrived at the East Main Street shelter in April 2023 while homeless and struggling with alcohol addiction. He was assigned to work under Sutherland. The complaint says the abuse, including unwanted groping, kissing, and fondling, happened four to five days a week and sometimes multiple times a day between April 2023 and February 2024.
The plaintiff says he secretly recorded one assault and brought the video to Mission leadership in February 2024. Sutherland was fired that same day. The Mission says it acted immediately when the incident was reported, and development director Adam Todd said staff are required to complete anti-harassment training. Todd declined further comment given the ongoing litigation.
The lawsuit alleges Mission staff then discouraged the plaintiff from going to police, telling him his shelter spot could be at risk. It also says Sutherland remained in Mission-provided housing for another month after his dismissal and was later hired by a separate Durham nonprofit serving people experiencing homelessness. When the plaintiff asked whether administrators had told that employer about the circumstances of Sutherland's firing, administrators allegedly said they were trying to keep the matter "out of the spotlight."
The suit further alleges Sutherland had faced prior misconduct complaints before the plaintiff arrived, with no serious action taken. No criminal charges appear in state court records.
The plaintiff left the Mission in November 2025. He says he has maintained sobriety but continues to experience nightmares, flashbacks, and other psychological symptoms. The suit seeks over $25,000 from Sutherland and over $50,000 from the Mission and its affiliated Rescue Legacy Fund, with claims of assault and battery against Sutherland and negligence and negligent retention against the Mission entities.
Sutherland filed a motion to dismiss on April 21, arguing the plaintiff's use of a pseudonym violates state law and prevents him from investigating the allegations or asserting counterclaims. A hearing is scheduled for May 18 in Durham County Superior Court.