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2nd Jane Doe Files Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Against South Carolina Pastor John-Paul Miller

Crime and Cask News Network

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. — A 2nd lawsuit has been filed in Horry County Common Pleas Court by Jane Doe #2 against South Carolina pastor John-Paul Miller, alleging he sexually abused a 14-year-old student at Cathedral Hall Christian School in the late 1990s run by Wayne Miller and Ron Cornett.

The complaint, filed by attorneys Randy Hood and Mark Tinsley, names Miller, his father, Reginald Wayne Miller, and multiple religious entities associated with the family’s network of churches and schools. The lawsuit outlines allegations of grooming, sexual assault, institutional cover-up, and retaliation against the plaintiff, referred to only as Jane Doe #2.

Allegations and Institutional Failures

The lawsuit alleges Miller, who was a young teacher at Cathedral Hall Christian School in Myrtle Beach, repeatedly sexually assaulted Jane Doe #2 while using his position of spiritual authority to manipulate her silence.

When Jane Doe #2 attempted to report the abuse to church officials, she was allegedly forced to write hundreds of sentences stating she was “a liar and unworthy of God’s love.”

The complaint paints a picture of systemic failure within the Millers’ religious empire, accusing Reginald Wayne Miller and other leaders of ignoring reports of misconduct about John-Paul Miller from multiple schools and churches. The institutional silence, the lawsuit argues, allowed Miller’s pattern of predatory behavior to continue unchecked.

Legal Battle Over Timing — Statute of Limitations Fight Looms

While the allegations are disturbing, the timing of the lawsuit presents a significant legal challenge. Under South Carolina law in the 1990s, survivors of childhood sexual abuse were required to file lawsuits by age 21 — meaning Jane Doe #2’s window to sue would have closed in 2007.

To overcome this, Jane Doe #2’s legal team is invoking South Carolina’s repressed memory law, first codified in 2001 as S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-555. This law allows for tolling — or pausing — the statute of limitations if the survivor’s memory of the abuse was repressed until much later.

The complaint states Jane Doe #2’s memories began resurfacing only in 2023, triggered by renewed contact with Miller and publicity surrounding the suspicious death of Miller’s wife, Mica Miller.

Records Place Miller in College During Alleged Abuse Period — But Do Not Establish Alibi

Records obtained by CC News Network indicate that from 1998 to 2000, John-Paul Miller was enrolled as a full-time student at Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC), while also attending Coastal Carolina University part-time.

While these records do not serve as an alibi for Miller, they raise questions about his exact role at Cathedral Hall Christian School during the time frame of the alleged abuse. If accurate, the records would appear to contradict the claim that Miller was employed as a full-time teacher at Cathedral Hall during that period.

Miller’s defense team may seek to introduce these records to challenge the timeline presented by Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2, while plaintiffs’ attorneys will likely argue that part-time employment or volunteer roles could still have provided Miller access to both girls.

Legal Strategy Hinges Again on Memory Repression

The case’s survival now hinges on convincing the court that Jane Doe #2’s trauma-induced memory repression qualifies under the discovery rule, which pauses the legal clock until a victim discovers not just the abuse, but also the connection between the abuse and the emotional damage it caused.

According to the complaint, Jane Doe #2 suppressed many memories after church leaders failed to believe her initial disclosures as a child. Only after reconnecting with Miller in 2023, and seeking trauma counseling, did Jane Doe #2 allegedly fully recover her memories and understand the emotional harm linked to the assaults.

@crimeandcask Breaking News: Jane Doe #2 files lawsuit against Pastor John Paul Miller in Myrtle Beach! Get the full story at CrimeandCask.com — exclusive details you won’t find anywhere else. Shocking allegations, courtroom drama, and the truth uncovered. #CrimeAndCask #JohnPaulMiller #JaneDoe2 #MyrtleBeachNews #SouthCarolinaNews #BreakingNews #TrueCrime #ChurchScandal #CrimeReport #CrimeTok #PastorScandal #JusticeForJaneDoe #MicaMiller #JPandMica #Lawsuit #CourtCase #CrimeStory #CrimeCoverage #InvestigativeJournalism ♬ original sound – Crime and Cask

Legal Analysis — Strengths and Weaknesses

CC News Network conducted an independent review of Jane Doe #2’s filing and consulted with legal experts familiar with South Carolina law.

Strengths:

The lawsuit establishes a pattern of misconduct by Miller across multiple religious institutions, which strengthens the claim that the church and its leadership ignored warning signs and facilitated abuse.
The emotional impact of Jane Doe #2’s alleged treatment, including being punished for speaking up, adds credibility to her story of institutional betrayal.
The repressed memory claim — though controversial — is well-documented in trauma psychology and has been allowed in prior South Carolina cases, including Moriarty v. Garden Sanctuary Church of God.

Weaknesses:

Jane Doe #2 disclosed the abuse immediately after it occurred to church officials and was punished for it, making it difficult to argue she had no awareness of the harm caused by Miller’s actions.
Courts are increasingly skeptical of repressed memory claims, especially where the victim clearly remembered the events enough to report them contemporaneously.
South Carolina’s statute of limitations for childhood sexual abuse prior to 2001 was strict, and repressed memory arguments are not automatically accepted — they require expert testimony and medical documentation.
Jane Doe #2’s legal team admits she did not seek therapy or medical treatment related to the abuse until 2023, a gap of more than two decades. The absence of contemporaneous records could hurt her credibility in court.
Jane Doe #2’s legal team states that Solid Rock Ministries is a church located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina started in 1996. But according to the South Carolina Secretary of State, Solid Rock was established in 2016. If JP Miller started Solid Rock in 1996, he would have been 16 years old.

What Happens Next?

Miller’s defense team would probably be expected to file a motion to dismiss within weeks, arguing the case is time-barred. Jane Doe #2’s attorneys will need to persuade the court that her repressed memory claim fits squarely within South Carolina’s discovery rule, a legal standard that has never been consistently applied in cases involving known disclosures followed by alleged repression.

If the case survives the motion to dismiss, Jane Doe #2’s attorneys will gain subpoena power, allowing them to seek internal church records, depose church leaders, and examine Miller under oath.

If the motion to dismiss succeeds, the case would likely be dismissed with prejudice, meaning Jane Doe #2 would have no opportunity to refile.

The Bigger Picture — A Potential Legal Precedent

This lawsuit, alongside the separate complaint filed by Jane Doe #1, could shape the future of repressed memory cases in South Carolina. Courts will be forced to grapple with whether public disclosures made at the time of the abuse — even if disbelieved — start the statute of limitations clock or whether psychological repression later justifies reopening the window for justice.

The case also raises broader questions of institutional accountability, religious authority, and the balance between protecting abuse survivors and ensuring due process for the accused.

If You Have Experienced Abuse, Help is Available

Survivors of sexual abuse are encouraged to seek immediate medical attention, document their experiences in detail, and report the abuse to law enforcement or trusted authorities as soon as possible. Documentation, including medical records, therapy notes, and communications with the perpetrator, can play a critical role in any future legal proceedings. Support is also available through national and local hotlines, such as the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), where trained advocates offer free, confidential support 24/7. Seeking counseling with trauma-informed professionals can also help survivors process their experiences and begin the healing journey.

Crime and Cask Investigates

Crime and Cask News Network will continue to follow both Jane Doe cases against John-Paul Miller, providing readers with exclusive legal analysis, court filings, and investigative reporting on a case that could change the way South Carolina courts handle historic sexual abuse claims.

James Seidel
Crime and Cask News Network