'Prophet' and convicted sex offender used 'Biblical language' to groom and force a legally blind college student into performing sex acts for five years and the Texas university did nothing to protect the victim, $1 million lawsuit says

A blind Texan former student has said he was abused by a Houston 'prophet' who used 'Biblical language' to coerce him into sexual acts.

Daniel Savala is accused of forcing the pupil into 'oral and penetrative sex' on occasions spanning from 2017 until 2022 while he was a graduate student at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville. 

Savala, 68, has been a registered sex offender since 2013, but a shadowy network within the church allegedly 'created a perfect haven' for him to continue abusing vulnerable students, according to the lawsuit filed in Harris County. 

The suit, obtained by DailyMail.com, takes aim at the Assemblies of God, which describes itself as 'the world’s largest Pentecostal denomination,' and its Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, a fraternal organization with more than 300 chapters 'on university campuses all over the world.'

The alleged victim, who is from Montgomery County and filed anonymously as John Doe, is seeking 'monetary relief in excess of $1,000,000' as compensation for the horrors he endured. 

Daniel Savala (pictured) is accused of forcing a blind pupil into 'oral and penetrative sex' on occasions spanning from 2017 until 2022

The alleged abuse happened while the claimant was a graduate student at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville

This includes 'physical pain', 'mental anguish', and 'reasonable and necessary medical expenses incurred in the treatment of Plaintiff John Doe’s injuries' for alleged 'disfigurement' he suffered - and 'loss of enjoyment of life'. 

John Doe began attending Sam Houston State University in 2013, and he was pursuing a graduate degree by the time he met Savala. 

The student, who 'has been legally blind since birth,' turned to the Chi Alpha campus ministry as 'an organization that would help nurture his growth during his young adulthood.' 

Instead, he was allegedly exploited by a man who was supposed to be his spiritual guide, after being introduced to Savala by campus pastors Eli Stewart and Eli Gautreaux in 2017. 

Stewart and Gautreaux allegedly 'placed Savala in a powerful religious position by describing him as a savior and angel' despite full knowledge of his lurid history, and gave him 'access and control' over the boys in his ministry. 

The pastors sent vulnerable students to carry out repairs at Savala's Houston home under the guise of performing 'mission trips,' where the sex offender would exploit them, the legal document claims.

'Using language from the Bible, Savala lured the Plaintiff into a sense of goodwill and cooperation that was sexually motivated,' the lawsuit says. 

The alleged abuse included 'oral sex', 'penetrative sex', 'masturbation' and 'making inappropriate sexual comments regarding nudity'. 

'Over the years, the sexual abuse became worse and worse,' the lawsuit says. 

'Using language from the Bible, Savala lured the Plaintiff into a sense of goodwill and cooperation that was sexually motivated,' the lawsuit says

Savala, 68, has been a registered sex offender since 2013, but a shadowy network within the church allegedly 'created a perfect haven' for him to continue abusing vulnerable students, according to the lawsuit filed in Harris County

The legal document names and shames the people in power it claims were instrumental in protecting Savala, who has been involved in the church since the early nineties

The pastors touted Savala as 'a prophet and a religious leader who would guide John Doe's religious journey,' his claim says. 

It adds that Savala was 'a talking point for Stewart and Gautreaux, who would 'consistently' ask the alleged victim when the last time they met was, while stressing the 'importance of spending time with this important religious leader.'

'Stewart and Gautreaux, under the protection and authority of the Defendants, knowingly sent Plaintiff John Doe to a sexual predator,' the claim says.  

The legal document names and shames the people in power it claims were instrumental in protecting Savala, who has been involved in the church since the early nineties. 

A flow chart pictured in the suit names E Scott Martin, the senior national director of Chi Alpha Campus Ministries USA, and Tim Barker, South Texas District Superintendent AG, as being allegedly complicit, along with pastors Gatreaux and Stewart.

The suit claims that church leaders 'knowingly benefitted from a sex trafficking venture of Plaintiff John Doe' through 'financial gain' as a result of an 'increase in membership and expansion of the church'.

It alleges that Superintendent Barker 'was aware of Savala’s sexual abuse as late as 2013' but did nothing to prevent it continuing. 

The two were connected as far back as the early nineties, when Barker would take youth groups to Assemblies of God camps during Savala's time as a camp counselor. 

Savala was indicted on 11 counts of sexual abuse in Alaska in January 2012 by male former members of his youth group at Clover Pass Community Church

Meanwhile, national Chi Alpha director Martin was aware of an investigation into Savala's abuse from at least 2018. 'Martin chose not to take any action to protect students like Plaintiff John Doe,' the suit says. 

''The decades-long history of sexual abuse at this church runs all the way to the top.' 

The suit more generally blasts The General Council of the Assemblies of God for 'failing to properly monitor and supervise the activities of Defendants' and 'allowing people within its organization and under its control to be exposed to Savala.'

Savala was indicted on 11 counts of sexual abuse in Alaska in January 2012 by male former members of his youth group at Clover Pass Community Church. 

He was convicted of third-degree sexual abuse in July 2012 but was released after serving just 90 days in prison. Savala has been a registered sex offender since.