The Volleyball "Incident"

This podcast contains descriptions and stories of child sexual, physical, emotional, and spiritual abuse. The purpose of this podcast is to provide a therapeutic experience for former students to share their stories and educate the public. These stories have not been proven in court. The non-denominational Christian Center Academy opened in 1982. Violent Corporal Punishment, Solitary Confignment, Psychological Manipulation, and Rituals such as Exorcism. Sexual, Physical, and Emotional Harm. They were paddled for minor issues like turning around their chair. They spanked the 16-year-old repeatedly with a large wooden paddle, a violent exorcism meant to cast out what they believed to be his gay demons. Referring to his homeless sexuality as a "bomination" for which he would go to hell. I was subjected to physical, emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse. This church in school exhibits all the hallmarks of what we often think of as a cult. The community of mild to church is deeply troubled. Very awful stories of abuse and our experiences from dozens of former students. Nearly two dozen current and former officials from Saskatoon's Legacy Christian Academy and mild to church are being served with papers and a church. The government has totally failed to fulfill its legal obligations duties and responsibilities owed to these students. I am so thankful for so many of my peers that I've found the courage to tell their stories so that we may move forward to a place of healing. Johnson has been evading service when Aaron Benoise pleaded guilty. Saskatoon and Saskatoon provincial courts to charges of sexual assault and sexual exploitation of a minor. Deaf Arthur Freezing's trial began Monday. Saskatoon judges found 64-year-old John Alubabokun guilty was convicted on all nine counts of assault with a weapon. We've been contacted by very close to 100 former students that want to be part of the action. Know that there are almost a hundred more who absolutely support you and believe it you. We're going to pursue this to the end. The Legacy of Abuse Podcast Welcome to the Legacy of Abuse Podcast. I'm Kate. And I'm Mark. Today we are going to hear from some of the people who are actually in the courtroom where plot twist of the year, John Alubabokun stood up and said the quiet part out loud, "I did it. I hit those girls." After years of euphemisms and gymnastics around what everyone politely called the volleyball incident, he pled guilty seconds before we were set to take the stand. Funny how accountability suddenly becomes very clear right before witnesses are about to open their mouth. Turns out the truth doesn't like an audience, but it really hates witnesses. Joining us today on the podcast, we've got Larissa. Hello. And we've got Liz. Hi. Thanks for joining us ladies. Of course. So Liz, you are one of the people that were set to testify in court. As there's still a publication ban, there are certain things that we can't share yet. But we will do our best to share as much as we can with you guys today. So Liz, do you want to just tell us what your role was with the volleyball team and what year this was? I was the manager. I hated how the volleyball girls were in one section and the non-volible girls were in the other section. And I had friends in both sections. And I was the manager as I was trying to be on the team, trying not to be on the team. And so my role was the manager. I made sure that everybody was there on time. I did stats. I kind of just did some behind the scenes things. Got Fran water and whatever else. And Fran was the coach for those who don't know. Fran Tevano. So before we get into feelings inside the courtroom, can you just share with our listeners what made you decide to come forward about this incident to police? It took me a while. I think it was a year. So after you had initially come forward. And I'm not sure if the lawsuit was started yet, but I know that there was an article that came out in the newspapers. And I wrestled with it for about a year. And I said no. I need to stand up. I need to add my voice. And I had my family was really close with John's family forever. My dad and John were best friends. And so I really wrestled with that because I felt like I was kind of stuck in the middle. I didn't want to hurt my mom by coming forward. But I knew that I had to. And so it took me about a year to come forward. But I'm glad I did. I'm glad I added my voice. And I just knew that I needed to do it. I can just imagine that around the same time that that article came out. And there was so much that you had to deal with just with that news itself. Plus you had your own element of it that you're wrestling with. Absolutely. What were your thoughts when you first heard about that article coming out? I don't know my thoughts, but I know my physical response was I stopped breathing and I sat on the floor. Oh wow. I was so. it felt like I had whiplash. But it was more intense than that. And I do not have words to explain how I felt. I didn't go to work for the next however many days. I have no idea what we ate, what my parenting was like for those days. I just stopped for a sec. And I got my bearings, I went to some counseling, and had some CBD and THC. And that kind of helped me through this one. Essentially you had to cope as best as you could until you can take care of it. Exactly. And I didn't really know what my next step was. But I knew that I had to come forward. And I knew that I had to see my part of it. I was shaking, I'm pretty sure I wet myself when I was at the police stations. Writing all the things. But I'm glad I, that I muscled up the courage. To go up. So. yeah, congrats. It's hard. Can you take us through how it felt seeing John Albablecan again in this context? If I could back up. Sure. When there was another case going on, I feel like there was nine other students that were presenting their testimony. I walked into the courtroom and John was on the stand and it sounded like he was just. And it was him in the stand. It wasn't us saying, "I don't know what I did. Why are you hitting me? I don't actually know. I didn't hear any jokes." And when he saw me, he stopped talking and he dropped his ring. And from that point on, I had realized that the tables had turned. We had the power. We had the voice. We had changed our future. We weren't able to change the past, but we were able to step forward. And he was. And he knew it. Yeah, he did. Yeah. Wow. I was involved in both trials and Liz's referencing the trial previous where John Albablecan was found guilty of every single count. And we've talked about that on this podcast. I can say, I mean, there was definitely a different vibe between both trials. And I don't know if you sat through any of the parts where he was blatantly lying in the first trial. I totally did. Yep. To me, it was like an out-of-body experience almost. It was like all the times that I played on in my head how things were going to go. I gathered, he was either going to take that it's my religious right route. Or he was just going to deny, deny, deny. So for me to see him actually sitting there and lying, I was like, "Oh, I'm seeing this in real time." Like, it was so bizarre. Especially somebody who has made it his whole personality to be about telling the truth and outing. Exposing wrong. Exposing wrong and to have him sit there and just lie his frickin face off. I mean, I was expecting going into the second trial more of that. So I think I was mentally prepared. So it definitely threw me off when at the very last minute, we're literally ready to go into court. Everybody standing outside the courtroom, we're filing into the courtroom. We're getting, we know who's going to be taking the stand. And all of a sudden, last minute, he pleads guilty. And I was just, I think, confused. Like, it was like, "Oh, okay." You're gonna lie and say other events didn't happen, but then you're gonna admit to this. And I mean, we know like this was a, you know, an event that happened with several witnesses in the same room. And we also know that, you know, the crown was going to call some. The term is that it would be like hostile witnesses, where there were people that necessarily didn't want to get on the stand and testify on our behalf, but they were gonna, because they were subpoenaed. -What do they wanted or not? -Yeah. And I think that part really threw me off that he actually admitted to it. Larissa, you were not someone who was testifying in this trial, but you have pretty much been at every date, you know, for the last little bit in court. -Yeah. -How old did you feel sitting there? What were your thoughts and feelings? -It was very tense. Yeah, just seeing him, because I've, yeah, I've also experienced abuse from John, but like, was wanting to be there to support the students that were there. And then having them be like, "Oh, he's pleading guilty." And it's like, "What?" -Did not see that coming at all. -It was not compute. No, and it almost felt like it was good with them at the same time. I feel sad for the people that were like, psyching themselves out to go up there. And then it's like, "Oh, now I don't have to do that." It was a total game. Yeah. Like just a. It was a psychological game like that. And 100% is his MO. -Yeah. -We can tell you that there was a little bit of a twist where he pleaded guilty but argued some of the facts. Now, we can't tell you specifically what some of the facts were, but it did end up in one person having to get up and testify, which was you Liz. -Yeah. -And all that ended up doing was pissing off the judge. -Yeah. -You're welcome. -Hold the light. -Because it was so ridiculous. -Mm-hmm. -The facts that he was disputing were it made absolutely no sense. -Stupid minuscule tiny things. -And the thing that I really thought was terrible was that he tried to talk about my deceased father. -Yeah. -Right? -Which had no idea. -Just how he died of cancer, pinkriotic cancer. -And I'm just like, "What does that have to do with anything?" -And it wasn't actually that cancer. -Why I got beat. -Like he claims. This is the irony. Claims the man was one of his best friends, but then doesn't even know the type of cancer he died from. -Exactly. -Yeah. It's messed up. -Katelyn and I were in the victim. victim services room. And I wasn't actually sure what I heard. Someone said you can come to the courtroom, and I was kind of confused. Well, aren't I supposed to wait until other people testify? -Oh. -And then the person said, "No, you can come to the courtroom." And I remember looking at Katelyn and she was, you know, walking out with her. I think she had a baby at that point. And I was just so confused. And then I remember sitting and they were talking about me. I couldn't really hear whatever all that they were saying. But then it came out that Katelyn and the other girls didn't have to testify, but I did. And I was kind of like, "Bring it on." -Yeah. -What else. what do you want? -It's so funny. -And so I sat down. I was expecting to cry. I didn't. -Yeah, you're a parry man of pause. -Yeah. -And I was just annoyed. I was really annoyed by all the stupid questions they were asking me. Like, why are we doing this? And I looked at the judge and I felt like he was annoyed as well. And I felt like I did a pretty good job. And I felt like that just annoyed the lawyer and the judge even more. So I was kind of like, "Yeah, you're welcome." -So you got to stick it to him. -Yeah, I hope I did good. -And it was such a. you know, we saw this in the previous trial where he was throwing out random facts about different people in the church as much as he could. And I was like, I felt like he was just trying to get as much on the court transcript, like as many people's names and stuff on the court transcript as he could. So he's just like throwing out random information. And that's kind of what I felt like he tried to do again, where it was like. Like, you should have seen the judge's face when he brought up her deceased father. -Oh, no, yeah, no kidding. -And I think every. like. and I did verbally say what a piece of shit. -Right. -Like, it was so uncalled for. -Yeah. -Mark, you are also at court. How did you feel watching this whole bizarre experience go down? -It was surreal. At some point I thought maybe someone was going to jump out and say, "Hey, we're punking you all." Because it really did not compute. -Yeah. -I felt like this was making a circus of the court to be honest with you the way he was going about it. So it left a really bad taste in my mouth. And I mean, there's nothing tasteful about that man. But just the way he went about it, I'm just like, you know, you're really showing your true character. And since he was always big on character, it just. I just didn't like it. -Like, this man dragged this out and out and out. Like, we had. I think. I mean, I've lost count. But I think we were at 12 times that it was adjourned. And then to get up seconds before we're about to testify. And I mean, I've seen this before as someone who's worked in court. Sometimes people will drag it out because they don't expect people to actually show up to testify. And then when they show up to testify, they immediately plead out. But to John, this was just a psychological game. He's like, I want to, you know, install this anxiety and everybody in the victims, making them, you know, oh, you've got to testify. Put that anxiety in them. And then last minute, oh, surprise. The other thing that was really bizarre too was just his. The whole crowd of people, you know, we talked about this on a previous episode. But the same crowd of people showed up again. So there was one individual there that I'm going to point out because he is a "leader in the community." He is a pastor of a church in the inner city of Saskatoon. He was there to support John Olvavokin. And I'm a firm believer of unmasking those in the community that are there to support child abusers. So a certain minister calls himself Minister of God at New Covenant Church. I apologies for butchering your name, sir, but Morra Kenyo, Ken Lola was there almost every court date to support John Olvavokin. And I think that is absolutely disgusting to have a pastor in the city be there to support a child abuser. It absolutely disgusting. You should have your fricking non-profit status stripped from you for showing up to shit like that. Yeah, just gross. Some of the women that were with this particular person actually Kurt Seed when they saw John come into the courtroom. Yeah, there were two of them. They were like growing it up too with guys that would come in. And John was high-fiving, fist bumping. And then it was just some big frat boy party. It was so disgusting. Yeah, when they were coming and going from the courthouse they'd be like, it's like they were going to a party. Yeah, it was absolutely disgusting. We're here to write wrongs of child abuse and these f*** quads. Think it's a frat party. It's insane. It's so gross. You would think that they're going down to this is going to age me. Say showgirls on Adelaide. I don't even know what it's called now. A long branch. No, it's the other one. Who does it call? Adelaide. Adelaide. Yes. They're of child abuse. Like I just I to see a pat like I shouldn't be shocked but I am shocked. You're going to show up and show your face like that. Like disgusting. Do you know who wasn't in the courtroom? Any of John Olibovokin and Symbol Olibovokin's children. Not on single one of their kids were there to support them. Yeah. And we were raised in this disgusting culture that slammed it down our throats that the children were the product of how godly a person was. And you know what? Not a single one of your kids was there to support you. You absolute piece of s***. The other person that was there that this is like so highly unethical was somebody and I'm not going to name his name. I might add a later date. We'll see how I'm feeling because I mean the postpartum rage is drifting through my veins still. He is an emergency room doctor and he was there to support John Olibovokin. And we all know who you are buddy. And he literally said the words. I'm a doctor. I should be able to sit in the courtroom when there was we had to have an overflow courtroom. So he's throwing out his MD throwing it down for a child abuser and convicted child. the user at this point because he's already been convicted on nine counts and Trying to press his MD as some sort of authority that we need to bow down to that he deserves more of a seat in the courtroom Then the frickin a one night and children that were abused under the sky Yeah and the other thing is people see the The small amount I mean it's not small but there was nine people in the first case So there's five counts in the second case that he was he ended up pleading guilty to and Five more people are you know five people are coming forward again after he's had these other nine counts And we're gonna have these people that are gonna try and posture themselves and act like they're Something when they're not For a child abuser like you've got to be shitting me You know who wasn't there to support him a single frickin person from Christian Center ministries right? Thank goodness not one single person You know who also wasn't there to support him? The frickin original board of Grace Christian Academy not a single person From there was there to support him. Yeah It was just a group of looney teams with them. That's it It was it really was Yeah, yeah, yeah ridiculous I everyone's victim impact statement even the ones that were read by the crown who you know for people who couldn't physically be there that day I Honestly felt In those moments as people were reading it being transported back to that moment. Absolutely because All in our own way, but in different ways We all basically said the same thing yeah, and the same feelings and the same Shame consequences of this man's behavior When people hear that there was nine there was nine previous counts that he was convicted of there was five more in the next You know the last trial where he pled guilty There was so many more people that went to Saskatoon police to file police reports That's the that's the thing that people don't fully get the full picture where Okay, they can see okay, okay, so there's that you know half a dozen There was so many more people like people that specifically named John O. Babokin. Yeah, there was over 50 police reports But the crown took the most Agree just and the most clear statements and those were the ones the testified These are those are the ones that we heard about but we didn't hear about her see were wow That's so many more yeah so many more wow and you know what later on down the road in our civil suit There will be a time for those people to share their stories on this man because he's not a good man. No Now Liz can't help but feel like there's this part of your life that perhaps was robbed from you during that time How do you feel about that? Well my grade 12 I should have graduated in June of 2003. I stayed back in extra year because I wanted to get my math and I had kind of shoved down a lot of information a lot of feeling a lot of hurt and I thought I had buried that deep enough To be brought back to that day when I was 18 was something I never expected to happen I never expected to feel those things and it's kind of interesting because that was I was 18 and So that was kind of a childhood Geez what a welcome to adulthood and I voted that day I voted my first election Wow that day and I remember not being able to sit down at the booth Wow, so unfortunately because of the publication ban that is still on we cannot share our victim impact statements Which is really unfortunate because they are exhibits of evidence But Hopefully at some point the publication ban will be taken off and then we can share a little bit more with you We can however share the verdict with you We can share that. Oh, yes, we can although I can't share my victim impact statement I can share that unlike in the last trial My victim impact statement didn't actually get edited this time Shockingly shockingly They tried but the judge allowed it and although I mean I was I was waiting for like sure There'll be something they're gonna edit out to not let me say but actually no It turns out when you actually follow the guideline and how to write a victim impact statement they get allowed in court That's how that works No people ever edited them and courtly thought like well Some judges do and some judges don't like some judges will just say on my own accord I will disregard things that shouldn't be said and apparently some don't do that so yeah It was a learning experience for us all perfect So when it came down John O'Boken was sentenced that day, which was something none of us were expecting Because all of the Trials have just been dragged on and on and on but however judge Agnew gave out a decision and The sentence will be served consecutively to an 18-month conditional sentence order that O'Boken received earlier this year on nine other assault charges amounting to a total of 23 months served in the community because He was a first-time offender. He was allowed to serve his sentence in the community I think it's totally unfair that on his second set of charges. Yeah, he was still considered a first-time offender Yes, I think that is ball-lony Yeah, I mean that should have applied like he's technically a criminal and he's before the court for another Criminal charge he should have been looked at as a criminal Judging of access to the other case like yes, it was it was presented as an exhibit His lawyer who was Ron P. She argued for an 18-month conditional discharge So it would have meant that John O'Boken would have ended up with no criminal record however that was not granted and the judge said you know Be inappropriate for the sentence so however in a hilarious turn of events John O'Boken decided to give an impromptu press conference We will show some of that press conference on our patreon because it was impromptu and He said a lot of things however here's a clip from it the volleyball incident happened in October of 2003 that I accept for Responsibility for my actions, but I didn't make the rules and and I I was told what to do and And in what is no shock to anyone? John O'Boken has appealed both his Convicted nine counts from the previous trial and he's appealed his sentence From this trial where he played guilty - I can't imagine on what grounds as a narcissist does like I I mean this guy it's like we could literally write his life story for him at this point We're in the book already. Yeah One of the things that really pissed me off was the day that we were in court December 4th that is my daughter's ninth birthday and instead of Celebrating her instead of being excited about it. I was focused on this Yeah, and I planned for it so we did some awesome things you know into hotel and we did like the The wheatland express train Christmas thingy was awesome good, but I was still Why why why do I have to spend this day with you? You piece of shit, right? Why why do we talk about your reign of terror? again still And it just really pissed me off. I felt robbed Yeah, they say there's a lot of sacrifice when you do have to be a participant Even though you don't want to be you is I think what you felt is that you needed to be that was the right thing to do and There is sometimes that sacrifice, but man what a what a sacrifice to have to make Yeah, and that's not even the monetary like I don't know how many times we've had to reschedule and I've only been involved in one and I'm local I I have not been involved in many I don't live in different provinces I don't have like a shift work that I have to try to navigate and negotiate everything I'm very blessed that I can live locally Yeah, but I just I felt very robbed and I felt very angry At you know, we're still dealing with this why couldn't he just totally valid? Please do to drag it out. No, there was no need Well, I mean the man wouldn't stop yapping in the previous trial about his amazing resume. So I mean at least now he can add geologists to that resume because he's hit rock bottom. Wasn't he saying that he was having financial issues as well? Wouldn't he? So in the previous trial as he was brought up he did say that he was having financial issues which is hilarious because in Saskatchewan you can look up property titles by name and I can tell you that Jim and his wife are not having financial issues. That's all I'll say. Oh interesting. And I was thinking like if he had been you know a professor and for all these different universities and stuff wouldn't he have a good pension from any of these? No, he was never tenured. Oh okay. And he wasn't there long enough. He was a church anyway. We'd have to stick around a little longer than he did. Well calling it discipline didn't make it holy, calling it the volleyball incident didn't make it cute. Calling it a crime finally made it accurate. After years of minimization and renamed schools and churches the truth still landed in court. That's growth even if it's the kind you can't paddle away from. If you are a former student of Legacy Christian Academy, Christian Center Academy or attended mile two church or Saskatoon Christian Center while you were a minor and experienced or observed sexual, physical, emotional and or spiritual abuse and want to join the class action lawsuit head to sharpsteenlaw.com to complete the intake form. The link is also on the show notes. Law suits are expensive if you want to support the former students you can donate to their legal fees on Go Fun Me link in the show notes and subscribe to our patreon at patreon.com/alloway hot. Every bit helps and all proceeds go towards helping the students legal life. If you are interested in these stories make sure to subscribe so you don't miss an episode. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok and Twitter at Legacy of Use Podcast.