YUBA COUNTY, California — Six men have come forward with allegations of rampant and systematic sexual abuse within the Fellowship of Friends, a nonprofit religious group based in Northern California. The accusers claim that their pursuit of spiritual awakening led them to a harrowing experience of sexual assault orchestrated by the group’s founder and spiritual teacher, Robert Earl Burton, along with members of the controversial religious organization and staff at the renowned Renaissance Vineyard and Winery.
The plaintiffs, who remain unnamed, filed a lawsuit in Yuba County on Friday, December 22nd, citing 15 violations including gender violence, human trafficking, sexual assault and battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The legal action seeks damages and a trial to address the alleged abuses.
The Fellowship of Friends, founded in 1970 by Burton, presents itself as an organization dedicated to helping members reach their true potential. However, former members label it as a cult of personality, accusing Burton of using the organization to satisfy his sexual desires. The group also operates the award-winning Renaissance Vineyard and Winery, known for its Cabernet Sauvignons, Sauvignon Blancs, and Rieslings.
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Adam Slater, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, highlighted the significance of the survivors coming forward, emphasizing that male victims of sexual assault face similar trauma as women but often encounter stigma hindering legal action.
The lawsuit alleges that Burton and the organization maintained control over the men through threats, punishment, and demands for obedience. The accusers claim that Burton used manipulation techniques, such as “love bombing,” to seduce and coerce them. Despite Burton’s public condemnation of homosexuality, the lawsuit asserts that he justified pursuing male members as “feminine angels in a man’s body.”
The accused spiritual leader faces serious allegations dating back decades, and the plaintiffs hope to shed light on the profound impact the abuse has had on their lives, leading to various ailments such as post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol abuse, and panic attacks. The lawsuit aims to expose the hidden reality behind the Fellowship of Friends and hold those responsible accountable for the alleged abuses.
