KANSAS CITY, MO — A judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a Kanakuk survivor who claims the CEO of the Christian camp lied about his knowledge of camp counselor Pete Newman's abuse.

In 2010, a court sentenced Newman to two life sentences, plus 30 years, for sexually abusing six boys at the camp.

Logan Yandell, from Tennessee, later confided to his father as a teenager he too was sexually abused by Newman.

The Yandell family, who had a close relationship with Joe White, the camp's CEO, said they asked White if he had any indication Newman behaved inappropriately with children.

They said White denied any indication something was wrong, saying, "Nothing has ever been on our radar with Pete."

The Yandell family reached a settlement with Kanakuk and signed a non-disclosure agreement.

Through later reports, the Yandell family said they learned White was aware Newman had engaged in inappropriate behavior with children as far back as 2003.

The family said White lied to them in order to convince them to sign into the settlement.

According to the Yandell family, they would not have settled if they knew White had knowledge of Newman's behavior.

In 2022, Logan Yandell filed a lawsuit alleging fraud and civil conspiracy against Kanakuk Ministries, Kanauk Heritage Inc., Joe White and the summer camps' insurance company.

Christian County Judge Raymond Gross ruled Yandell's claims were "time-barred," which means they occurred after the statute of limitations had passed.

Gross dismissed the case saying the Yandell family had, "ready and easy access to contradictory information about Pete Newman's misconduct and Kanakuk's knowledge thereof prior to reaching a settlement in late 2010."

The judge states there was a 2010 media report that Kanakuk was aware Newman behaved inappropriately with kids back in 2003.