Trinity United Presbyterian Church Lawsuit: Former Youth Worker Accuses Pastor of Sexual Harassment and AI Misuse
Feb. 26, 2026 — Santa Ana, Calif. Niya Esperanza, a former youth ministry employee at Trinity United Presbyterian Church, filed the Trinity United Presbyterian Church lawsuit on February 16, 2026, in California Superior Court, Orange County. The suit names the church at 13922 Prospect Ave., Senior Pastor Joel Mitchell, and Does 1-50 as defendants, alleging sexual harassment, retaliation, and related claims.
The Trinity United Presbyterian Church lawsuit accuses Mitchell of stalking Esperanza and using artificial intelligence to generate non-consensual nude images of her. It further claims the church failed to prevent the harassment and retaliated against Esperanza by threatening her employment after she reported the misconduct.
Additional allegations in the Trinity United Presbyterian Church lawsuit include defamation, negligent hiring and supervision, personal injury, sex and gender discrimination, and retaliation. Esperanza is represented by attorneys from Levine Labor Law.
Background on Parties
Prior to her departure, Esperanza was actively involved in church leadership, including delivering a 2023 Thanksgiving Eve sermon at the church. The church’s 2024 annual report highlights both Mitchell and Esperanza as providing leadership in the high school ministry, which includes teaching, small groups, camps, and community outreach efforts.
The Trinity United Presbyterian Church website contains no mention of the Trinity United Presbyterian Church lawsuit and continues to promote church activities, including youth programs.
Current Status
The Trinity United Presbyterian Church lawsuit, likely indexed as case 717609, is pending with no defendant responses, hearings, or resolutions reported as of February 26, 2026. Coverage remains limited to legal filing alerts on Law.com Radar, with no mainstream news articles identified.
