LaPORTE | A boy and his adult guardian filed a lawsuit against a LaPorte church, its pastor and the pastor's grandson, alleging the grandson repeatedly molested the boy and the pastor knew of the contact but failed to prevent it.

The legal action was taken a week after Mark Comford, a janitor at Purdue University North Central and a youth leader at Faith Baptist Church in LaPorte, was arrested and charged with seven counts of child molesting and two counts of criminal deviate conduct.

Four boys, ages 9 to 13, were listed as victims in the charging information outlined in all of the counts.

One of the victims, along with an adult guardian, filed the lawsuit Thursday in LaPorte Circuit Court against Comford, the church and the church's pastor, the Rev. Jack Cox, who is Comford's grandfather, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed by Michigan City attorney Doug Bernacchi, seeks at least $30 million in damages.

When asked for a response to the lawsuit, Cox said he had no comment.

According to the lawsuit, Comford, who was a youth leader at Faith Baptist, started hosting sleepovers in 2003 in the church basement.

Over the next two years, the suit alleges, Comford lured the boy with expensive gifts, then on several occasions forcibly fondled him and engaged in other sex acts against the child's will.

More gifts -- such as a $100 pair of shoes and $400 motorized bike -- followed to keep the boy engaging in more sexual activity and prevent him from telling, the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit also states Cox was made aware of the conduct and attention paid to the child by Comford but failed to act, allowing his grandson to continue as a church youth leader.

In 2006, Child Protective Services also notified Cox of the suspected predatory behavior, and the agency made its concerns known on several other occasions, according to the lawsuit.

Still, there was no change in Comford's role at the church or notice given to the boy's family to keep him away from Comford, according to the lawsuit.

As a result, the lawsuit alleges "substantially more" molestations followed, including some at the church and functions away from the church.

Among the reasons cited in the lawsuit for damages include lasting emotional harm to the plaintiff along with years of past and future medical and psychological care.

Comford, of the 3100 block of South County Road 425 West, was arrested July 24.

According to authorities, the charges were filed fewer than two weeks after one of the victims told a relative of Comford's.

The family member went to the police.