Albuquerque, New Mexico –
A new lawsuit filed yesterday alleges sexual abuse of residents in court-ordered drug treatment by Travis Clark, the former Executive Director of Steelbridge Ministries – a residential treatment facility located in downtown Albuquerque. The plaintiff, referred to in the lawsuit as Jane Doe 1, alleges that Clark coerced her into regular sexual contact between December 2020 and April 2024 under the guise of “pastoral counseling” and “substance abuse counseling,” offering her an expedited release from custody if she succumbed to his sexual demands.
“Coercing sexual contact from these incredibly vulnerable women is illegal and reprehensible,” said Shayne C. Huffman, an attorney for Jane Doe 1. “The facts of this case are made even more appalling by the fact that Mr. Clark had complete control over Jane Doe 1’s freedom, and the power to send her back to jail if she did not do whatever he told her to do.”
According to the lawsuit, Travis Clark was allowed to quietly resign his position as Executive Director of Steelbridge when his sexual abuse of Jane Doe 1 was brought to the attention of the organization’s board of directors in the summer of 2021. Following his resignation, the lawsuit alleges that Clark was hired into a similar position at Crossroads for Women – where similar sexual abuses occurred.
“Our understanding is that Mr. Clark continued his pattern of sexually abusive behavior after transitioning from Steelbridge to Crossroads,” said Levi Monagle, another attorney for Jane Doe 1. “Whether this is the result of Steelbridge’s failure to warn or Crossroads’ failure to inquire, the result is inexcusable and highly alarming.”
Monagle noted that Clark had been charged and subsequently acquitted of sexually assaulting a minor while coaching high school basketball at Liberty High School in Colorado Springs in 2012, adding that this charge “was discoverable with a simple Google search, and should have disqualified Mr. Clark from holding a position of authority over the extremely vulnerable women at Steelbridge.” Mr. Clark’s LinkedIn page indicates that he assumed the Executive Director position at Steelbridge in 2019, five years after the resolution of his sexual assault charges.
The lawsuit draws further attention to the relationship between Steelbridge Ministries and Legacy Church, alleging that Legacy Church (through its pastor, Steve Smothermon) has exerted substantial control over all major aspects of Steelbridge’s operation since at least 2019. “These two organizations are intimately connected,” said Huffman. “Mr. Smothermon is the leader of Legacy Church, as well as the chair of Steelbridge’s board of directors, and we would be stunned if he was not aware of the allegations of Mr. Clark’s sexual misconduct back in 2021.”
View the official complaint here.
Anyone who has additional information regarding Mr. Clark’s conduct or misconduct at Steelbridge Ministries or Crossroads for Women is encouraged to contact Huffman Wallace & Monagle, LLC at our office number (505) 255-6300.
Media Coverage:
Lawsuit filed against Steelbridge Ministries over sexual abuse claims – KOB4
Lawsuit filed against former nonprofit director – KOAT7 Action News
Legacy Church, Steelbridge Ministries named in lawsuit alleging sexual abuse – City Desk ABQ