COEUR d'ALENE - A civil lawsuit was filed in Kootenai County on behalf of two 22-year-old North Idaho men against two churches alleging sexual abuse from roughly a decade ago by a youth services provider for both institutions.

The two churches named in the lawsuit are North Country Chapel, at 2281 W. Seltice Way in Post Falls; and Calvary Rathdrum, at 15095 N. McCartney St., just off Highway 41.

The complaint, filed a week ago in 1st District Court, named Anthony Iglesias as the perpetrator. He was in his early 20s at the time of the alleged sexual contact with the boys.

Iglesias was sentenced in 2004 in Kootenai County for inappropriate sexual contact with a child under 16 years old, said Coeur d'Alene attorney Leander L. James, who is representing the alleged victims in the lawsuit.

James declined to say if the new civil lawsuit is connected to the earlier criminal case.

Iglesias is serving his sentence in state prison in Boise, James said.

"I don't believe he's been prosecuted for all the crimes he's committed here in Kootenai County," James said.

Calvary Rathdrum Pastor Cory Kirkham directed a request for comment to the church's attorney, Craig R. Yabui, of Boise.

Yabui told The Press "we don't believe it's appropriate or ethical" to comment on the case outside of a courtroom, where the case will be resolved.

Pastor Robert "Bob" Davis, of North Country Chapel, couldn't immediately be reached for comment Wednesday.

James said he will be seeking to amend a similar, earlier lawsuit against Calvary Chapel, in Rathdrum, to include North Country Chapel.

That suit, which also has two alleged male victims, both also now in their early 20s, was originally filed in late 2008, he said.

James is planning to join the two cases.

A hearing is scheduled next month to address the changes.

"I strongly believe there are a number of victims out there," James said. "(Iglesias) had access to children through these two churches. These predators almost always have clusters of victims."

James said the lawsuits have been filed to hold the churches accountable for not protecting the boys, who ranged in age from about 9 years old to 14 at the time of the alleged inappropriate sexual contact.

"Often these institutions engage in a circle-the-wagons approach" when allegations like this surface, James said.

The lawsuit alleges the churches are liable because Iglesias was an "agent" of the institutions, or provided services for them.

It also alleges the churches "acted in concert with Anthony Iglesias to hide his history and acts of pedophilia."

The lawsuit said Iglesias was denied access to children at a California church before attending North Country Chapel and Calvary Chapel because of his known pedophilia.

It said he was convicted as a minor in California for improper sexual conduct with younger male minors.

It also said he had improper sexual contact with minor teenage males while serving as an adult missionary for North Country Chapel in Thailand.

James said his clients, in addition to seeking money for their suffering, are asking for recognition of the abuse from the churches.