Two men who claim they were sexually abused by a Jehovah's Witness leader in San Diego settle their suits against the church's governing body

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The plaintiffs claim they were abused by Gonzalo Campos (pictured)

Two men who say they were sexually abused by a leader at Jehovah's Witnesses congregations in San Diego in the 1980s and 1990s have settled lawsuits against the church's governing body.

Both sides say the settlements, which were finalized last week, cannot be discussed.   

A New York state appeals court in November upheld a $4,000-a-day penalty against Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of New York for failing to comply with a court order to hand over internal documents about knowledge of church leaders who had been accused of sexually abusing children.

Both plaintiffs say church elders knew of the abuse as early as 1982 but covered it up and allowed the leader to keep working with children.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the plaintiffs claim they were abused by Gonzalo Campos. 

One of them, Jose Lopez, said he was abused by Campos at the latter's La Jolla home in 1986.

At another congregation, Osbaldo Padron claims to have been molested by Campos in 1994 or 1995 when he was either seven or eight, his lawsuit states. 

Both plaintiffs say church elders knew of the abuse as early as 1982 but covered it up and allowed the leader to keep working with children. Pictured: A Jehovah's Witnesses building in San Diego 

Campos, who was removed from the church but allowed to return, later confessed to sexually assaulting at least eight children between 1982 and 1995. 

Other cases against the church blaming Campos for the abuse of children have been settled in the past. 

Campos fled to Mexico about eight years ago.