First Witness Takes Stand in Pastor's Trial

KCCI
August 14, 2012

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[with video]

ADEL, Iowa - The first witness took the stand Tuesday in the trial of a former Pella pastor charged with sexual abuse.

Patrick Edouard is charged with three counts of third-degree sexual abuse and four counts of sexual exploitation by a counselor, therapist, school employee or clergy.

A woman accusing Edouard of sexual abuse was the first witness called by prosecutors.

The woman said she went to Edouard for help with her family life and sorrow.

She said when she first visited her pastor's home study he locked the door and asked personal questions as they sat on couches before eventually admitting his interest in her.

It turned into a three year physical relationship. Edouard was a married father of four.

"Did you consider this to be a romantic proposal," asked prosecutor Laura Roan.

"No," said the woman.

"What did you think it was?" asked Roan.

"A counseling session. Something that I could go to. Something that he, like I said at the beginning. What is a pastor? It's someone who's going to care for you," said the woman.

ADEL, Iowa - The woman is one of four women who accuse Edouard of abuse. They said he used their confidential discussions to know how to approach them.

Defense attorneys said they weren't counseling sessions, they were dates.

During opening statements Tuesday morning, prosecutors outlined their case saying Eduoard initiated the relationships when the women were vulnerable.

Defense attorneys don't dispute the relationships, but they said the pastor wasn't counseling them and an affair isn't illegal.

Asst. Iowa Attorney General Laura Roan's opening arguments were presented first.

"He had a secret. It was elaborate. Only he knew all the ins and outs of it. It was his web," said Roan. "These women were unwitting, they became active participants, they were stuck and they were in his trap. He used his position as pastor of Covenant Reformed Church and he used it in a way to get them to keep his secret. He knew all of their private sufferings. He knew all of their dysfunctions and concerns."

"They all sought his help. They all sought his guidance. And they all got caught in the trap and once they were in his trap, they were stuck," said Roan.

Attorney Angela Campbell is representing the defense.

"We are going to contest that any of the acts between him and any of those four women was by force, was against their will or was otherwise not consensual," said Campbell. "We are going to contest that these women had a mental health issue, had a disorder or dysfunction that necessitated them to receive treatment, a mental health treatment."

"None said it was rape until after they found out he had affair with other women," said Campbell.

ADEL, Iowa - His trial has been moved from Marion County to Dallas County. Jury selection was completed on Monday.

Court documents show the abuse was alleged between 2003 and 2010 when Edouard was pastor at the Covenant Reformed Church in Pella.

Edouard quit his job at the church when the women told church elders, who confronted him. Edouard now lives in Michigan.

Look for updates on this developing story on KCCI.com and KCCI-TV.