Bronx pastor convicted of sexual abuse

News 12
July 13, 2016

http://bronx.news12.com/news/bronx-pastor-franklin-porterfield-convicted-of-sexual-abuse-forcible-touching-1.12039962

A Bronx pastor accused of inappropriately touching a female member of his congregation was found guilty Wednesday.

THE BRONX - A Bronx pastor was found guilty Wednesday on charges he inappropriately touched a female member of his congregation in 2014.

Franklin Porterfield, of Faith Love Community Church, says he was hoping the court would vindicate him and left disappointed.

"I don't feel good about what happened," he told News 12.

A Bronx judge handed down a split decision finding Porterfield guilty of attempted forcible touching and third-degree sexual abuse, but not guilty of harassment.

"I was found guilty of one thing and not guilty of another," Porter said. 

Although satisfied with how his lawyers handled his case, Porterfield said his attorneys were not allowed to bring up his accuser's medical history as evidence for the defense.

Porterfield will be sentenced in September. He faces up to three months imprisonment, which could be replaced with probation.