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Mistrial Declared in Pastor Sex Abuse Case

By Matthew Glowicki
The Courier-Journal
July 21, 2017

http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/crime/2017/07/21/mistrial-declared-pastor-sex-abuse-case/499605001/

The trial of a former Louisville pastor accused of sexually abusing three young sisters in the 1990s ended abruptly on the second day of testimony.

Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Barry Willett declared a mistrial Thursday shortly after one of the now-adult sisters took to the witness stand to testify.

On Wednesday, the first day of evidence in the trial, prosecutors told jurors that 79-year-old Allen Lehmann sexually abused the girls a number of times during the '90s when they made short visits to his home.

Lehmann, who now lives in Indiana, was living in Louisville at the time as pastor at Trinity Chapel Assembly of God church.

The three girls were all under age 15 at the time, according to court records.

As Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney Courtney Straw was questioning one of the sisters on Thursday, she interrupted the witness, fearing what the woman might say next, Straw told the Courier-Journal.

Judge Willett had previously ruled that prosecutors were not allowed to introduce at trial evidence of other allegations of sexual abuse by Lehmann.

"The commonwealth recognized the court's prior ruling on certain information," Straw said Friday. "The commonwealth was concerned about where her testimony might be heading."

Willett ultimately declared a mistrial, at the request of the defense.

"The commonwealth understands the judge's ruling and respects that," Straw said, adding her office plans to try the case again.

A pretrial conference has been scheduled for August.

Allen Lehmann's wife, 79-year-old Verna Lehmann, is also on trial, accused of knowing about, even enabling, the abuse.

"She took active steps to isolate the girls so he could have his way with them," Straw told the jury.

The allegations were contested by defense attorneys Rob Eggert and John Olash, representing Allen and Verna Lehmann, respectively.

Eggert completely dismissed the women's allegations in his opening statements, calling them fantastical lies that grew over the years.

He claimed the Lehmanns were "1,000 percent innocent" and said there's not a shred of corroboration from other adults in the home and no medical record detailing any assault.

Olash asked jurors to consider how the women's stories changed from their initial interviews with Louisville Metro Police and how they expanded to include his client.

Reconciling the different versions of abuse, "it all crumbles like a house of cards," Olash said.

Allen Lehmann is charged with nine counts of first-degree sexual abuse, three counts of first-degree sodomy and one count of first-degree rape.

His wife faces three counts of complicity first-degree sexual abuse and facilitation charges of first-degree rape and first-degree sodomy.

Reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at 502-582-4989 or mglowicki@courier-journal.com.

 

 

 

 

 




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