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	Family and Former Co-Worker Say: Minister Arrested for Rape Had Two Sides By Steve Kobak Hour December 4, 2009 http://www.thehour.com/story/478967 NORWALK--Sources close to the family of a Norwalk pastor accused of incest and rape say the preacher acted like a God-fearing Jekyll in public and an abusive and controlling Hyde behind closed doors. The arrest of the Rev. Phillip Joubert shocked leaders in the religious community, who knew him as a charismatic spiritual leader, but some people close to Joubert saw a man who was divisive and selfish. Marvin Bolden, Joubert's brother-in-law, said he believed the allegations against Joubert "right from the jump." "No one wants justice more than myself," he said. Joubert, 48, of 21 Lexington Ave., was charged with multiple rape-related charges, including incest by police from the 112th Precinct of the New York City Police Department on Nov. 24. No bond has been set for Joubert and he is scheduled to appear in Queens Criminal Court on Dec. 21. Joubert, pastor of the New Light Missionary Baptist Church in Norwalk and the Community Baptist Church in Queens, N.Y., is being held at the Anna M. Kross Center on Rikers Island. The alleged sexual misconduct took place over the summer at Joubert's home in New York City, said a source close to The Hour who has knowledge of the case. Another minor was in the house but on a different floor at the time the alleged abuse occurred, the source said. The allegations against Joubert came to light after a report was filed with the Norwalk Police Department about an incident that occurred at the family's Lexington Avenue home, according to the source. Joubert had allegedly beaten a minor with his fists and, when the child's mother was consoling the victim, the sexual abuse allegations came to light, the source said. It is not known if Norwalk Police are looking into the allegations against Joubert. Sgt. Ashley Gonzalez, of the Norwalk Police Department's Youth Bureau, said he would not comment as to whether or not there is an ongoing investigation into Joubert's alleged sexual misconduct. Joubert was arrested as he arrived at JFK International Airport in Queens after a trip to Israel, according to the source. The Hour has also learned that authorities were investigating Joubert for other charges months before the rape allegations surfaced. Bolden said he didn't see anything that would indicate that Joubert was physically abusive during the time he spent with the pastor. However, Joubert displayed certain characteristics that led Bolden to distance himself from New Light Ministries. "I try to love everyone but I was not fond of that guy at all," he said. Bolden said he sought a deeper understanding of spirituality from Joubert but ended up feeling like his teacher was a selfish hypocrite. The way Joubert spoke about women made Bolden feel uncomfortable and Bolden felt that Joubert used weak-willed parishioners to fulfill his selfish needs. "I was under the tutelage of him for a while until I saw this was a guy I didn't want to be under in any way shape or form," he said. "I think he loves no one. I think he wants to use anyone he sees." Anthony McCoy saw both sides of Joubert during his time at New Light but he still had trouble digesting the allegations against his former church leader. "I was completely floored when I saw the article (in The Hour)," said McCoy. "When I saw the word incest, it floored me even more. I was in total disbelief. I knew it was a matter of time before somebody said something about him but I never thought it would be a child." McCoy joined New Light when Joubert first established the ministry. He said Joubert was a compelling teacher and pastor but he soon became disillusioned with the church leader. "He was excellent at leading a congregation and I can't take that away from him," he said. "He definitely had an upside but he had a flipside." Joubert had a controlling demeanor and wanted to know where his clergy members were at all times, according to McCoy. He left the church over a decade ago after a meeting with 13 church officials at which Joubert and others hurled abuse at McCoy and only one person stuck up for him. "(Joubert) basically brought me into a room and they proceeded to tell me everything that they didn't like about me," he said. McCoy gave the church a formal letter of resignation and he said that Joubert subsequently told him that he would "never preach in Norwalk again." Upon hearing the allegations, McCoy was reminded about a sermon that Joubert gave regarding the Prodigal Son. It was titled "Gone too far, Stayed too long." "My prayer and desire for him is that he gets his heart right," McCoy said. "He's a human. It's my job as a minister to have compassion for everyone, no matter what they've done."
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