The Nonpareil
January 28, 2011
http://www.southwestiowanews.com/articles/2011/01/27/council_bluffs/doc4d419b6c64725715205351.txt
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| File photos - A Council Bluffs woman testified that she, too, was forced to have sex with the former pastor of a local church, but she was too afraid to tell anyone at the time. She testified Wednesday in the trial of Efrain Umana. |
A Council Bluffs woman testified that she, too, was forced to have sex with the former pastor of a local church, but she was too afraid to tell anyone at the time.
However, there appeared to be some confusion on when the alleged assault took place.
The woman testified Wednesday in the trial of Efrain Umana.
Umana, 55, is charged with second-degree sexual abuse, third-degree sexual abuse and two counts of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse.
He is accused of forcibly having sex with a girl in 2003, when she was 11 years old. The girl, who is now a teenager, testified that Umana assaulted her at the church.
The woman who testified Wednesday was also a member of Templo Monte Horeb in Council Bluffs where Umana was the former pastor. She said Umana forced her to have sex while he visited her at her home.
The woman said she was comfortable with Umana in the beginning and even discussed marital issues with him.
She testified, through a translator, that in 2007 he arrived at her house as she got home from work. She went to change her clothes and when she reappeared, she said Umana “got close to her.”
“He tried to hug me, but I got away from him; but he got behind me, and he hugged me, and I asked him, ‘What are you doing?’ He didn’t say anything,” she said. “He told me to take off my clothes, and I said no. He told me to obey and I said, ‘I’m not going to do nothing.’ He told me to obey and, ‘I’d like obedience from you.’”
At that point, the woman said Umana unbuttoned her pants, threw her on the floor and began having sexual intercourse with her.
However, under cross-examination, Bill McGinn, Umana’s attorney, questioned the woman’s time frame.
McGinn pointed out that that her youngest child was born in September 2007, and she testified that while she didn’t remember what month the assault took place, it was hot outside.
“So you were six- to nine-months pregnant when this happened?” McGinn asked, pointing out that the trial information in the case stated the incident took place between June 1 and the last day of September in 2007.
“He abused me sexually in 2006,” the woman said.
“You’ve made written statements, had depositions and you never corrected anybody on when the allegations took place?” McGinn said.
“I don’t remember giving a date,” she said.
McGinn asked why the woman did not go the hospital or keep any physical evidence Umana left from the assault.
She said she was scared.
The woman said she began to speak about Umana’s actions after other women came forward to church leaders with concerns about Umana’s behavior. She said she was too afraid to tell anyone before others spoke up.
“I had no idea he was doing this to other people…It is not fair that he continued harming people. I felt lots of pain when I found out that he was harassing other women,” she said.
Two other women, also Umana’s parishioners, testified he made unwanted sexual advances toward them at various times.
One woman alleged Umana called her to the church to pick up some food, and while they were alone, he kissed her on the mouth.
“He crossed (the kitchen) and he hugged me again. He looked at me, got close and kissed me on the mouth,” she said. “He looked at me different, like a man when he is wanting to seduce a woman.”
Another woman testified Umana kissed her on the neck while she was cooking at the church.
“He came into the kitchen and he said, ‘Woman of Israel,’ and he got close to me and gave me a hug,” she said. “I was surprised. When he hugged me, he pressed against me. I felt he was pressing my breasts and he kissed my neck.”
McGinn asked both women if the kisses could have been greeting kisses, but the women said no.
“A kiss on the mouth? I only do that with my husband,” the woman said.
The trial is scheduled to continue today. Assistant Pottawattamie County Attorney Shelly Sedlak said the state plans on calling at least one more witness. It is unclear who will testify on Umana’s behalf.
Fourth District Court Judge Richard Davidson told the jury Wednesday that the case could be concluded today or Friday at the latest.
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