Church Preacher Convicted of Sex Assault, by Ruth Fuller, Chicago Tribune, April 29, 2011

Church Preacher Convicted of Sex Assault

By Ruth Fuller
Chicago Tribune
April 29, 2011

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chibrknews-church-preacher-convicted-of-sex-assault-20110428,0,6613838.story

Rev. Morris Eubanks told a judge in Lake County Thursday night that God will punish those who bore "false witness" against him during his trial for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl.

The Waukegan man, who has preached at Baptist churches in North Chicago and Zion, according to testimony, declined to take the stand in his own defense, saying he was relying on his faith to clear his name.

But there would be no divine intervention for Eubanks, as a jury found him guilty of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and predatory criminal sexual assault after four hours of deliberation.

Eubanks, now 59, was convicted of fondling the girl on two separate occasions in August 2008. Eubanks has been in jail awaiting trial since his July 2009 arrest.

At that time, Eubanks signed a typed statement at the Waukegan Police Department confessing to the assault -- a confession his attorney Christopher Lombardo challenged.

The victim testified against Eubanks, saying he told her, "Whatever happens between us stays between us."

The girl, now 14, said she was scared and embarrassed. She did not report the abuse until telling her mother nearly 11 months later. “I thought it was time to tell her,” she said.

The girl's mother testified that her daughter sobbed as she told her of the abuse. The mother said she confronted Eubanks, who she said swore on a Bible that "I didn't touch her."

Before contacting police, the mother said she consulted a pastor. “I wanted to make sure I was doing the right thing,” she said. “(Eubanks) is supposed to be a minister.”

Before the verdict, Eubanks' niece, Akilah Walker, said her uncle recently had written her a letter from jail.

Eubanks wrote that he was "helping the guys in jail. He's still ministering in jail,” Walker said. “He said, ‘Maybe God brought me here for this moment to help the guys in here.' ”

Sentencing is scheduled for June 2, when Eubanks could face up to 60 years in prison.