By Lynette Adams
WHEC
July 19, 2011
http://www.whec.com/news/stories/S2204640.shtml?cat=565
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A local church founder is in jail tonight after being found guilty of sexually abusing his nephew. A jury rendered its verdict Tuesday afternoon.
Judge James Pampiono revoked his bail and sent him straight to jail where he waits to be sentenced.
It took the jury only four hours to reach in this case. The jury found Joe Flowers guilty of course of sexual conduct against a child -- a felony.
No one moved in the courtroom after the verdict but it was a different story outside. Flowers daughter was in tears as the family left the courtroom. Others cried tears of joy and hugged the victim's mother.
This has been a very emotional trial. The victim is flower's nephew. The boy told the jury, “Uncle Joe" would fondle his genitals, make him sleep naked and shower with other boys and told him all of this was okay.
Today, the boy’s mother told reporters she trusted her brother-in-law. She says not only has this hurt her son, but it has torn the family apart and damaged her relationship with her sister. Avis Lewis said, “We have been close. Whenever she goes to Walmart people ask where's your other half and people are talking about me, not her husband. That's how close we were. It's a painful thing, but it's a victory to Kobe to tell. It matters even if you are the only one.”
Defense attorney Maurice Verrillo said, “Anyone can make a claim against anybody and I think that's a part of the problem, anybody can make a claim against anybody. We felt there was reasonable doubt here, obviously they felt differently.”
Flowers will be sentenced August 18. He faces anywhere from two to seven years in prison.
Flowers is also facing two other indictments. Two other boys have come forward and said they were molested by Flowers.
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