By Daphne Duret
Palm Beach Post
December 12, 2011
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/crime/boynton-pastor-sentenced-to-10boynton-pastor-sentenced-to-10-years-for-molesting-2028093.html
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WEST PALM BEACH — A judge sentenced Boynton Beach pastor DieuGrand Jacques to 10 years in prison but immediately granted him an appellate bond as he continues to fight charges that he molested a young parishioner he was counseling.
Jacques, 40, spent most of his sentencing hearing Monday professing his innocence to Circuit Judge Richard Oftedal while a courtroom full of his family members, parishioners and other pastors looked on. A jury in September convicted Jacques of lewd and lascivious molestation for committing a sexual act on the victim in 2007 after driving her to his house.
The victim, who was a girlfriend of one of Jacques' young members at the New Alliance Haitian Church, said Jacques gained her trust as she sought his help dealing with relationship and family problems.
Jacques on Monday said all he did was ask the girl to kiss his cheek, and even that was only to demonstrate to her and her boyfriend the proper way to show affection before marriage.
"I'm certainly not a rapist, not someone to take away a woman's dignity," Jacques said. "I'm not a predator."
Jacques outlined his achievements in ministry in the 17 years he has spent in the United States, where he emigrated after being born and raised in Haiti. He has established churches in both countries, he said, and attributed the accusations to an attack to impede his work.
His attorney, Ruth Martinez-Estes, asked Oftedal to sentence Jacques to just under seven years in prison. Assistant State Attorneys Michael Kugler and Che Padron had asked for the maximum 15-year sentence for the second-degree felony.
Oftedal said Jacques' case was sad on many levels, offering that if it had not been for his conviction his life "would otherwise be a true success story."
But Oftedal said despite Jacques' pleas of innocence, there was significant evidence presented at his trial that he was guilty. In fact, the judge reminded Jacques of the jury's decision to convict him as the Oftedal wondered aloud what would make Jacques put his family and ministry in jeopardy with his actions.
Though he gave Jacques the 10-year sentence, Oftedal granted him a $75,000 appellate bond after Martinez-Estes filed an immediate appeal on his behalf. Jacques surrendered his passport, and Oftedal ordered him placed on house arrest except for church services and doctor's appointments.
Oftedal ruled that while he appeals his sentence, Jacques will not be allowed to counsel any parishioner on a one-on-one basis and will not be allowed close contact with children other than his own.
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