The Journal-Express
December 16, 2011
http://journalexpress.net/local/x1243753784/Edouard-hearing-conference-this-afternoon-in-Dallas-County
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| Patrick Edouard, a former pastor at the Covenant Reformed Church in Pella was arrested Wednesday and charged with three counts of sexual abuse 3rd degree, two counts of sexual exploitation and one count of sexual exploitation by a counselor. |
A hearing and pretrial conference will be held this afternoon, Friday, Dec. 16, at 1:30 p.m., at the Dallas County courthouse in the sexual abuse case against former Pella pastor Patrick Edouard.
Edouard was charged earlier this year with three counts of third degree sexual abuse, a class C felony, and four counts of exploitation by a counselor, a class D felony.
Court records indicate that Edouard, pictured, forced sexual contact on at least three women while serving as the minister from 2003-10. Each sexual abuse complaint included statements that Edouard told the women that if they reported the abuse, no one would believe them. In one case, he told the woman that her husband would not forgive her.
Edouard’s defense counsel sought a change of venue in the case. The motion was granted in September. Judge Paul Huscher was also specially appointed to this case in September.
On Nov. 29, the defense filed a motion in liminie, seeking to bar certain aspects of the case from being mentioned during trial, in front of a jury. Those things the defense would like excluded from mention during the trial include:
• Penalty or punishment for the crimes.
• Allegations that a brick was thrown through the window of his former residence in Pella after he resigned from the church.
• Reference to a letter listing possible victims.
• Reference to a “Craigslist” listing for his home and furnishings.
• Reports of vandalism at his home in 2010 and 2011.
• Reference to a “Be Aware” letter distributed within the community regarding Edouard.
• Reference to any affairs by potential victims.
• Any other hearsay.
The trial in this case is scheduled for Jan. 17, 2012, in Dallas County.
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