Victims Confront Former Pastor at Sentencing

KCCI
October 19, 2012

http://www.kcci.com/news/central-iowa/Victims-confront-former-pastor-at-sentencing/-/9357080/17054280/-/13cx3uyz/-/index.html

Former Pella pastor Patrick Edouard was sentenced Friday morning to five years in prison after being found guilty of sexual exploitation.

Victim Impact Statement:

Four former members of the church told their stories again during the sentencing.

"To this day I cannot go back to that church," said a victim.

The women told the court that they no longer feel like they belong.

"We are no longer accepted by many in our church and community because of the lack of support and understanding by some of the elders who are still being used as pawns in Patrick's messed up and evil game of power," a victim told the court.

"I was just a wounded lamb in his flock, but he used abused and sacrificed me for his own narcissistic, psychopathic, wicked and selfish purposes," said a victim.

They said he destroyed their families.

"You ripped my marriage apart," said a victim.

"I am haunted by those lost years of time and still wonder how I could be so naive and gullible," said a victim.

The women asked for their community's understanding of what they have been through and warned others not to be drawn in by a charismatic spiritual leader who promises more than a chance to talk.

"I would warn churches and communities to be alert for the idolatry of a perfect pastor because it could lead to a perfect predator," said a victim.

Sentencing:

Edouard received four years for the sexual exploitation charges, one for each of the four counts, and five years for the charge of a scheme, pattern or practice.

The sentences are expected to run concurrent, meaning Edouard will spend five years in prison.

Judge Paul Huscher also applied a special sentence. At the conclusion of his prison term, Edouard will serve an additional 10 years on parole or work-release.

Edouard will part of the sex offender registry for the rest of his life. There are also no contact orders in place with the victims or their families for the next five years.

The Case:

A jury found Edouard not guilty of three counts of third-degree sexual abuse, but guilty of four counts of sexual exploitation by a counselor, therapist, school employee or clergy during a trial in August.

They also found him guilty of having a pattern, practice or scheme to sexually exploit.

Four women in Edouard's former congregation at Covenant Reform Church in Pella said he used his influence as a pastor and counselor to draw them into having sexual relations. Three of the women said the first sexual encounter with Edouard was rape.

Look for more on the sentencing later today on KCCI.com, KCCI's mobile website and apps and KCCI-TV.