PASTOR TRIAL: Edouard Sexual Abuse Case

Patrick Edouard took over pastor duties at Covenant Reformed Church in Pella in 2004.  He’s accused of raping and sexually exploiting four women, who were regulars at the church and all had strong religious backgrounds. 

Prosecutors say Edouard used that to prey on his victims.

“Patrick Edouard had a secret and his secret was that he singled out pursued, identified in his own mind, women in congregation that he sniffed out their vulnerabilities and the troubles and concerns they had in their life,” said Assistant Attorney General Laura Roan

Edouard is charged with forcing sex on three of the four women who we agreed not to name. Prosecutors claim he warned them that no one would believe them if they told and that it would ruin the church.

They say his actions caused the women mental anguish and despair.

Edouard’s defense admits to the extra marital affairs that broke his wife and family’s trust. While his actions are immoral, they claim they aren’t criminal.

Defense attorney Angela Campbell said, “We are gonna contest that any of the sexual acts between him and those four women were by force, was against their will or was otherwise not consensual 28

The four women accusing Edouard are testifying in the trial.