Adel — After deliberating for almost another six hours on Friday, the jury in the State of Iowa v. Patrick Edouard presented their verdict.
Edouard had been charged with three counts of third-degree sexual abuse and four counts of sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist. He allegedly had forced sexual contact on at least three women while serving as a minister from 2003-10.
The jury found Edouard not guilty on all three charges of sexual abuse, but found the former pastor guilty on all four of the sexual exploitation charges - including an additional charge of entering into a pattern/scheme/practice to engage in sexual exploitation as a counselor or therapist, a Class D felony. The last charge came as a result of being found guilty of two or more of the original sexual exploitation by a counselor or therapist charges in which he violated law banning sex between people who provide “mental health services” and those who come to seek guidance from them.
"We (the State) are very pleased with the outcome," Assistant Iowa Attorney General Scott Brown said following the announcement of the verdict. "In my mind the sexual exploitation charges were the most critical with the pattern he (Edouard) engaged in during that time. It was a successful case, even with the not guilty verdict on the sexual assault charges. We knew those charges would be an uphill battle with the circumstances. It's been difficult for everyone (the case), but we couldn't be more pleased."
Defense attorney Angela Campbell, as well as Edouard, who remained calm during the verdict process and as he left the courtroom and proceeded to his car, did not comment.
Edouard will be sentenced in Marion County, on Oct. 19, at 9:30 a.m., inside the Marion County Courthouse in Knoxville. Edouard faces a possible nine years in prison when sentenced.
