Rev. Philip Joubert of Community Baptist Church, who was accused of raping a young female relative in 2009, was convicted last week of sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.
The young woman had testified in Queens Supreme Court that he raped her when she was 13, and closing arguements in the case were made last week, according to a report by the Bayside Times.
In a written statement given in 2009 to Detective Shari McAuliffe of the Queens Special Victims Squad, Joubert said the girl entered his bedroom, and touched Joubert’s penis. He said he touched her genitals only after she touched his. He reportedly denied having intercourse with her.
His defense says the statement was made while Joubert was in a weakened condition because of Type-2 diabetes.
Joubert’s alleged victim initially told authorities that he only touched her inappropriately, later saying that he raped her.
The teenage girl reportedly testified that some time between July 25 and Aug. 2 of 2009, Joubert came into her bedroom, climbed on top of her in bed, held her wrists, and hit her several times before pulling down her clothes to rape her.
She also said that while she and her twin brother, who usually live in Norwalk, Connecticut, were staying with their father, that he would enter the bathroom as she showered, and touch her.
A doctor who examined the girl has testified that she suffered a “completely healed hymenal transection consistent with penile penetration,” reports the Bayside Times.
The paper also reported that Assistant District Attorney Lauren Parson believes the young woman’s testimony proves beyond reasonable doubt that she was raped.
Joubert faces between four and fourteen years behind bars. He is scheduled to be sentenced in December.
