Posted on 09/17/2006 9:18:03 AM PDT by punster
Pastor indicted in rape case
By MELODY McDONALD
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
FORT WORTH -- A 63-year-old pastor accused of raping a church member last year during a ceremony to cast out demons has been indicted by a Tarrant County grand jury.
Leonard Ray Owens, who is free on $25,000 bail, is now awaiting trial on a charge of sexual assault -- a second-degree felony punishable by two to 20 years in prison.
Police have said that they began investigating Owens last year after a 22-year-old woman reported that Owens raped her on two occasions at his Fort Worth home. The woman told police that, several months after she began attending the Prayer House of Faith at 1303 E. Seminary Drive, she went to Owens' home for counseling after having a miscarriage.
There, the woman told police, Owens said she had a sex spirit and lesbian demon inside her that he needed to cast out. The pastor then asked her to lie on the floor and began yelling at her as if she were a demon, saying "Loose her in the name of Jesus," according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
The woman told police that Owens pulled down her pants as he called for the demons to come out. When she tried to get up, he pushed her down, the affidavit said. The pastor then began to fight with her as if she were a demon before climbing on top of her, pinning her down and raping her, police have said.
The woman told police that the pastor wore a condom. Afterward, Owens, a self-proclaimed prophet, ordered her to wash her face in the name of Jesus and to read Psalm 105:15, which says to do no harm to prophets, the woman told police.
The woman told police that Owens raped her again a month later, after he asked her come to his house to pray for another woman.
Owens has denied having sexual contact with the woman, police have said.
"Somethings just not right, a 22 year old woman can't fight off a real old man"
He was just 63. I'm 61 years old, and in no way a weak, doddering old man. There may be some 22 year old women who could fight me off, but not many. Of course, the situation would never arise, but don't be so quick to discount older men's strength or abilities.
Every defendant has the right to face their accuser and that should include facing them in the press.
"Ok, so what religion is this? Lots of details on the act but nothing on the church."
Most likely, this is one of those storefront churches run by a self-appointed pastor. It's probably nominally Christian, but not in a way you'd recognize, I'd guess.
These wierdo churches are all over the place, in most cities. They come and go.
He was a willing host.
Sounds like she was too...she went back for seconds.
The first time, I'm not sure - position of trust, etc. - the second time makes me think she is a slow learner.
"Seems to be more than accusations here. Like suspicion of the woman's story. It took a second rape to report the first incident? So far all responses here accept the woman's story."
Not necessarily. See my post above. Note the italicized portion of my response.
I concur.
However by original sin we allow foul to come into play everyday.
I will leave the devil vs. Ms. jones theory for God to work out in the end.
Not going to argue demons vs. creep dude.
One in the same, had he had Holy intentions he would not have allowed his human nature to probe the issue. Twice.
"The woman told police that Owens raped her again a month later, after he asked her come to his house to pray for another woman."
She went back to his house a second time after a rape? Something smells fishy here.
"The woman told police that the pastor wore a condom. Afterward, Owens, a self-proclaimed prophet, ordered her to wash her face in the name of Jesus and to read Psalm 105:15, which says to do no harm to prophets, the woman told police."
He's not a prophet, he's a "profit."
Must be he stopped paying his hush money, that's why she started squealing.
It's a he said she said. No (earthly) witnesses. If he adamantly denies, and nobody else steps up and says he did it to them too, he'll prolly go free.
Methinks she didn't protest enough!
I'm sorry, i don't usually laugh over such things, but ....exactly where were the demons to come out of?? (don't answer that)
Prayer House of Faith at 1303 E. Seminary Drive (i suppose Ft Worth)
she went to Owens' home for counseling after having a miscarriage.
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