US evangelist Lewis walks free

Sheena Gayle, Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

A tearful Reverend Paul Lewis walked away as a free man from the Westmoreland Circuit Court yesterday, two years after he was charged with carnal abuse and indecent assault.

The renowned international televangelist and author, who spent the last week behind bars during his trial, was freed after a seven-member jury deliberated for two hours and returned a not-guilty verdict.

"I can honestly say I was fearful of what might have been the outcome. God has been good," Lewis told The Gleaner.

"Although I am a child of God, I can honestly say that I was fearful of the outcome from the jury. But God told me, 'Son, I have a lot of work for you to do and I am going to bring you through this'."

Lewis was greeted by scores of supporters as he exited the courthouse and left in a waiting sports utility vehicle.

"I really want to thank all the persons who stood by me and supported me through this period. Justice has been served and I really want to thank my lawyer Keith Bishop, who has worked tirelessly in an effort to clear me of these charges," he added.

The allegations against the pastor are that in June 2009, the pastor met a 15-year-old girl at a church convention in Little London, Westmoreland, where he was a guest preacher. He allegedly exchanged telephone numbers with the girl, and in a subsequent meeting, took her and a 14-year-old female companion with him on a trip to Clarendon.

It is alleged that on their return to Westmoreland, the girls spent the night with him at his Negril hotel. There was a subsequent police investigation and the clergyman was charged with carnal abuse. Lewis denied having committed the crimes.

However, Lewis' legal woes are not over as he is booked to appear in the Savanna-la-Mar Resident Magistrate's Court tomorrow to answer charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice stemming from the carnal abuse matter.