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Testimony: Terry Hornbuckle ignored victim’s pleas to stop
FORT WORTH – A second woman who has accused pastor Terry Hornbuckle of rape told a jury Wednesday that the minister made sexual advances and wouldn’t stop when she said “no.”
The 23-year-old, using the pseudonym Jane Doe, said that Mr. Hornbuckle went to her home four or five times to counsel her about her relationship troubles, family problems and low self-esteem. Most times, he would initiate sex, and she would eventually give in after trying to stop him.
“It honestly seemed easier,” Ms. Doe said, fighting through tears that started before she began testifying. “I was scared. I was afraid.”
Mr. Hornbuckle, founder of Agape Christian Fellowship church in Arlington, is on trial for allegedly sexually assaulting three women. The first accuser testified last week at the beginning of what is expected to be a two- or three-week trial.
Ms. Doe told the jury that Mr. Hornbuckle preyed on her weakness and lack of self-confidence. He told her that he could love her, she testified.
She said that she had a troubled childhood and that her mother would only say “I love you” when she was drinking. Ms. Doe said she leaned on Mr. Hornbuckle spiritually and emotionally, especially after her live-in boyfriend abandoned her without an explanation.
She also testified that she told her “Bishop” her deepest and darkest secrets.
In their first meeting at her home, Ms. Doe said that Mr. Hornbuckle gave her a few sips of wine that he brought with him. Soon, she said she began feeling relaxed and numb.
“My body started getting a feeling I have never experienced,” she said.
Ms. Doe said that Mr. Hornbuckle told her to lay on her bed so he could massage her back. As he massaged downward to her rear end, she said she lost consciousness.
She awoke later fully dressed, but Mr. Hornbuckle was gone, she testified.
The previous accuser alleged that Mr. Hornbuckle drugged a cup of punch before raping her. Another witness, who was Mr. Hornbuckle’s mistress for two years, also testified that the pastor gave her pills that he described as muscle relaxers.
Also on Wednesday morning, an attorney for Mr. Hornbuckle spent a second day questioning the motive of his client’s former mistress.
Lisa Mikals, who was also a paid employee of Agape with a salary of more than $70,000, denied she was ever in love with Mr. Hornbuckle or planned to leave her husband.
Mrs. Mikals, 37, also denied being jealous that the pastor had sex with other women at a Euless apartment they rented.
“That made you even more upset with him,” said defense attorney Mike Heiskell. “Isn’t that the truth?”
“No,” she responded.
She also denied discussing any other extramarital affairs with Mr. Hornbuckle, and said she was telling the truth rather than just saying what the prosecution wanted her to say.
Mrs. Mikals, who will celebrate her 16th wedding anniversary next week, testified Monday that she lied to a grand jury about their relationship out of fear of Mr. Hornbuckle.
She told the jury that Mr. Hornbuckle described their situation as the same as the U.S. president and his secretary. The secretary knows many of the president’s secrets, she said, and Mr. Hornbuckle asked her what would happen if the secretary gave that information to the enemy.
She said Mr. Hornbuckle told her: “They would make her disappear.”
State district Judge Scott Wisch is expected to rule sometime Wednesday about whether evidence can be introduced about items found in Mr. Hornbuckle’s car, including business cards for a smoking paraphernalia shop and a glass pipe.
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