HOUSTON -- The wife of a former pastor charged with sexually assaulting a church employee testified on his behalf Wednesday, News2Houston reported.

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Defense Begins Its Case In Pastor's Sexual Assault Trial

Rev. James Eugene Tucker, former pastor for Abundant Life Church of North Houston, 713 E. Airtex, is accused of assaulting the church's secretary in 1998; however, he was not officially charged with the assault until 2002.

Tracy Tucker took the stand as the defense presented its case. She has stood by her husband throughout the trial.

Tracy Tucker testified that in November 1998, her husband came home after firing the alleged victim and confessed, "he had a wrong relationship. I was shocked initially. My first thought was, 'Did you have sexual intercourse?' I asked him and he said no."

She also testified that the alleged victim called and apologized for what happened.

"Did she make any claim to you that he was exploiting her emotional dependence?" defense attorney Dick DeGuerin asked.

"No," Tracy Tucker answered.

"Did she claim she had been overcome by Jim?" DeGuerin said.

"No," the wife answered.

"She apologized?" DeGuerin asked.

"Yes, she apologized," Tracy Tucker said.

Former Abundant Life church members said they do not believe Tracy Tucker's testimony or the former pastor's claim that his affair with the alleged victim, who testified last week, was consensual.

"I think that she is controlled by him," said Valoree Swanson, a former church member. "I'm very much in favor of a conviction because that's the only way to stop him. I understand he continues to try to get jobs in the counseling and pastoral areas."

"Mr. Tucker can use his position and can use his charisma to make you lean into areas you don't want to go into," said Russell Hughes, a former church member.

Tucker is charged under a new state law that makes it a crime for a spiritual advisor to exploit emotional dependency for sex.

Prosecutors ended their case Tuesday with testimony from two women who said he assaulted them 20 years ago.

One of the women said, "He hugged me and then started kissing me. He ran his hands across my chest ... unzipped his pants and showed me what to do."

Defense attorneys for Tucker received a blow to their case Monday when the judge decided to allow the court to hear the women's testimony.

The accuser's husband, who worked at the church, said he confronted Tucker about his wife's allegations, but the pastor convinced him not to tell the church elders.

The alleged crime was reported 1½ years after it allegedly occurred.

If convicted, Tucker could face up to 20 years in prison.

Previous Stories:

May 4, 2004: Defense Faces Setback In Pastor Sex Assault Case
April 30, 2004: Prosecutor Performs R-Rated Reenactment In Pastor Abuse Trial
April 29, 2004: Husband Of Secretary Describes Pastor's Alleged Abuse
April 28, 2004: Preacher On Trial For Alleged Sex Assault On Church Secretary