Lolita Harper
PASADENA -- A Burbank pastor who escaped torture in Iran to preach
Christianity in the United States faces up to nine years in state prison
for charges that include assault with the intent to commit rape.
At a preliminary hearing Wednesday, Pasadena Superior Court Judge
Judson W. Morris denied all motions to dismiss five counts against Robak
Hoospianmer, 41, and ordered the pastor -- who earlier was released on
his own recognizance -- back into custody in lieu of $500,000 bail.
"According to the evidence presented, this man is a sexual predator, a
manipulator that preys upon his parishioners," Morris said. "This man is
an extreme danger to the community and the victim."
Hoospianmer was charged with burglary, stalking, making a terrorist
threat, sexual battery and intent to commit rape, all which stemmed from
the testimony of a former lover and member of his former church in
Burbank. The alleged rape took place Aug. 23, 2000.
Hoospianmer most recently preached at Southern Baptist Church in
Glendale.
Despite defense attorney Daniel Bunnett's attempts to paint the victim
as a jealous lover, the judge sided with the prosecution, calling the
victim's testimony credible.
"I think this woman has been in fear of her life for the last few
years," Morris said.
Hoospianmer's wife sat in the back of the courtroom, clutching a
tear-soaked tissue while the alleged victim told the court about her
five-year affair with Hoospianmer that allegedly turned criminal. In the
course of her testimony, it also was revealed that the pastor had
allegedly been having sex with another woman. Hoospianmer's wife turned
to her friend and buried her head in her shoulder.
The woman said their relationship started in 1996 while Hoospianmer
was her pastor at a church in Burbank. Both of them were married but
planned to leave their spouses, she said. She divorced her husband, but
Hoospianmer stayed married.
After three years of sex and broken promises, the victim tried to end
their relationship, she said. But Hoospianmer continually stalked her,
she said.
Although she admitted to having sex with Hoospianmer nearly every day
-- even after she got a restraining order against him in 1999 -- she said it was out of fear for her life.
"He told me, 'We can't end it now; we've gone this far. If I see you
with another man, I will kill you,"' the woman testified.
Hoospianmer would call her numerous times a day, page her, sit outside
of her apartment and visit her every day for sex, she said. In previous
fights, the pastor allegedly hit her over the head with a glass and held
a knife to her throat, she said.
"He is capable of anything," she said. "I was always afraid of him."
Probably the strongest testimony came from Hoospianmer's former best
friend, who confirmed she heard Hoospianmer make harassing, sexually
themed phone calls to the victim and saw him threaten to kill her.
Helen Lazarian, who testified as a character witness on Hoospianmer's
behalf when the victim first sought the restraining order, told the court
how she had been fooled by the pastor for years.
"I was a friend of the family," Lazarian said. "I trusted him with my
life."
As Lazarian walked out of the courtroom, one of Hoospianmer's
supporters told her, "You will be sorry. God is watching."
