A Kissimmee pastor will serve decades in prison for sexually abusing a parishioner who came to him for counseling.
Eddy Noelsaint, 54, was convicted of four counts of sexual violence in July. On Friday, an Osceola County court sentenced him to 30 years for two of those crimes.
During the sentence hearing, the victim used a translator to address the judge. “I attempted suicide several times,” she admitted. “Until now, every time I think of what occurred, I cry. “I always have tears in my eyes.”
The woman claimed she had known Noelsaint for years and had gone to him for spiritual therapy with her husband’s approval. Prosecutors claim Noelsaint provided her with tea and drugs before sexually assaulting her shortly after. “He presented a persona in which he was to be believed, trusted, and followed,” said Assistant State Attorney Jennifer Synnamon.
Noelsaint said to the court that he had a consensual relationship with the woman and that “90% of what (she) said was a lie.”
At a press conference following the sentencing, State Attorney Monique Worrell stated that her office has achieved a 70% conviction rate in sexual abuse cases since the start of the year. She thanked Synnamon for prosecuting Noelsaint. Today is about ensuring that when someone abuses their power and position to sexually violate another individual, there are consequences,” Worrell stated.
Noelsaint has thirty days to appeal his sentence.
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