Jury acquits former Slaton priest of indecent assault charges in Lubbock trial

A Lubbock County jury acquitted a former Slaton Catholic priest of misdemeanor indecent assault and unlawful restraint on Tuesday. The verdict followed a two-day trial with conflicting testimony and uncertainties about the claims' motive.

After almost two hours of deliberation, jurors acquitted Ammanuel Puthuparambil, 74, of both Class A misdemeanor counts, which could have resulted in a year in jail. Puthuparambil has been on bond since June, after pleading not guilty.

In his closing speech, defense attorney Travis Wiebold argued that the prosecution failed to prove Puthuparambil intended to assault the accuser. Wiebold justified the reasonable doubt with testimony discrepancies and a lack of physical evidence.

“It was a hug, a kiss, and then a fall,” Wiebold told the jury. It was not an assault, an attack, or premeditated.

Puthuparambil left Lubbock County Court at Law No. 2 with supporters after the ruling. “We’re pleased with the positive outcome,” Wiebold said.

The charges stem from a May 30 event. In 2016, Puthuparambil asked the Slaton woman, a part-time cleaner at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, to clean the church's former school building. She testified that she usually cleaned the church office, but that day she was asked to help in the classroom.

A juror heard from a woman who called the building “dusty and dirty,” saying Puthuparambil sounded concerned. She offered him a side hug when he asked for reassurance.

The woman said Puthuparambil grabbed her shirt, kissed her neck, and held her against a counter while aggressively touching her. She broke down while testifying, clutching a rosary, describing the incident and pleading with the jurors to stop him.

She said, “I felt so humiliated,” and lost trust in him as a priest and spiritual leader.

Pastor Puthuparambil, known as Father Jacob by parishioners, was retiring at the end of June after leading St. Joseph's since 2019. The defense called the incident a temporary lapse of judgment rather than a crime.

Criminal processes may be over, but legal proceedings continue. The woman is suing Puthuparambil and the Lubbock Catholic Diocese for $1 million in district court.

The jury trial began on Monday with juror selection and testimony and ended on Tuesday with closing arguments and the result.

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