Man found guilty in exorcism trial

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http://www.tmnews.com/stories/2009/04/21/news.nw-341889.tms

By Lane 331-4362 | llane@...

April 21, 2009

2:05 p.m. update

BLOOMINGTON — Jurors barely took time for lunch before announcing early this

afternoon they had found 24-year-old Eddie Uyesugi guilty of battery and

criminal confinement charges stemming from a religious ceremony in 2007 held to

cast demons from a 14-year-old autistic Bloomington boy.

Uyesugi will be sentenced May 21 by Monroe Circuit Judge Harper. He could

face between two and eight years in jail on each felony conviction.

After the verdicts were announced, prosecutors in the case asked that Uyesugi be

taken into custody and jailed until his sentencing. Harper denied the request.

Uyesugi testified that he genuinely was trying to help the boy and struck him

and confined him in order to do that.

The victim, though, testified he does not have any demons inside him and that he

did not want any part of the exorcism.

11:36 a.m. update

Eddie Uyesugi pretty much confessed to the crimes against him from the witness

stand and should be held accountable for injuring a 14-year-old boy during a

religious ritual that resulted in bruises, abrasions and black eyes.

Monroe County Deputy Prosecutor Darcie Winkle this morning told jurors Uyesugi

beat the boy and restrained him against his will for hours during an exorcism

May 28, 2007. She said the injuries sustained were evidence of a rude, angry or

insolent touching the law requires for a battery conviction.

" He beat this 14-year-old boy, " Winkle said.

But defense attorney Matt Blanton said the boy's grandmother sanctioned the

exorcism and instructed Uyesugi to help her get demons out of her grandson, even

though she has testified she only wanted Uyesugi to pray over him.

Blanton this morning told jurors the grandmother arranged for the exorcism and

knew what was going to happen. He said his 24-year-old client was only trying to

help the family by casting out demons inside the autistic boy.

" The purpose was to help him; that's what everyone was trying to do, " Blanton

said in his closing argument. " The reason he was restrained was because he was a

danger to himself and others. There was no evidence that suggested Eddie Uyesugi

did anything but try to help this young man. "

Winkle disagreed. " He knew he was in over his head. He should have stopped. One

sister was not even in the room and heard the hitting. He put his fingers in his

throat and caused him to vomit. That is a rude touch, plain and simple. "

Jurors will begin deliberating this afternoon to determine if Uyesugi is guilty

or innocent of the two charges against him: battery and criminal confinement.

Each charge carries a possible penalty of between two and eight years in jail.

See Wednesday Times-Mail for a full story