Joel Osteen, Wife Deny Assault Charges in Court

By Jane Ivory
13:11, August 9th 2008
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Evangelical pastor Joel Osteen defended his wife and co-pastor of the renowned Lakewood Church in a Houston court room Friday, testifying that she did not assault a flight attendant in 2005.

Victoria Osteen has been sued by Continental Airlines flight attendant Sharon Brown, who claims the pastor assaulted her shortly before the start of a 2005 flight to Vail, Colorado, over discontent with her seat.

Victoria Osteen, 47, claims she did not assault Brown.

Her husband Joel Osteen was called as a witness Friday and he testified before the jury that Victoria did not assault Sharon Brown because there was a small spill on her seat.

Osteen also said his wife never raised her voice nor did she touch the flight attendants.

The previous day, Maria Johnson, a flight attendant who had been on the plane at the time of the alleged incident, testified that Victoria Osteen demanded that the small spill be cleaned up and then became verbally and physically abusive when that did not happen as rapidly as she wished it to.

Johnson said Victoria Osteen grabbed Brown by the shoulders, elbowed her in the chest and pushed her away as she tried to reach the cockpit.

Joel Osteen denied Johnson’s accusations but later admitted he could not hear his wife’s voice from where he was seated nor could he see.

He also denied Brown’s assertion that Victoria Osteen was asked to leave the plane by the flight crew and that instead he and his family left voluntarily.

The Federal Aviation Administration fined Victoria Osteen $3,000 for interfering with a crew member. The flight was also delayed because of the incident.

Sharon Brown is asking for an apology and punitive damages amounting to 10 percent of Victoria Osteen’s net worth. She is also seeking counseling expenses.



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