Houston Police Officer and Convicted Rapist Abraham Joseph Sentenced to Life In Prison

Houston, Texas

It was a good day down at the courthouse in Harris County. Houston police officer and convicted rapist Abraham Joseph stood before the jury that convicted him. After five hours of deliberations, the jury sentenced Joseph to life in prison for raping the woman he arrested.

Abraham Joseph, 29, was found guilty Thursday of two counts of aggravated sexual assault. Joseph kidnapped a waitress outside of El Diamante Nite Club, 3416 W. Fuqua, on Jan. 2, 2011, while he was on duty. Prosecutors said Joseph handcuffed her, drove her to a secluded section of Townwood Park, 3600 Simsbrook, and raped her.

"I'm not surprised by the sentence in light of the allegations that came out in the punishment," defense attorney Nicole DeBorde said.

On Friday, prosecutors called several women to the stand. The women claim that they were also sexually assaulted by Joseph.

In closing arguments in the punishment phase, prosecutors told the jury that Abraham used his authority to intimidate several women.

"Truth of the matter is you have been sitting in the courtroom for a month with a serial rapist. I hope that's an experience you never have again," prosecutor Heyward Carter said.

The victim said Joseph was dressed in his uniform and armed when she was kidnapped.

Prosecutors said Joseph originally arrested the woman and a man in in the parking lot of the night club. Surveillance tape helped verify the victim’s story that Joseph dropped the man off on the side of the road, took her to the park and then raped her while she was still handcuffed.

Joseph's attorney claimed the sex was consensual.

The jury consisted of five women and seven men.

DeBorde said she has already filed an appeal of the verdict. She said she is withdrawing from the case and Joseph will be assigned an appellate attorney.

Houston Police Officer Abraham Joseph Guilty of Rape

Houston, Texas

If you are a cantina waitress, or any other woman in the Houston, Texas area, you are a little safer tonight. Houston police officer and now convicted rapist Abraham Joseph will probably not be on the streets for a good long while.

Thursday, a jury found 29-year-old Abraham Joseph guilty of two counts of aggravated sexual assault.

Joseph, who has since been fired from HPD, handcuffed and arrested a waitress and another man in January 2011, and drove them away from the cantina where she worked, said investigators. Surveillance photos show Joseph letting the man out at a gas station. The woman said she was then driven to a nearby park at 3 a.m. and repeatedly raped by Joseph.

Prosecutors have suspected Joseph in numerous other rapes as well, which was confirmed by another victim that the jury heard testimony from.

Joseph's wife collapsed into tears when the verdict was read.

The victim also cried, but her tears were for relief. She told reporters that she thanked God because justice had been served.

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Jury Will Hear From Second Rape Victim of Houston Police Officer Abraham Joseph

Houston, Texas

Things just got worse for Houston police officer and accused rapist Abraham Joseph. The lingering debate over whether or not to allow other victims to testify has been resolved.

Judge Denise Collins listened intently as prosecutors presented two other women. The first is a woman who worked at the Diamonte night club, the same club where Joseph's accuser also worked. She testified that the former police officer sexually assaulted her twice, and each time he threatened to take her to jail if she didn't cooperate.

The second woman grew emotional on the stand, visibly sobbing as she accused the officer of assaulting her while in uniform in 2010.

After listening to the two women, Judge Collins decided to allow at least one to tell her story in front of the jury. The woman began her testimony Monday afternoon, detailing how Officer Joseph told her she had open warrants, and how she was in fear of being arrested.

The defense was hoping to keep this testimony from the jury.

HPD Officer Abraham Joseph’s Rape Trial Resumes

Accused Rapist and Houston Police Officer Abraham Joseph

Houston, Texas

The trial of Houston police officer Abraham Joseph has resumed, with jurors hearing evidence of his police cruiser’s GPS information from the night of the alleged rape. They also got a chance to see photos of the victim’s injuries.

Former Houston Police Officer Abraham Joseph is accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a park while he was on duty.

Jurors learned that Joseph did not make a check-in call, which is standard operating procedures when transporting a female. An investigator noted that Joseph never told dispatch he had picked up anybody.

He said, "Since I've been on the department for 28 years, it's always been grilled into me, that you get a time check when you have a female in custody. It's to protect the officer against allegations of wrongdoing."

A bigger problem for the defense may come with the judge’s next ruling. Prosecutors claim there are several additional women ready to take the stand and tell the jury Joseph raped them. The judge will rule on whether to allow jurors to hear their testimony.

According to KTRK-TV legal analyst Joel Androphy, "This is devastating testimony," he said. "If this comes in, he's toast."

The decision on whether to allow that testimony is expected on Monday.

Trial On Hold for HPD Officer and Accused Rapist Abraham Joseph

Houston police officer Abraham Joseph accused of multiple rapes

Houston, Texas

Folks have been asking about the status of the trial for Houston police officer Abraham Joseph, accused of raping a waitress from a local cantina. Joseph is also implicated in numerous other sexual assaults.

The latest news is that the trial (already underway) hit a roadblock and is on hold due to a family crisis for the judge.

The alleged victim was to spend her third day on the witness stand before the brakes were applied.

Joseph was indicted for sexual assault and fired from the Houston Police Department following the January 2011 incident involving the cantina waitress.

The waitress accused the officer of arresting, handcuffing, and then sexually assaulting her in a central southwest Houston park.

There is no indication at this point when the trial will continue.

Houston Police Officer and Accused Rapist Abraham Joseph on Trial for 2011 Sexual Assault

Houston police officer and accused rapist Abraham Joseph

Houston, Texas

Remember Houston police officer Abraham Joseph? Along with having criminal eyebrows, he was also busted for rape back in January of 2011.

I had almost forgotten about him, but readers have been checking in to find out the status of his rape case. Well, his trial is finally underway in Houston.

Abraham Joseph, 27, is accused of arresting a woman and repeatedly sexually assaulting her at a southwest Houston park.

The woman, a waitress and immigrant from El Salvador, said Joseph arrested her and a male companion in January of last year. He dropped off the man by the side of a road and drove her to a dark corner of Townwood Park. She said she was repeatedly sexually assaulted by the officer while handcuffed.

Prosecutors say Joseph used his position as a police officer to target a victim who spoke little English and was afraid her immigration status would be threatened if she reported the assault.　

The young woman did call police. She led officers back to the park several hours later where prosecutors say physical evidence of the assault was recovered.

He was fired from the HPD job he’d only held for a year-and-a-half after he was indicted for sexual assault.　

If convicted, he faces up to life in prison.

Judge Lowers Bail for Houston Police Officer Charged With Multiple Rapes

Houston, Texas

A judge has lowered the bail for a Houston police officer accused of sexually assaulting a woman while on duty and implicated in five other possible cases, disappointing advocates of the other alleged victims.

State District Judge Denise Collins lowered the bail from $500,000 to $150,000 for Abraham Joseph after tearful testimony from Joseph's wife, who is eight months pregnant, saying the family doesn't have any money.
Katrina Patrick, an attorney involved in a civil suit against the officer, said other women accusing Joseph of attacking them are concerned for their safety.

"I find it terribly, terribly alarming that Joseph's bond was reduced today, especially in light of the fact that we are seeing more and more victims coming forward," Patrick said.

"This is a guy who has done some horrendous acts against the community, and he deserves to be behind bars," she added. "I think this is going to alarm a lot of the victims. A lot of their ... solace comes from the fact this guy is behind bars."

Benjamin Hall, who represents the woman Joseph is charged with raping and two other possible victims, said he worries the former officer may be released.

"He's got a constitutional right to have a reasonable bond, but we're just going to make sure he has no contact with our clients," Hall said.

Joseph, 27, was indicted last week on charges of aggravated sexual assault. The charges stem from an alleged attack on Jan. 2 in which Joseph is accused of handcuffing a cantina waitress outside of the bar, driving her to a secluded area and raping her on the trunk of his police car, according to a civil lawsuit filed by the woman.
He was relieved of duty by HPD officials later that day. Prosecutors argued Friday that Joseph is a suspect in five other cases involving four other women.

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Houston Police Officer Indicted on Multiple Sexual Assault Charges

HPD Officer Abraham Joseph

Houston, Texas

A Houston police officer was arrested by fellow officers Thursday following his indictment for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman while in his police uniform, a charge that can land him in prison for life.

Prosecutors with the Harris County District Attorney’s Public Integrity Division presented their evidence to a grand jury Thursday afternoon, and felony indictments were returned against Abraham Joseph, 27, on charges of aggravated sexual assault.

Joseph was relieved of duty after allegations of the alleged assaults came to light earlier this month, prosecutors said. District Attorney Pat Lykos applauded HPD for promptly investigating accusations against one of their own officers.

"This man was a police officer who violated the public’s trust and dishonored his badge. He used his status as a public servant to sexually assault women,’’ Lykos said. "HPD Chief Charles McClelland has been extremely cooperative in this investigation, and we will continue to work together to ensure that the citizens of Houston and Harris County can trust and rely on the men and women in uniform."

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