Uyesugi pleads not guilty in attempted exorcism
Faces charges of confining, battering 14-year-old autistic boy
BY JAMES BOYD
jboyd@herealdt.com
August 11, 2007
BLOOMINGTON -- In his white polo shirt and black dress slacks, Eddie Uyesugi II looked more like a church choir member than a defendant in an exorcism case.
After watching a 30-minute video informing him of his rights as a defendant, Uyesugi, 22, of Paoli, entered a formal not-guilty plea to initial charges of confinement and battery Friday afternoon in Monroe Circuit Court.
Uyesugi is accused of injuring a 14-year-old autistic boy during an exorcism attempt in May.
Friday marked the first step of a legal process that could culminate with Uyesugi being sentenced to up to nine years in prison and paying up to $15,000 in fines if convicted on all counts.
Uyesugi turned himself in to authorities last month after a judge issued a warrant for his arrest.
According to a probable-cause affidavit filed by Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Detective Sgt. Brad Swain, Uyesugi hit the autistic child in the face and shoved his hands down the boy’s throat in an attempt to cast out demons he said were in the boy’s body.
During the exorcism, Uyesugi struck the boy to the extent that his face later turned black and blue and swelled to nearly twice its size, the affidavit said.
Friday’s initial hearing revealed no new details in the case, as it was simply an early step in the criminal justice process.
Uyesugi was asked if he understood the charges against him and whether he understood his rights.
He was then asked if he wanted to enter a plea.
Uyesugi pleaded not guilty, as his parents looked on from the back row of the courtroom.
He is being represented by Blanton and Branstetter Law Office, based in Jeffersonville. One of those attorneys, P. Matt Blanton, has experience in high-profile cases.
He represented a Kentucky woman who had accused MSNBC host Tucker Carlson of rape, although charges were never filed against him.
Neither Blanton nor Jeffrey Branstetter could be reached for comment following Friday’s hearing.
James Boyd is a reporter for the Herald-Times of Bloomington, a sister newspaper to the Times-Mail.
http://www.tmnews.com/stories/2007/0....nw-855505.tms