Priest denies fondling preteen girl

Lewd conduct case testimony ends

A Greek Orthodox priest, charged with lewd conduct, testified Wednesday that he never improperly touched a pre-teen girl while teaching her on church property in Burlington.

The victim, however, showed the Vermont District Court jury how the priest ran his hands over her crotch during Greek lessons Jan. 22, 1997.

Testimony in the trial of the Rev. Emmanuel E. Koveos, 62, of Burlington ended late Wednesday. Closing arguments are scheduled this morning at the Edward J. Costello Courthouse.

Koveos, of Ledge Road, has pleaded innocent to lewd and lascivious conduct with a child at his Burlington church. If convicted, he faces a possible five-year prison term.

Koveos has been suspended a pastor of the Dormition of the Mother of God Greek Orthodox Church near the corner of Ledge Road and South Willard Stree.

The victim testified Wednesday morning that Koveos had picked up her left leg and put it between his legs. He rubbed the inside of the upper leg and touched her between her legs, she said.

She said they did not talk.

“I looked up at him weirdly.” She said Koveos than smiled and winked at her. She said they then went to his private office, leaving behind two other students with a church volunteer.

She said Koveos claimed he did not want to be distracted by the other students. While in his office, Koveos squeezed the side of her chest, rubbed her back and put his hand under her shirt, she said.

Under questioning from Chief Deputy State’s Attorney Robert Simpson Jr., the girl said she was scared and confused by the conduct of the priest, who was a close family friend.

“I thought it was like a tradition you had to do with a priest.” When asked whether she approved, she responded, “No, if it (the touching) was, it was pretty disgusting.

During his testimony, Koveos disputed the testimony of the girl, but refused to say she lied, saying she had not remembered correctly. He said she “was like a grandchild.”

Defense lawyer Karen Shingler repeatedly asked Koveos if he had touched the girl’s crotch, rubbed her thigh or was seeking sexual gratification. “Absolutely not,” and “never” were his responses.

He said he only patted her back or hand when it was on her lap to offer her encouragement.

Koveos also disputed testimony given Tuesday by a sex crime police investigator. Burlington Lt. Steve Wark said Koveos admitted three times to police he had fondled a pre-teen girl, demonstrated his actions twice to the officers and later wrote a letter of apology.

Koveos also said that when a “boy and girl” came in to talk to him about the incident that Wark and Investigator Linda Carey never identified themselves as police officers.

Shingler also tried to show Koveos had not voluntarily written the apology letter that Wark gave to the girl’s family. Koveos said Wark rejected the first two versions for being vague. The third draft included reference to touching her crotch.

Once the incriminating version was written, Wark and Carey told Koveos that he would have to go with them to the police station.

Koveos said he wrote the different versions because he felt threatened by the officers. He said he thought the officers would punch or shoot him.

Wark, asked to testify again, disputed that he threatened Koveos. Wark said he normally did not wear a gun while working on sex crimes.

Under questioning from Simpson, Koveos said he did not realize the girl was upset by his actions. Simpson reminded Koveos that each letter mentioned that he had seen during the Greek lesson that she was upset.

Koveos said he believed the girl was upset at something to do with the family and he did not want to interfere with the members.

“You didn’t have the right to interfere with the family, but you had a right to touch her,” Simpson said.

Koveos, who spent most of the afternoon on the witness stand, did affirm much of the girl’s testimony, except for the touching claims and a few minor points, such as the type of chair in his office.