10:32 PM CDT on Friday, May 7, 2004

From 11 News Staff Reports

HOUSTON --Instead of facing a jury verdict and up to 20 years in prison if convicted, the trial of the former pastor of Abundant Life Church abruptly ended Friday night when prosecutors and the defense struck a deal.

Jim Tucker pleaded no contest to a charge of illegal restraint in exchange for five years deferred adjudication, meaning if he stays out of trouble his record will be cleared. He also must do community service and pay a $500 fine.

Tucker was accused of sexually assaulting a church member who went to him for marriage counseling a charge that's now been dropped. Jurors deliberated for more than seven hours when they went home Friday without a decision.

James Tucker admitted he had sex with the woman but swore, under oath, that it was consensual.

KHOU-TV Tucker smiled as he entered the courtroom Friday.

The 33-year-old woman claims Tucker assaulted her in 1998 while she was undergoing marriage counseling.

Tucker was the pastor of the Abundant Life Church on Airtex in north Houston, but has since left.

Two other women testified that Tucker fondled them while he was youth minister at a church in Humble.

Some former church members were in court Friday and they believe their former pastor is guilty.

"The man is a schmoozer. The man knows how to use people," said Janice Thompson. "He knows how to use words. Why? He's a master with the written word. He is a master with using the written word of God. To take the word of God and use it to manipulate people -- I'm sorry. You want to talk about sin? Now that's a sin."

"I still love the man, but I can't come to grips with the reality that I believe he did this," said Bethmy Scheuermam. "I really believe he did this. And I want to -- I mean, I'm sick over it."

During closing arguments, Prosecutor Kelly Siegler addressed the women on the jury when she questioned Tucker's claim that the sex was consensual.

"Ladies, do you really think they were attracted to him? Look at him," Siegler said. "He's the same as a buzzard, circling prey. He knows the kind of women to go after. He knows how to finesse them. He's a master at it."

But Defense Attorney Dick DeGuerin argued that state didn't prove Tucker's guilt.

"It's not my job to make you like him. The state has not proved the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt," DeGuerin said. "I ask you to do the right thing. You don't have to like Jim Tucker, but you don't have to convict him because the state made every effort to make him look like the devil."