The sex crimes trial for the man who allegedly claimed to to be a faith healer has begun in Mariposa County Superior Court. Roger Wayne Robertson of Coulterville faced a five-man, seven-woman jury beginning Monday in Mariposa County Superior Court.

Robertson was arrested on the charges in October, 2009. According to the sheriff’s report, Robertson allegedly lured his victim to his Coulterville area ranch, where he operated a church, under the guise that he needed some work done. He then reportedley took her to the church building, forced her to the ground and attempted to rape her. He made a similar attempt in his home. The woman and her adult son were able to leave the compound without injury.

On Monday afternoon, the alleged victim told the jury through a Spanish language interpreter that she had attended three church services at Robertson’s church. She said she went there on the advice of friends because he could heal her daughter’s diabetes.

Under direct questioning by Deputy District Attorney Kim Fletcher, the victim said that while she went there looking for a miracle, she came away empty. “I did not see any miracles,” she said. The woman said that when Robertson baptized her, he pulled out a towel and claimed that the “blood” on it was Christ’s. “He would laugh and say that it was a miracle that God had made. We believed it was true, but when we saw the reality, it looked like paint.”

The woman said that Robertson kept dogs near the church and warned that if someone caused him harm, he would release them so they could “tear him apart.”

On the day following one of the services she attended, Oct. 12, 2009, Robertson called the woman. She couldn’t understand him, so she had one of her children translate his request. He wanted her to come to the church to clean and said she should come immediately.

When she and her 22-yearold son arrived, Robertson was reportedly irritated. “He told me, ‘I did not want your son. I wanted you alone,’” the woman testified. She said he acted aggressively during the initial confrontation.

Shortly thereafter, Robertson sent the son to vaccuum a nearby cabin. He led the woman to the church. She said it was dark inside, and he locked the door behind them. He then told her to remove her clothes and lie on the ground.

The woman said she feared for her life and complied. “At that moment I wanted to scream to my son. I was afraid that if my son did come, something could happen to my son or he would do something to (Robertson),” she said.

Tearfully, she recounted her fears for the jury. “I was afraid he was going to kill me in the water,” she said of the baptism tank in the church. “I was also afraid because of the dogs.”

Robertson allegedly removed his own pants and attempted to rape the woman. She said he had one hand on her and the other raised to the sky, saying, “Thank you Jesus for giving me a pretty woman that I was asking for.”

The woman was mortified by his mocking tone. “I was telling myself, ‘he’s playing with God.’ How many other people has he done this to?”

His attempt at intercourse failed, and the pair went to the house. The alleged victim said that he wanted her to lie down again, but she refused. Her son returned to the house about that time. She told him it was time to go. Before they left, Robertson prayed for them.

“I was enraged,” the woman said on the stand. When she returned home, she said Robertson repeatedly called her, but she didn’t take the calls. Phone records introduced into evidence showed the calls to her number.

The woman first reported the crime to Merced Police, where she lives. They referred her to Mariposa, where she made the report on Oct. 14, 2009. Once the report was made, she said, “I was afraid, but at the same time I felt good. Had I not faced things how many other victims might there be?” she said.

Testimony in the trial continues throughout this week. The entire process is expected to take more than two weeks. Robertson himself is expected to testify in his own defense.

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