A pastor went to prison yesterday after he was refused bail when he appeared in court, charged with sex crimes in which the alleged victims were teenage boys.

Pastor Brian Joseph is alleged to have sexually assaulted and molested the four boys over an eight-year period dating back to 2000.

The alleged acts happened at the Ebenezer Apostolic Church at McLean Street, Enterprise, Chaguanas.

Tearful and trembling as he stood before the court yesterday, Pastor Joseph denied it all.

In a rambling statement, he said his wife had left him because he was spiritual and she loved parties. He said his accusers were not boys, but grown men who wanted to set him up.

Joseph’s arrest came on Monday after a year-long investigation.

Joseph, 47, appeared before Chaguanas First Court Magistrate Gail Gonzales, charged by Detective Harriot.

He had no attorney, but he spoke with two men who were in the public gallery as the charges were read.

Joseph is accused of four counts of grievous sexual assault and two counts of serious indecency between the period January 2000 and October 2008.

Magistrate Gonzales denied bail after being told that no criminal background trace had yet been done.

Joseph, who came to court in a stained jersey and pants, begged not to be sent to prison. He raised his hand and asked for permission to speak.

He told the magistrate he came to Trinidad 14 years ago and was married.

’I was super spiritual, but my wife wanted to go to parties. I did not like that. She left and the day she left me, I went on the promenade.’

Joseph was advised to say nothing more until he hired a lawyer. But Joseph spoke. He said the people who accused him were not teen boys, but ’big married men’, and it was not possible for him to do such a thing.

He said the men were trying to ’set me up’, because he had tried to discipline the men.

Joseph also cried that he suffered with glaucoma and with his heart.

Magistrate Gonzales assured that Joseph would receive his medication in prison and suggested he apply before a judge in chambers for bail. The case was adjourned to November 6.