Church musical director acquitted

Kim Smith

Thursday, June 14, 2001 | 10:34 a.m.

Before Las Vegas resident Robert Lee left Judge Joseph Bonaventure's courtroom Wednesday, he felt compelled to stop.

He waited as his fellow jurors filed past him, and he reached out and shook John Brock's hand.

"It was nice seeing justice done," Lee explained.

Lee and the other jurors acquitted Brock of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy over a period of several months in 1998 and 1999. Brock faced 35 counts, including several counts of sexual assault of a minor, lewdness and solicitation of a minor to engage in acts constituting the infamous crime against nature.

Prosecutors tried to convince jurors that Brock, a musical director of Westminster Presbyterian Church, became a father figure to the boy, then became obsessed with him.

Deputy District Attorneys Bill Kephart and Pam Weckerly alleged Brock seduced the boy by showering him with attention, providing him music lessons and buying him expensive clothes, alcohol and cigarettes.

Brock's defense attorney, Christopher Oram, however, told jurors that the boy was manipulated into lodging the allegations by a neglectful mother who was jealous of the close relationship between the two. He pointed out that the boy's grades improved dramatically with Brock's help.

During his closing arguments, Oram reminded jurors that the mother called police repeatedly, alleging that Brock was violating his house arrest. On each occasion, Brock was found at home.

After the verdict was announced, Lee said he believes the boy was manipulated by his mother and grandmother. Their testimony, he said, was filled with inconsistencies.

Brock, who had a courtroom filled with supporters throughout the trial, said he has lost everything because of the allegations. In the end, however, everything turned out OK.

"It's nice to know that the justice system works, despite the fact it's as corrupt as hell," Brock said.

He alleged the prosecutors posed as his defense attorneys and called one of his sisters to find incriminating evidence against him -- an allegation Kephart emphatically denied.

Brock said he is angry he had to go through a trial for the truth to come out.

"If 12 members of a jury could see the lies, why couldn't the prosecutors?" Brock said. "They're paid to find the truth, not set someone up."

Aside from writing a book about his experience, Brock said he doesn't know what his future will hold for him.

"Unfortunately, I'd never put myself at risk again" by working with children, Brock said. "I went through hell the last 20 months. I've lost everything. I've got to pick up whatever pieces are left and start all over. It's going to be hard to do when you're in your 50s and broke."

The boy's family and prosecutors declined to comment.