Reynolds Says Only Sex With Teen Girl Was Talk on Phone

Rep. Mel Reynolds (D-Ill.) testified at his trial Monday that he had sexually explicit phone conversations with an underage campaign worker, but “not one time ever in my life” did he have sex with her.

“I am not guilty,” Reynolds said at the end of four hours of questioning by defense attorney Sam Adam.

In a calm, even voice, Reynolds, 43, contested nearly every point made last week by his accuser, Beverly Heard, who testified she was 16 when Reynolds initiated their sexual relationship. He portrayed her as a troubled teen who became his partner in a phone sex relationship and later pressured him to give her money.

Reynolds stared straight ahead when Adam asked him if he had ever had sex with Heard. “Not one time ever in my life,” Reynolds replied.

Jurors frequently glanced in his direction and took notes as Reynolds testified that he was counseling a troubled teen by phone on numerous occasions in 1993 after she came to him for help. In May, 1993, he said, their conversations turned sexual.

“Unfortunately in life, one makes mistakes, one is weak,” the congressman said. “It was probably the biggest mistake of my life. I began to have conversations with Beverly Heard, explicit conversations pertaining to sex.”

The Democrat is charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse, criminal sexual assault, child pornography and obstruction of justice.

Reynolds said he was “ashamed” of the fantasy phone calls he had with Heard, but said he would never have sex with her because he did not want to transmit any sexual disease to his wife, Marisol, with whom he was trying to have another child.

“That’s why you had phone sex?” Adam asked.

Reynolds said phone sex may be “immoral” and is a “weakness” but “it’s something that’s safe.”

Heard, now 19, told prosecutors Reynolds initiated a sexual relationship that continued until she was 17. She said they began having sex within a couple of weeks after meeting Reynolds on the street outside a high school. He stopped her and told her she was pretty, she testified.

On the stand, Reynolds had a different story.