Anna Stubblefield denies raping disabled diaper-wearing man with cerebral palsy

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Anna Stubblefield, 45, charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault for allegedly raping 34-year-old disabled man identified as 'D.J.'
Stubblefield, professor of philosophy at Rutgers University, claimed D.J. could express himself through facilitated communication
It's a controversial technique in which Stubblefield used her hands to help him type on a keyboard
Prosecution detailed in court Thursday how Stubblefield pulled down the man's diaper to perform a sex act and the two had sex on a yoga mat
Stubblefield told the court D.J. could bang on the floor if he wanted to stop having sex
Zoe Stubblefield, professor's daughter, called victim's family 'money-hungry idiots' and said they were targeting her mom because she is white

By Louise Boyle In West Orange, New Jersey For Dailymail.com and Dailymail.com Reporter

Published: 14:39 EST, 25 September 2015 | Updated: 02:48 EST, 26 September 2015

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A Rutgers University professor testified in her own defense Thursday, insisting that she did not rape a disabled man suffering from cerebral palsy, and that the two were 'in love.'

During cross-examination, philosophy professor Anna Stubblefield, 45, insisted she and the victim - a 34-year-old African-American man who is unable to speak or eat on his own - were in a consensual relationship.

Under questioning from her lawyer Wednesday, Stubblefield explained the man could express himself through a technique known as facilitated communication in which she used her hands to help him type on a keyboard.

On the stand: Philosophy professor Anna Stubblefield, pictured here at the Essex County Courthouse in Newark Thursday, denied raping a disabled, non-verbal man in her Rutgers University office in 2011

Graphic details: Prosecution detailed in court Thursday how Stubblefield, who is divorced and has a daughter, pulled down the man's diaper to perform a sex act and the two had sex on a yoga mat

But the prosecution Thursday questioned the method and how the man could communicate if he wanted to stop having sex in her Newark office in 2011.

When people fall in love with each other, the last thing you're thinking about is, "Hey, let's go ask our moms if it's okay."'

Anna Stubblefield

Stubblefield said he could bang on the floor.

The judge has barred expert testimony on facilitated communication because she determined it's ‘not a recognized science.’

Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Eric Plant questioned Stubblefield about her sexual encounters with the man, identified in court only as D.J., and the time she 'had him on the floor' of her office and 'raped' him on a yoga mat, reported NJ.com.

The Rutgers educator denied the allegations, stating, 'I did not rape [D.J.].'

The 45-year-old resident of West Orange is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault stemming from two encounters with the alleged victim in her Newark office in 2011.

According to D.J.'s mother, the 34-year-old suffers from cerebral palsy, wears diapers and requires assistance with common everyday tasks like bathing, eating and walking.

The 45-year-old academic, pictured here at a conference, is charged with two counts of aggravated sexual assault stemming from two encounters with the alleged victim in her Newark office in 2011

Stubblefield’s daughter, Zoe Stubblefield (pictured), told DailyMail.com today that the victim's family, who are black, were targeting her mother because she was white. She also called them 'money-hungry idiots'

His brother said other than making the occasional noise, the man is non-verbal.

Stubblefield’s daughter, Zoe Stubblefield, told DailyMail.com today that the victim's family, who are black, were targeting her mother because she was white and they were 'money-hungry idiots'.

Speaking at her mother’s home in West Orange, New Jersey, Friday, the younger Ms Stubblefield told DailyMail.com that D.J.’s relatives were 'huge a**holes'.

She said: 'They have done this because my mom is white and we used to have a lot of money and they're poor.'

The woman who is the guy’s mother has ruined my whole entire life. I think they are a bunch of money-hungry idiots.

Zoe Stubblefield

Zoe Stubblefield also said that the family of the 34-year-old disabled man were suing them.

'The woman who is the guy’s mother has ruined my whole entire life,’ she said, later adding: 'I think they are a bunch of money-hungry idiots.'

An expert witness testifying for the prosecution said that D.J. is intellectually disabled and cannot consent to sex, but Stubblefield claimed that the man consented through the controversial method of 'facilitated communication.'

The two met back in 2009 through D.J.'s brother, then a student at Rutgers who was enrolled in Stubblefield's class.

The philosophy teacher at one point mentioned facilitated communication to her students, which piqued the brother’s interest and he later asked her for more information about the technique, believing it could help D.J.

Stubblefield spent the next two years working with D.J. on his communication skills, during which time she claimed he was able to write essays and academic papers, including one which was presented at the 2010 Society for Disabilities Studies conference.

In May 2011, D.J. revealed to his mother and brother, who are his legal guardians, his sexual relationship with Stubblefield.

Stubblefield, pictured with long hair during an event at Rutgers, claimed D.J. consented to sex with her through the controversial method of 'facilitated communication'

Stubblefield (left) explained in court that D.J. used a keyboard and could bang on the floor if he wanted to stop having sex

The man’s mother told the court on the first day of the trial Wednesday that when she learned the truth, Stubblefield came to her and said: 'you have to let him be the man that he is.'

When Plant accused Stubblefield of lying to the legal guardians of a mentally incompetent person, she replied that he was an adult capable of making his own decisions.

‘He's very much his own person. He makes his own decisions,’ Stubblefield said. ‘When people fall in love with each other, the last thing you're thinking about is, “Hey, let's go ask our moms if it's okay."’

The cross-examination portion of Thursday’s hearing included graphic descriptions of how Stubblefield allegedly pulled down D.J.'s diaper to perform oral sex on him.

In response to Plant's questions about how the two communicated during sex, Stubblefield explained that D.J. used a keyboard and could bang on the floor if he wanted to stop.

But the 45-year-old defendant said from the stand that the two times they had sex together, D.J. was 'very happy' and there was no cause for ‘interruptions.’