Rutgers-Newark professor Anna Stubblefield told the man's mother they loved each other during a phone call recorded by law enforcement officials
NEWARK -- A few months after disclosing her sexual relationship with a severely mentally disabled man, Rutgers-Newark professor Anna Stubblefield discussed their mutual love in a phone call with his mother.
"We love each other so much," Stubblefield told the man's mother. "He's the most important person in my life. I'm the most important person in his life.
"I'm lucky if I get through twenty minutes...of any day without thinking about him and that's how much I miss him."
What Stubblefield didn't know was that law enforcement officials were listening in on the phone conversation.
A recording of that conversation was played on Thursday for the jury during Stubblefield's trial on two counts of aggravated sexual assault. She is accused of abusing the man, known as D.J., in her Newark office in 2011.
Prosecutors argue the 34-year-old man was unable to consent to the sexual activity, but Stubblefield, 45, of West Orange, has claimed he consented through a controversial technique, known as "facilitated communication."
With that method, advocates say a disabled person can type on a keyboard while a facilitator provides physical support, but critics say the technique is ineffective and that the facilitators are controlling the messages.
Rutgers has placed Stubblefield on administrative leave without pay.
D.J., who suffers from cerebral palsy and other ailments, wears diapers, does not speak and requires assistance with walking, bathing, dressing and eating, his mother has testified.
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Stubblefield first met D.J. in 2009 through his brother, then a Rutgers student, who was taking a course of Stubblefield's and asked the professor if she could help D.J. with his communication, according to Essex County Assistant Prosecutor Eric Plant. Stubblefield then spent about two years working with D.J., Plant said.
On May 28, 2011, Stubblefield revealed to D.J.'s mother and brother that they were in a sexual relationship and she was in love with him, Plant said. D.J.'s brother ultimately reported the alleged abuse to another Rutgers professor, and the university contacted Essex County prosecutors, Plant said.
In a June 18, 2011 voicemail message Stubblefield left for D.J.'s mother - which also was played in court on Thursday - Stubblefield said she was willing to commit in writing that she would "leave my husband and I will make a permanent life and home with DMan."
On Aug. 22, 2011, officials with the Essex County Prosecutor's Office recorded the mother's phone call to Stubblefield after the mother had consented to the recording. The mother made the call while accompanied by Plant and two other law enforcement officials.
On the call, the mother questioned Stubblefield about how she and D.J. had sex, and asked her to explain how their relationship reached that point.
"I need to know, were you two really sexually involved?" the mother asked Stubblefield.
Stubblefield said she and D.J. had been talking about their feelings for each other, and D.J. asked whether they could "do anything physical." Stubblefield said she told him they'd "have to experiment and find out."
When the mother pressed her for details on the sexual encounters, Stubblefield said her office has "enough floor space" and she brought in an exercise mat, a beach towel and condoms. Stubblefield said they had sex on two Sundays.
"We were able to make things work," Stubblefield said
But Stubblefield maintained that her relationship with D.J. was not primarily about the sex.
"We love each other very, very, very much and I wouldn't have sex with somebody that I didn't love," Stubblefield told the mother.
After the recording was played on Thursday, Plant asked D.J.'s mother why she ultimately terminated the phone call.
"Because I had had enough of what was being said and I was very emotional at that time," the mother testified.
Bill Wichert may be reached at bwichert@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BillWichertNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.