DEARBORN - Photographer Nafeh AbuNab was recently convicted of a misdemeanor charge of 4th degree criminal sexual conduct, essentially amounting to “sexual contact by concealment or the element of surprise” for an inappropriate touching incident. He was convicted on April 4 after a two-day jury trial before Wayne County Circuit Judge Craig Strong and his sentencing will be on April 25 at 9 a.m. State guidelines call for a sentence of up to two years in prison, up to a $500 fine or both.

AbuNab, a popular local photographer who runs a Facebook page visited by several thousand people each week featuring photos of community events, recently told his side of the story to his brother Neal, who is also a former writer for The Arab American News. 

The following is Nafeh AbuNab’s account of the events according to Neal.

“Last year a woman, 28 years old, approached him and asked if he would give her some training in photography and videography.  He let her do some work at his studio in Dearborn Heights.  She worked for a short period of time at the studio, according to Nafeh.  One day she was standing looking at the computer screen when Nafeh asked her to move so he can upload some pictures.  She did not move.  Nafeh asked her again to move and she did not.  He then shoved her aside with his hand touching her waist and rear end.”

Nafeh told his brother Neal that she had never given him any indication anything was wrong before quitting her job and filing the charges.

The woman’s account of the story is a different one according to a report in the Dearborn Press & Guide.

She reportedly said that Nafeh AbuNab asked her to look at something then put his hand on her buttocks and rubbed it before walking away. She also said he was later lying on a couch and asked three times if she liked sex. She said she was married, as she did earlier, and said he shouldn’t talk to her like that and that she was married before leaving for another room according to the report. 

Later she said she was sitting at her desk and approached from behind by Nafeh AbuNab who pulled her shoulder, turned her head and held her face by her cheek and tried to kiss her. She said she pushed him on the chest and slapped him, saying she was married.

Nafeh AbuNab reportedly said he was only going to whisper to her, but she said he didn’t need to as they were the only two people in the building.

The woman who happened to be an Arab American, quit at the end of the working day and didn’t return, later deciding to file the report.

It has also been reported that text messages were sent from Nafeh AbuNab to the woman and presented in court as evidence. 

Nafeh AbuNab has been struggling with a mental illness-related condition he has dealt with for a long time, and his behavior can become irrational when he’s not on his medication, his brother said.

Nafeh also told his brother that he did not expect the charges to go as far as they did. 

“Nafeh did not take the matter seriously and dismissed it as a joke,” Neal AbuNab said. “He had a habit of blocking problems out of his mind and it was due to (the illness).

“Nafeh was so confident that he could clear this misunderstanding that he did not mind having a jury trial.  But a jury on April 4th found him guilty…”

AbuNab had faced two counts of the same offense in 1994 but was acquitted of them; he was convicted of an additional charge of aggravated assault, however. 

In 2011 he was also charged with failing to pay child support and plead guilty in 2011 before Wayne County Circuit Judge Wade McCree, but he withdrew the plea and dismissed the case in 2012.

Also, The Arab American News learned that Nafeh AbuNab holds only a green card and that the conviction could put him on the deportation list, another dilemma he may face later with immigration.