May 20, 2005

7 Members of Louisiana Church Charged With Abuse of Children

LOUISIANA
The New York Times

By ARIEL HART
Published: May 20, 2005
The pastor of a Louisiana church and six of its members, including the pastor's wife and a sheriff's deputy, have been arrested in what the police described as a cult-like sex ring that abused children and animals.

All seven are being held on charges of aggravated rape, including rape of a child younger than 13, which can be prosecuted as a capital crime in the state, the authorities said.

Five other adults were identified yesterday as "persons of interest" at a meeting of seven law enforcement agencies, including the F.B.I., said Deputy Chuck Reed, a spokesman for the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office.

Deputy Reed said the police wanted to interview as many as 24 children as possible victims in incidents that might date to 1998.

Posted by kshaw at May 20, 2005 12:14 PM