PONCHATOULA (LA)
The Advocate
By The Associated Press
PONCHATOULA -- The suspected core members of a group that allegedly abused children and animals within the walls of a now-defunct church have been arrested and the next major step will be to send the case to a state prosecutor, authorities say.
Nine people have been arrested in connection with alleged activities at the Hosanna Church, a once-bustling house of worship that dwindled to a handful of members -- some implicated in allegations of sexually abusing children and animals -- before it closed in 2003.
"Right now, it's still in the fact-finding mode," District Attorney Scott Perrilloux said. "It's a law enforcement issue, but when they're done, they package it and the case file is sent to us."
Perrilloux will have 60 days from the time of the arrests to present the case to a grand jury.
Posted by kshaw at May 27, 2005 07:00 AM