AMITE (LA)
The Advocate
By STEVEN WARD
sward@theadvocate.com
Advocate staff writer
AMITE -- A Tangipahoa Parish grand jury Thursday indicted on various counts of aggravated rape seven of the nine people implicated in a devil-worshiping cult accused of sexually abusing children and animals in a Ponchatoula church.
Following the reading of the indictments, 21st Judicial District Attorney Scott Perrilloux said all the victims of the sexual abuse discussed during Friday's grand jury session were under the age of 12 but he said he has not decided if the state will seek the death penalty.
Anyone convicted of the aggravated rape of someone under the age of 12 in Louisiana can receive the death penalty as a sentence, according to state law.