LOUISIANA
American Press
By Crystal Stevenson / American Press
Former Lake Charles priest Mark Broussard, who was convicted in February of five counts of sexual abuse — including two counts of aggravated rape — was sentenced Friday to two life sentences, plus an additional 50 years in prison.
Broussard was convicted of molestation of a juvenile, oral sexual battery, aggravated oral sexual battery and two counts of aggravated rape against two men who both served as altar boys in the late 1980s and early ‘90s. Aggravated rape carries an automatic life sentence without parole.
“Victims hurt for years and years,” said prosecutor Cynthia Killingsworth after Broussard’s conviction. “This was a way to get their story out and … maybe lead to closure.”
During the trial, which was often standing room only, the first victim testified he was an 8-year-old altar boy when the abuse began. He said Broussard molested him in the St. Henry Catholic Church altar boys’ changing room, the confessional and in a car and raped him in the church rectory.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.