Third church member’s trial in occult rituals molestation case likely in 2009

Third Ponchatoula church member’s trial likely in 2009

HAMMOND — The trial of the third member of a Ponchatoula church accused of molesting children as part of occult rituals likely will be held in early 2009, 21st Judicial District Attorney Scott Perrilloux said Tuesday.

Paul Fontenot, 25, of Ponchatoula, is the church member the state anticipates bringing to trial, Perrilloux said. Prosecutors will seek a trial date for early 2009 at Fontenot’s next hearing, on Oct. 15, Perrilloux said.

Fontenot is among the seven members of the now-defunct Hosanna Church in Ponchatoula indicted in 2005 on charges of molesting three children as part of occult rituals.

Two other church members already have been convicted of aggravated rape as a result of the investigation. The convictions carry automatic life sentences in prison.

Most recently, former Hosanna pastor Louis D. Lamonica, 49, of Hammond, was convicted on Sept. 6 of aggravated rape for abusing his two sons. His sentencing is scheduled for October.

Another church member, Austin “Trey” Bernard III, 39, formerly of Hammond, was convicted on Dec. 3 of raping his infant daughter and Lamonica’s two sons. Bernard is now serving a life sentence in the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.

Fontenot, 21 at the time of his arrest and 19 when the alleged abuse ended, is the brother-in-law of Bernard. According to court records, Fontenot was indicted on four counts of aggravated rape of Lamonica’s younger son and Bernard’s daughter.

Lamonica’s son was 11 years of age or below at the time of the alleged abuse and the girl was age 2 or younger, investigators have said.

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