Church Sex Cult Group Indicted

Associated Press/June 24, 2005

Amite, La. -- The minister of a church where members allegedly abused children and animals and six of his followers were charged Friday with aggravated rape.

The grand jury did not consider cases against the former member who called the sheriff's office from Ohio to tell about the alleged activities, or against a woman accused of failing to tell authorities about them.

Tangipahoa Parish District Attorney Scott Perriloux says Louis Lamonica, who was the pastor of Hosanna Church in Ponchatoula, was charged with six rapes.

Four counts each were brought against former Tangipahoa Parish sheriff's deputy Christopher Blair Labat; Allen R. Pierson, who lived in an apartment on the church complex; church member Paul Fontenot, and Austin Bernard, whose wife, Nicole Bernard, first exposed the alleged scandal.

Pierson's 54-year-old wife, Patricia Pierson, and Lamonica's wife, Robbin Lamonica, were charged on two counts each. Like her husband, Nicole Bernard had been arrested on rape charges. Perriloux says he has not ruled out bringing her case before a grand jury.

The charges of obstruction of justice, failure to report a felony and accessory after the fact on which Lois Ann Mowbray was booked do not require a grand jury hearing.

Authorities have said witnesses described the use of robes, pentagrams on the church floor, sex with a dog and the sacrifice of cats. The alleged victims, suspected to number up to two dozen, range from infants to young teens and include children of those accused.