09:41 PM CDT on Sunday, May 29, 2005
By Than Truong / WWLTV
PONCHATOULA — Capital punishment is an option for the seven church members accused of sexually abusing children in Tangipohoa Parish, prosecutors said on Sunday.
Seven of the eight suspects arrested in an alleged child sex abuse ring face charges of aggravated rape of juveniles. In Louisiana, such crimes against children under the age of 13 carry a potential penalty of death.
"At this point, if the allegations continue to [develop] as they seem to be, it will be difficult not to seek the death penalty," said Tangipohoa District Attorney Scott Perrilloux. "But at this point, we want to leave that open since it is such a major decision."
The threat of capital punishment is rarely invoked in Louisiana in non-homicide crimes, said Loyola University law professor Dane Ciolino.
"Across the country, only two to three states are like Louisiana in authorizing death for the rape of a child," Ciolino said.
If the case turns into a capital punishment case, the cost and length of the trials will grow exponentially, Ciolino said.
The allegations from Tangipohoa Parish involve victims ranging in age from toddlers to teenagers. Ciolino believes public outrage may factor into the district attorney's decision.
"So often, the decision to seek the death penalty is a visceral reaction to what the people believe is a heinous crime," he said. "Few people could come up with a crime more heinous than the rape of a child."
As prosecutors contemplate the death penalty, another form of justice has already been administered. Inmates in one jailhouse recently beat one of the suspects.
Pastor Louis Lamonica's case will be the first to go before a grand jury on June 1.
Woman accused in church abuse case beaten in jail
10:22 AM CDT on Sunday, May 29, 2005
WWLTV.COM
HAMMOND, La. — Sheriff's deputies say a woman accused of being part of a group that allegedly abused children and animals within the walls of a now-defunct Ponchatoula church was beaten by other female inmates at the Tangipahoa Parish jail.
Nicole Bernard, who recently was returned from Ohio to face an aggravated rape charge, was placed in a cell by herself after the Friday night attack.
Chief Deputy Dennis Pevey says several female prisoners apparently were angry at Bernard because of her alleged involvement in the abuse of children.
Prison officials say they will do what they can to keep all the suspects in the case safe. Six of eight suspects are in the parish jail and two others are in the Livingston Parish jail.
The suspects include the Hosanna Church's pastor and an ex-sheriff's deputy. A dozen or more additional people could be involved in the alleged cult, authorities said.
Police, sheriff's deputies and the FBI have been interviewing potential victims, which authorities said ranged in age from infants to teens.
The investigation opened five weeks ago when Bernard called from Ohio, saying she had fled from Louisiana out of fear for her child, authorities said.
Bernard was arrested Tuesday in Blacklick, Ohio, outside of Columbus. Bernard's ex-husband, Austin Aaron Bernard, was arrested May 17th on a charge accusing him of making a girl under the age of 13 perform a sex act. Rape of a child under 13 is a capital offense in Louisiana.
In Ohio, authorities searched a storage unit where they found mattresses, videos and nine garbage bags full of costumes, according to a search warrant.
Nicole Bernard, center, being escorted to the Tangipahoa Parish Prison earlier this week.
and about the woman being beaten in jail, all I can say is.........."Awwwwww. TOOOOOOO bad!" 
