Cultlike rituals, sex abuse alleged at church

PONCHATOULA, La. — From his tire store next door, Donald Moore got an up-close look at the strange changes that went on at the once-bustling Hosanna Church.

The congregation had dwindled to a few reclusive members who chased away visitors. The windows were painted white so no one could see in. And just before it closed for good a couple of years ago, eight dump trucks came in and spread dirt over the church's back lot.

Last month, the suspicions played out in a way almost no one in the southeastern Louisiana town of 5,000 could have imagined: Nine people, including the pastor, his wife and a sheriff's deputy, were accused of engaging in cultlike sexual activity with children and animals inside the hall of worship. Eight face child-rape charges that could bring the death penalty.

"You can't believe something like that was going on right under our own feet," Moore said.

Authorities said witnesses have 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 24, include children ranging from infants to young teens, some of them offspring of the accused.

"I've been a prosecutor in some rape cases and child-molestation cases, but I've never had a group accused of doing anything like this," said Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff Daniel Edwards, a former state prosecutor.

Investigators think the abuse began in 1999 and continued until the church closed in 2003. But it was not until a woman called from Ohio in April, saying she had fled to protect her child, that police claim they had an inkling of what happened.

About the same time, the church's pastor, Louis Lamonica, 45, walked into the neighboring Livingston Parish sheriff's office, sat down and, according to investigators, named names and detailed activities that had occurred inside the church.

Lamonica was arrested, followed by eight others authorities described as central members of the ring. All but one are being held without bond. Even the tipster from Ohio, Nicole Bernard, was arrested on rape charges along with her former husband.

Edwards said the group apparently had an effective formula for escaping detection: the use of a church, a close-knit relationship among the members and victims unlikely to report abuse.

"They were very secretive and very good about keeping a secret," Edwards said.

Lamonica's attorney, Michael Thiel, did not return calls but had said previously that the charges would not hold up in court.

"Generally, I believe there's been a rush to judge based on conjecture, rumors and leaks to the media," Thiel told The Advocate of Baton Rouge.

Edwards stopped short of saying the cult consisted of devil-worshippers but said some defendants told investigators "devil worship was the reason for their participation." Edwards added that defendants and witnesses also gave statements saying a dog was sexually abused and at least two cats were sacrificed.

Authorities seized 24 computers, which the FBI is checking. Sheets and carpeting were taken from the church for DNA tests. Officers spent several days digging in the back of the church but haven't said if anything significant was found.

After Bernard was arrested, police in Ohio said they searched a storage unit and found mattresses, videos and nine garbage bags full of costumes.

Lamonica and his wife, Robbin, also face allegations of having sex with children in their home.

A state grand jury is scheduled to start hearing evidence June 24.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten of New Orleans said federal authorities are aiding the state investigation but refused to say what federal charges, if any, might be filed.