Opening arguments are over and testimony is underway in what Livingston Parish Assistant District Attorney Don Wall calls a “vile, disgusting and disturbing” trial.
Attorneys presented their opening arguments Friday morning in a trial for former Hosanna Church pastor Louis Lamonica, who is charged with four counts of aggravated rape of a child.
Prosecutors said that Lamonica voluntarily gave a 260 page confession on May 16, 2005 to the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s office. In that confession, he said that he sexually abused two of his sons, aged either five or six at the time. He said he continued that abuse over a several yeaVideo: Watch the Story
Attorneys presented their opening arguments Friday morning in a trial for former Hosanna Church pastor Louis Lamonica, who is charged with four counts of aggravated rape of a child.
Prosecutors said that Lamonica voluntarily gave a 260 page confession on May 16, 2005 to the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s office. In that confession, he said that he sexually abused two of his sons, aged either five or six at the time. He said he continued that abuse over a several year period, which is believed to be from 1999 to 2003.
Prosecutors added that Lamonica confessed because he wanted to make a deal in exchange for what he would tell them about other sexual abuse cases in the church. Michael Thielf, the attorney for Lamonica, does not disagree that he confessed, but he said that Lamonica was manipulated and confused. The attorney said that Lamonica is not a pedophile.
Both sides agreed on jurors Thursday despite speculation that the trial would have to be moved out of the parish because of the heavy media attention surrounding the trial.
The prosecution is expected to present videotaped interviews with the two victims. In it, the two will detail how the former pastor raped them. It is expected that they will testify and recant those statements.
Lamonica is the second former member of the church to trial. A Tangipahoa jury found the first, Trey Bernard, guilty. He is serving three life sentences at Angola prison.
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