A 39-year-old defrocked Catholic priest in Louisiana was spared time behind bars after formally pleading guilty to one count of felony obscenity for making a sex tape with two dominatrices on the altar of his former church in 2020. 'The Devil got the best of him' Pearl River congregation welcomes The 39-year-old was serving as pastor at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pearl River when a passerby noticed lights on at the church late one night in September 2020. An attorney for the women also issued a statement: The District Attorney has rightfully chosen to not pursue obscenity charges against my clients. Rev. The only way we can know is if an investigator comes in and goes through his archives, Bourgeois said. In a filing opposing the revocation, Clark's attorney, Marc Hoerner Jr., argued that his client did not gain from the TV appearance and was not seeking notoriety. We acknowledge the charges filed against Travis Clark and Patrick Wattigny by the St. Tammany District Attorneys Office. Clark was removed from the church after his arrest. countries. The now former Rev. Starting today: Trial of Fr. Clark, who was caught with dominatrices on Dixon and Cheng told police at the time of the arrest that they were role-playing and recording the consensual acts. Priest who filmed sex on altar criminally charged, archdiocese mum on It was possible for the onlooker to peek inside the church through the windows and glass doors. The former priest, Travis Clark, 39, was arrested in October 2020, after police said he was filming himself having sex with two women on the altar of St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pearl. Louisiana priest caught with dominatrices seen in PJs after arrest Ex-Priest Travis Jhon Clark Pleads to Felony Obscenity Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! There was a problem saving your notification. Our prayers remain with all those who were hurt by the actions of these two men, and in a particular way, we offer our prayers for healing of survivors of abuse.. was walking by Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Pearl River on Sept. 30 when they allegedly saw a half-clothed priest through the church's windows engaging in a threesome with two corset-clad dominatrices on top of the altar, While the three wereoriginally charged with, obscenity countslast fall, on Friday the, St. Tammany Parish District Attorneys Office, Rev. ", The filing cited "countless negative portrayals" of Clark in the media and said his intention was for people to see him as "a human being worthy of forgiveness.". Peter and Paul Catholic Church, located at 66192 St Mary Dr. in Pearl River, La. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. The two women, 30-year-old Melissa Cheng and 43-year-old Mindy Dixon, both pleaded guilty in July to misdemeanor counts of institutional vandalism and sentenced to probation. Clark and the women both dominatrixes who were wearing corsets and high heels were caught after a passer-by strolled past the church, noticed a light was on inside, and looked through a window, only to be confronted with the trio having sex. (TCD) -- A 39-year-old former priest recently pleaded guilty to felony obscenity after engaging in a threesome with two dominatrices on a church altar in 2020. A witness walked towards the church out of curiosity as the inside lights were on at an unusual time and used a cell phone to record the unexpected sight before contacting the Pearl River police. When the details became clear, we had the altar removed and burned. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. interface language. Travis Jhon Clark allegedly engaged in athreesome with Mindy Lynn Dixon andMelissa Kamon Chengon top of an altar that has now been burned by the church. NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The St. Tammany Parish District Attorneys Office has charged a former priest and two women with vandalizing a Pearl River Church last Fall. Reverend Travis Clark, 37, worked as a priest at Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Pearl River, Louisiana. Sts. Police were called, and removed plastic sex toys as well as stage lights from the scene. Former priest accused of altar sex in Pearl River church pleads not Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Dixon and Cheng were also arrested in September 2020 and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in July. Clark was arrested after filming himself having sex with two dominatrices inside the church on September 30. All rights reserved. (He) certainly does not want to be remembered in infamy. They are accused of knowingly vandalizing, defacing, or otherwise damaging property and causing damage valued at over $500 and under $50,000, at the church, according to the district attorneys office. Keep up with the latest St. Tammany Parish news by signing up for our weekly newsletter, the North Shore Report, at nola.com/northshorereport. As a catholic priest who did it on the altar, what other judgment lack of judgment does he have. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! "Autism is a cognitive disability that inhibited Defendant Clark's understanding of the terms of the plea agreement," the filing said, adding that Clark never received a copy of the agreement. In a statement last week, Archbishop Gregory Aymond said the Archdiocese is cooperating with law enforcement and will petition the Vatican for the laicization of both Travis and Patrick Wattigny, another former north shore priest who was indicted last week on a count of molestation of a juvenile. 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Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. The trio face obscenity charges for having sex on the altar of his former church, Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Pearl River. Former priest, two women formally charged for having sex in Pearl River Travis Clark was arrested on Oct. 1 for obscenity. Now her new home is prison. A former Catholic priest who pleaded guilty last month to a felony obscenity charge for performing sex acts with two professional dominatrices on the altar of a Pearl River church has been held in contempt of court for giving a television news interview. Former Priest Travis Clark Gets Probation for Threesome on Church Altar Clarks defense attorney, Michael Kennedy, reportedly told the newspaper that active probation serves very little purpose for his client, who almost certainly will not be repeating similar conduct in the future. Just because you dont like something, doesnt make it criminal. Play it now! Clarks lawyer Bradley Phillips said it was rightful not to pursue obscenity charges because the priest and his lovers were having consensual sex in a private place. Clark was pastor of Sts. Published: 16:26 EST, 21 November 2022 | Updated: 16:28 EST, 21 November 2022. By Gina Tron Priest, Dominatrices Have Charges Reduced For Altar Sex Priest who had 3way porn stars on altar won't face obscenity charge The internet is left in uproar after shopper reveals she spent a whopping $50 on a GROCERY BAG from pricey celebrity-loved food store Erewhon, Sun goes down on the Murdaugh dynasty: As Alex is jailed, surviving son Buster is left with modest apartment, $530k inheritance, a law career in tatters after plagiarism incident - and could now face probe over gay teen's death. Travis Clark went . RELATED: Mixed reaction after new altar consecrated following pastors obscenity charges with dominatrices. Some priests said at the time that Clark's seminary nickname was Lurch, a reference to the gloomy butler in television's "The Addams Family." Share The Pillar Louisiana priest arrested for alleged threesome on church altar: report Priest, Dominatrices Have Charges Reduced For Altar Sex, A former Louisiana priest and two dominatrices have been charged with vandalism for. According to court documents, on the night of September 30th, Father Travis Clark and two women could be seen having sex - in the church sanctuary- on the altar. Theyve now penned a letter to Pope Francis asking him to send someone to investigate the archbishop and his records. Former priest, two women formally charged for having sex in Pearl River church, La. French family sues Airbnb after 19-month-old daughter dies from fentanyl overdose while taking a nap at Miami rental - after previous tenants held cocaine-fueled party, Walgreens says it will NOT sell abortion pills in 20 Republican-controlled states - even where it is still legal. Travis John Clark, 37, then pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Mindy Lynn Dixon, 41 . Clark had faced a count of felony institutional vandalism, but it was dropped as part of the plea agreement. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. The case against Clark was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Authement. Former Priest And Two Dominatrixes Charged With Vandalism After Alleged Altar Threesome Travis Jhon Clark allegedly engaged in a threesome with Mindy Lynn Dixon and Melissa Kamon Cheng on top of an altar that has now been burned by the church. The Rev. Travis Clark Accused Of Having Sex On Church Altar Clark had seemingly escaped jail time for the three-way in 2020 that a passerby saw through the window at Sts. Travis Clark, 37, through a church window engaged with two high-heeled, corseted women. Just because you dont like something, doesnt make it criminal. But last week, 22nd Judicial District Attorney Warren Montgomery formally charged the trio on a charge of institutional vandalism. We have and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The plea agreement banned Clark from gaining money or notoriety from the case, and the DA said an interview Clark gave to WDSU-TV following his sentencing broke that pledge. Do not sell or share my personal information. The archdiocese told CNA that the priest had "never before been the subject of any sexual misconduct claims." A representative of the Archdiocese of New Orleans was present and agreed to the sentence. Priest caught making sex tape on altar with 'dominatrix duo' pleads Each one could face up to three years in prison if convicted. We are proceeding to the Vatican to petition for their laicization presenting information from both the criminal and canonical investigations. 'The haters have won': Isaiah Washington - who was fired from Grey's Anatomy for gay slur - announces early retirement from acting in lengthy Twitter rant, 'Don't go into the mountains! Clark had been the pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church Catholic in Pearl River and was arrested in October of 2020 when witnesses saw two women and him having sex on the altar of the church, the release states. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Phillips also lashed the vandalism charge as prurient, saying: Once again, they have overstepped their bounds as this nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to regulate the morality of private individuals. All English Franais. "The Court extensively questioned the defendant to ensure that he had in fact read the plea agreement and understood it," the motion said. The witness also said Clark appeared to be recording the act. A former Catholic priest who pleaded guilty last month to a felony obscenity charge for performing sex acts with two professional dominatrices on the altar of a Pearl River church has been held. Legal Statement. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. Once again, they have overstepped their bounds as this nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to regulate the morality of private individuals. A former Louisiana priest and two dominatrices have been charged with vandalism for allegedly having sex on top of a Louisiana church altar. Instead, after waiting nearly six months, the State has decided to move forward with a lesser charge of institutionalized vandalism. It is clear the State went out of its way to contort the facts of this case in order to fit their own narrative. Harry's chat with guru who compared Hamas terrorists to Jews who battled the Nazis has appalled Rabbis: What DOES Duke know about man who defended anti-Semites, called for ALL drugs to be legal and who will want intimate detail of his upbringing? Clark was caught in the unholy act more than two years ago when a passerby noticed lights on in the Pearl River church - and when he peered in through the window, he was stunned at what he saw. Clark pleaded guilty to felony obscenity on Monday. Dixon reportedly goes by the professional names Satanatrix or Lady Vi, while Cheng is known professionally as Mistress Ming.The church reportedly burned the altar upon which Clark and the women had sex. Louisiana church reconsecrated after 'demonic' desecration, while Additionally, he had recently been named chaplain of Pope John Paul II High School. Fr. Clark was removed from his post with the churchone day after his arrest. (WVUE) - Archbishop Gregory Aymond released a video statement reacting to the arrest of former priest Travis Clark. His obscene behavior was deplorable. Priest who sparked calls for Vatican probe hit with new charges over He received a suspended three-year sentence and will serve three years of supervised probation, FOX8 New. Ex-priest in Louisiana pleads guilty after getting caught having I believe the only way this church and the city is going to survive is get someone from the outside to come in and start from the beginning and when that does happen SNAP will be there to support whatever archbishop is replaced, Bourgeois said. A witness in Pearl River, northeast of New Orleans, called police on Sept. 30 after allegedly viewing Rev. Obscenity charges against a former priest and two professional dominatrices have been dropped, . Travis Clark: Ex-priest pleads guilty to obscenity after threesome with My clients look forward to their day in court as we continue to fight this baseless allegation.. Oregon man arrested in cold case murder of estranged wife more than 30 years after she was strangled to death, College Park mayor faces more than 50 counts of possessing and distributing child pornography. The two women, Mindy Dixon and Melissa Cheng, were later identified as dominatrices; Dixon had reportedly written on social media shortly before the encounter that she and another dominatrix were on their way to defile a house of God. They each pleaded guilty in July to a misdemeanor count of institutional vandalism and got two years of supervised probation. 'I plead guilty your honor,' Clark said on Monday. The archdioceses had no comment on the request for a Vatican investigation. Court documents show police arrested him and two other women: Mindy Dixon and Melissa Cheng. The defense also said that Clarkhas been diagnosed with autism and did not knowingly enter into an agreement to waive his constitutional right to free speech. Travis Clark, a former priest at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pearl River, Louisiana (St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office ) A former Catholic priest accused of performing. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Travis Clark, 37, instead faces a charge of felony vandalism over the September 2020 incident at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in New Orleans. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is closely tallying the number of deviant priests and their actions. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Who is Reverend Travis Clark and why was he arrested? As Alex is jailed for horrific executions of his wife and son rumors abound in the sleepy South Carolina town of Walterboro - and locals say 'most people don't believe he is the killer', Woman, 31, who had sex with 13-year-old boy and then became pregnant with his child will serve NO jail time in plea deal, 'Are y'all OK in LA?!' A former priest plead guilty to an obscenity charge after he was filmed having a threesome with two dominatrices on the altar of a Louisiana church. The altar was replaced by the church. SNAP calls for Vatican investigation after alleged orgy on church altar, La. The St. Tammany Parish courthouse in Covington. The Archdiocese of New Orleans removed him the day after his arrest. A former Catholic priest who pleaded guilty to obscenity on the altar was jailed after doing a television interview with WDSU. He was ordained in 2013 and had been working at the church since 2019.. There was a problem saving your notification. Travis Jhon Clark, 37, then-pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church was arrested, as well as two out of state women: Mindy Lynn Dixon, 41, of Kent, Washington and Melissa Kamon Cheng, 28, of Alpharetta, Georgia. According to . Clark, dressed in a dark suit, appeared before District Judge Ellen Creel to enter his plea, accompanied by his attorney Kevin McNary. Clark has paid restitution in the amount of $8,000.. Travis Clark, 39, appeared at the Covington courthouse on Monday in front of Judge Ellen Creel and pleaded guilty. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Mindy Dixon, 43, (left) and Melissa Cheng, 25, (right), along with Clark, were initially charged with obscenity following the alleged threesome at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Pearl river, September 2020, A passerby noticed the lights in the Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church (pictured). This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. What upsets me is, why did he have to do that there?," she told WWLTV. The two were sentenced to two years of probation. Clark, 37, remains free on $25,000 bond, and Cheng and Dixon both remain free on $7,500 bond. Though Aymond says Clark was removed from ministry, his name still appears on the churchs billboard. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, Attorney Bradley Phillips, who represents both Dixon and Cheng, told, on Friday that the district attorneys office "has rightfully chosen to not pursue obscenity charges against my clients. Stripped of his holy vestments and slobbing around barefoot in his pajamas, this is the shamed Louisiana priest caught romping on his church altar with two dominatrices.. Rev. Professional dominatrix duo Lady Vi and Empress Ming Louisiana Catholic priest, 37, is arrested for recording Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. Ex-Priest Travis Clark Gets Probation In Church Threesome | Crime News Dixon and Clark were both sentenced to serve two years of probation. Clark was caught having sex on the alter with two women, Cheng and Dixon (pictured in their mugshots) were also arrested and sentenced to two years of probation. Travis Clark is pictured in his mugshot. 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SNAP leader, Kevin Bourgeois says with such a cluster of sexual abuse and obscenity in the ranks of the priesthood, he fears for other possible sexual abuse, and the lack of judgment he says starts at the top. Sex toys and stage lights were recovered at the scene by police, along with recording devices, according to court documents. Travis Clark, Mindy Dixon, Melissa Cheng Charged With Vandalism After Travis Clark, 39, a former Catholic priest in Louisiana, pleaded guilty on Monday to an obscenity charge after he was caught having a threesomeon the altar of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in 2020, The altar of Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church during a regularly scheduled Mass. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. On Monday, Nov. 21, Travis Clark pleaded guilty before District Judge Ellen Creel, according to the Warren Montgomery District Attorney's Office. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us atwebnews@metro.co.uk, For more stories like this,check our news page, Get your need-to-know All three were arrested and booked with obscenity. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! NEW ORLEANS, La. Clark was ordained a priest in 2013 and became pastor of St. Peter and Paul last year. Both women told officers who arrived at the scene that they were filming 'roleplay' with Clark. Upon arriving at the house of worship, police reportedly seized multiple sex toys and staging lights, as well as a camera mounted on a tripod that was used to film the encounter. Obscene acts occurred on the altar, which is clearly visible from the street," police said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Travis Clark, the disgraced priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, pled guilty Monday to a felony count of obscenity for his actions in . Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Hoerner could not be reached Friday for comment. He saidthat the incident was legal because it didnt occur in public. Jerry Lambe is a journalist at Law&Crime. ': Sheriff's warning to Californians after 17 feet of snow blankets San Bernardino Mountains where residents have been trapped for TEN DAYS, Biden gives hero Vietnam veteran the Medal of Honor after waiting 60 years because the Army lost his paperwork: Army Special Forces Colonel Paris Davis risked his life multiple times in 1965 ambush, Alex Murdaugh's head is shaved as he is booked into South Carolina prison fortress for weeks of evaluation before being sent to a maximum security facility housing the 'worst of the worst', ASHLEIGH BANFIELD: A digital star witness brought down lying, family-killing father Alex Murdaugh and it was his murdered son's cellphone. Archbishop of New Orleans Gregory Aymond told WWL-TV that Clarks acts were deplorable., His desecration of the altar in Church was demonic, he said. Travis Jhon Clark, 39, pleaded guilty to felony obscenity charges before a district judge in New Orleans, prosecutors announced on Wednesday. The only thing I was surprised about is that Travis Clark was laicized and is no longer a priest. Clark, Cheng and Dixon were all released from jail after posting bond shortly after their arrests. Travis Clark, 37, through a church window engaged with two high-heeled, corseted women. Court documents show police arrested him and two other women . Peter and Paul Catholic Church has a dark tint covering the glass located at 66192 St Mary Dr. in Pearl River, La. (WVUE) - Archbishop Gregory Aymond released a video statement reacting to the arrest of former priest Travis Clark. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. woman accused of using aunts debit card for 136 DoorDash orders held on preset $18 million bond, Juvenile injured after homemade pipe bomb detonated, police say, Mixed reaction after new altar consecrated following pastors obscenity charges with dominatrices.