A witness in Pearl River, northeast of New Orleans, called police on Sept. 30 after allegedly viewing Rev. or redistributed. When police responded to the scene, they looked at the footage and arrested the trio. Both women told officers who arrived at the scene that they were filming 'roleplay' with Clark. In addition to the suspended sentence and probation, Judge Creel also ordered Clark to pay a fine of $1,000. Travis John Clark, 37, then pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Mindy Lynn Dixon, 41 . The St. Tammany Parish courthouse in Covington. A representative of the Archdiocese of New Orleans was present and agreed to the sentence. 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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Investigators reportedly determined that the sexual activity between the three adults was entirely consensual, but they took the trio into custody on obscenity charges because the acts took place in view of the public. The witness also said Clark appeared to be recording the act. All three were arrested and booked with obscenity. Just because you dont like something, doesnt make it criminal. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Copyright 2021 WVUE. "Defendant Clark was not seeking pecuniary gain or fame in any form. 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. The archdiocese told CNA that the priest had "never before been the subject of any sexual misconduct claims." Court documents show police arrested him and two other women . Click Here to report it. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. Legal Statement. Market data provided by Factset. "The defendant made a brief appearance on a television where he apologized and asked for forgiveness," the filing said. countries. Phillips has not immediately responded to Oxygen.coms request for comment. Additionally, he had recently been named chaplain of Pope John Paul II High School. Reverend Travis Clark, 37, worked as a priest at Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Pearl River, Louisiana. For other inquiries, Contact Us. Police alleged the obscene acts "occurred on the altar, which is clearly visible from the street," according to court records obtained by the outlet. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. PEARL RIVER, La. Oh - how these liberal minds work! Dixon, an adult film actor, and Cheng were allegedly wearing high heels and corsets as Clark handled sex toys. Travis Clark, the disgraced priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, pled guilty Monday to a felony count of obscenity for his actions in . Headteacher sacked 'after sending parents a list of striking teachers' as school launches probe, Isle of Innisfree ferry: Blaze breaks out on boat carrying 183 people in English Channel as lifeboats scramble to scene. The two were sentenced to two years of probation. In this situation its an incredibly specific set of facts and conditions that seem very unlikely to ever happen again, Kennedy reportedly told the Advocate, suggesting that Dixon and Cheng were far more likely to find themselves in similarly hot water. Travis Clark, 39, entered the plea as part of an agreement with prosecutors on Monday. Dixon and Cheng were recording themselves performing sex acts on Clark using a phone and camera on a tripod, Nola.com reported. Dixon and Clark earlier this year both entered into deals with prosecutors, in which they agreed to plead guilty to one count each of institutional vandalism, a misdemeanor. 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 . NEW ORLEANS, La. His desecration of the altar in church was demonic. Travis Clark and two dominatrices, Melissa Cheng, center, and Mindy Dixon, right, were charged with vandalism following an alleged altar threesome at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in 2020. Rev. We are proceeding to the Vatican to petition for their laicization presenting information from both the criminal and canonical investigations. The only way we can know is if an investigator comes in and goes through his archives, Bourgeois said. 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. NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - The St. Tammany Parish District Attorney's Office has charged a former priest and two women with vandalizing a Pearl River Church last Fall. 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. 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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. There was a problem saving your notification. The three have now face one count of institutional vandalism each. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. He received a suspended three-year sentence and will serve three years of supervised probation, FOX8 New Orleans reported. The St. Tammany Parish Justice Center in Covington. The only thing I was surprised about is that Travis Clark was laicized and is no longer a priest. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! A. The comments below have not been moderated. Travis Clark, 37 . Travis Clark is pictured in his mugshot. Once again, they have overstepped their bounds as this nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to regulate the morality of private individuals. Clark had faced a count of felony institutional vandalism, but it was dropped as part of the plea agreement. She executed antique engine buff friend to forge a will and inherit his house. Travis Clark, a former priest who was arrested last October after a passerby allegedly saw him having sex with two corset-clad women on the altar of a Pearl River Catholic church pleaded not guiltyMonday to a charge of institutional vandalism, a felony. 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. You have permission to edit this article. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. You have permission to edit this article. Travis John Clark, 39, pled guilty Monday in connection with the incident at a church last fall. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. When the three were arrested, they were booked with obscenity. A personwas 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, Nola.com reported last year. Reverend Travis Clark, 37, worked as a priest at Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Pearl River, Louisiana. The witness saw the priest was stripped down on the altar and engaging in sex acts with the corseted women in high-heeled boots, according to prosecutors. Travis Clark, 37, through a church window engaged with two high-heeled, corseted women. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Beginning Monday morning at 9:00 A.M. is the trial of the former priest who was caught making a pornographic video on the altar. 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. After glimpsing inside, the witness saw Clark, partly naked, in the middle of a threesome on the church altar with two women in corsets. Copyright 2020 WVUE. Police were called, and removed plastic sex toys as well as stage lights from the scene. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. A lawyer for the two dominatrices said that they had been hired for 'role-play' and were performing consensual acts when they were arrested on the night of September 30, 2020. One witness said they saw the priest stripped down on the alter. A preliminary hearing is set for May 18, and his trial date is May 24. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ST. TAMMANY PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE, Former priest accused of altar sex in Pearl River church pleads not guilty to vandalism, Priest recorded having group sex on altar of Pearl River church, police say; 3 arrested, Obscenity charge filed against former priest, dominatrices for alleged Pearl River altar tryst. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Just because you dont like something, doesnt make it criminal. Archbishop Gregory Aymond accused Clark of being unfaithful to his vocation and violating his commitment to celibacy and also he was using that which was holy to do demonic things.. (Google Maps). 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. The two other defendants in the case, Mindy Dixon and Melissa Cheng, each pleaded guilty in July to a single count of misdemeanor institutional vandalism. Police soon arrived and discovered sex toys and a tripod-mounted camera that had apparently been filming the steamy scene. The trio appeared to be filming themselves. 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. Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. Rev. 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. Clark had also been charged with one count of institutional vandalism, but prosecutors agreed to drop the charge as part of his plea agreement, per the Advocate. There was a problem saving your notification. The original obscenity charge was filed after prosecutors alleged the three were having sex in a place open to the public view.. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Travis Clark was sentenced to three years of supervised probation after his plea in Louisianas 22nd Judicial District Court on Monday. Clark, dressed in a dark suit, appeared before District Judge Ellen Creel to enter his plea, accompanied by his attorney Kevin McNary. 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. All rights reserved. Obscenity charges against a former priest and two professional dominatrices have been dropped, . All rights reserved. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Travis Clark, 37, through a church window engaged with two high-heeled, corseted women. 22nd Judicial District Judge Ellen Creel gave Clark a three-year suspended sentence with supervised probation. REVEREND Travis Clark was arrested for filming himself having sex with two dominatrices inside a church on September 30. He is a graduate of Georgetown University and New York Law School and previously worked in financial securities compliance and Civil Rights employment law. The women he was with, Mindy Dixon, 41, and Melissa Cheng, 28, face the same charge. Peter & Paul Catholic Church, Reverend Travis Clark was ordained in 2013, Mindy Dixon was arrested and booked for obscenity charges, Melissa Cheng was allegedly also involved in the illegal act, Clark was suspended from the ministry after getting arrested. 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.. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. Travis Clark, a former priest who was arrested last October after a passerby allegedly saw him having sex with two corset-clad women on the altar of a Pearl River Catholic church pleaded. Just because you dont like something, doesnt make it criminal. Travis Clark, Melissa Cheng and Mindy Dixon, Photo: Who is Reverend Travis Clark and why was he arrested? Wattigny also pleaded not guilty on Monday. (WVUE) - Archbishop Gregory Aymond released a video statement reacting to the arrest of former priest Travis Clark. The altar was later replaced by the church following what the archbishop called demonic desecration. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Have a tip or story idea? I am infuriated by his actions. 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. This service is provided on News Group Newspapers' Limited's Standard Terms and Conditions in accordance with our Privacy & Cookie Policy. 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. Theyve now penned a letter to Pope Francis asking him to send someone to investigate the archbishop and his records. A witness in Pearl River, northeast of New Orleans, called police on Sept. 30 after allegedly viewing Rev. Travis John Clark, 39, was accused of engaging in lewd sexual acts . A Catholic priest who was caught having sex with two dominatrices on the altar of his Louisiana church has pleaded guilty to felony obscenity, according to local reports. Clark was pastor of Sts. 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. Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. But last week, 22nd Judicial District Attorney Warren Montgomery formally charged the trio on a charge of institutional vandalism. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. We have and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement. Legal Statement. Clark, Cheng and Dixon were all released from jail after posting bond shortly after their arrests. The case against Clark was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Authement. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. All three were then arrested on obscenity charges because they were in view of the public. He received a suspended three-year sentence and will serve three years of supervised probation, FOX8 New. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 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. "Once again, they have overstepped their bounds as this nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to regulate the morality of private individuals. Why there?, News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. "The Court extensively questioned the defendant to ensure that he had in fact read the plea agreement and understood it," the motion said. All English Franais. 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. He now stands accused of knowingly vandalizing, defacing or otherwise damaging property and causing damage valued between $500 and $50,000.. The witnesses reportedly told authorities that they saw a nearly naked Clark having sexual intercourse with the two women, both of whom were dressed in leather corsets. Clark was axed from his job by the Archdiocese of New Orleans after the scandal emerged, and has yet to comment on the threesome. CHILLING UPDATE. ", Phillips has not immediately responded to. Clark was caught in the act at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pearl River on Sept. 30, 2020, when a passerby saw him through a window engaged with two high-heeled, corseted women. 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. FLASHBACK: LOUISIANA PRIEST ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED THREESOME ON CHURCH ALTAR, Clark pleaded guilty to felony obscenity on Monday. Travis Clark, 37, was a pastor at Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church when he allegedly had sex with two women, identified as Mindy Dixon, 41, and Melissa Cheng, 28, on the churchs altar. SNAP calls for Vatican investigation after alleged orgy on church altar, La. How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? Now her new home is prison. Constance Marten seen leaving court after appearing before magistrates charged with manslaughter of baby, Constance Marten and Mark Gordon blow each other a kiss in dock before court hears dead baby was found in bag in shed, Mum identified after dead baby is found on Canford Heath, filming himself having sex with two dominatrices, Mindy Dixon, 41, and Melissa Cheng, 23, allegedly having sex with Clark, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). '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! Professional dominatrix duo Lady Vi and Empress Ming Louisiana Catholic priest, 37, is arrested for recording Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. [Images St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office], Have a tip we should know? A former Catholic priest caught engaging in a sex romp with a pair of dominatrices on a church altar in 2020 has pleaded guilty to felony obscenity charges. 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. 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. interface language. 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. A former Catholic priest who pleaded guilty to obscenity on the altar was jailed after doing a television interview with WDSU. The onlooker began recording a video of the group and called Pearl River Police, who later arrested the Rev. When the details became clear, we had the altar removed and burned.. 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. Clark has paid restitution in the amount of $8,000.. Travis Clark, 37, instead faces a charge of felony vandalism over the. ", 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.". What upsets me is, why did he have to do that there?," she told WWLTV. The two identify as dominatrices on their social media pages. Travis Jhon Clark 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 trio was caught on the alter inside St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pearl River with a stage light, sex toys and a cell phone on the tripod. Travis Jhon Clark, 39, pleaded guilty to felony obscenity charges before a district judge in New Orleans, prosecutors announced on Wednesday. By Gina Tron Priest, Dominatrices Have Charges Reduced For Altar Sex Dixon and Cheng told police at the time of the arrest that they were role-playing and recording the consensual acts. It was possible for the onlooker to peek inside the church through the windows and glass doors. Fr. Dixon and Clark were both sentenced to serve two years of probation. Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 22, 2022 / 15:40 pm. The altar that Clark and the women had sex on was subsequently removed and burned, with a new plinth since consecrated. While condemning Clarks alleged sexual exploits, Aymond asked the congregation not to judge the church or priesthood as a whole by Clarks actions. Dixon and Cheng were also arrested in September 2020 and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in July. Sex toys and stage lights were recovered at the scene by police, along with recording devices, according to court documents. Sts. 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. "Instead, after waiting nearly six months, the state has decided to move forward with a lesser charge of 'institutionalized vandalism.' Its unclear if Clark has an attorney. Dixon had bragged about her plans with Clark the day before traveling to New Orleans, writing on social media that she planned to 'defile a house of God' with another dominatrix. The fine Clark is responsible for paying comes in addition to the restitution he already paid to the church. According to a press release from the Washington and St. Tammany Parishes District Attorneys Office, the sentence range for Clarks crime was between six months to three years behind bars. All three have been charged with one count of institutional vandalism. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Each one could face up to three years in prison if convicted. Travis Clark was sentenced to. About a week after the crime in 2020, the Archbishop of New Orleans consecrated a new altar at the church after its predecessor was burned following Clark's 'demonic' behavior. "Im upset for all of us, the parishioners of the church.
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