AMITE, La. – Former Hosanna Church pastor Louis D. Lamonica told a parish jury that he falsely confessed to child rape because he thought it would be the only way to get his wife and children back.
The 49-year-old man, of Hammond, is on trial in Amite on four counts of aggravated rape of his sons when they were age 11 or younger. Seven church members were indicted in 2005 on charges of molesting children. Lamonica is the second among them to go on trial.
Lamonica's attorney, Michael Thiel, maintained in questioning his client Friday that Lamonica falsely confessed to child rape because he was being controlled by a woman who claimed to be a prophet of God.
The trial is in recess until Wednesday morning, when the courthouse is expected to reopen after the Hurricane Gustav emergency.
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