The three have now face one count of institutional vandalism each. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. While condemning Clarks alleged sexual exploits, Aymond asked the congregation not to judge the church or priesthood as a whole by Clarks actions. Travis John Clark, 37, then pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Mindy Lynn Dixon, 41 . My clients look forward to their day in court as we continue to fight this baseless allegation.. 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, 37, remains free on $25,000 bond, and Cheng and Dixon both remain free on $7,500 bond. The church's former leader, 37-year-old Travis Clark was arrested Oct. 1 on an obscenity charge after reportedly being caught having sex with two women inside the church Sept. 30. 22nd Judicial District Judge Ellen Creel gave Clark a three-year suspended sentence with supervised probation. Oh - how these liberal minds work! Have a tip or story idea? He was ordained in 2013 and had been working at the church since 2019. . Legal Statement. ", 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.". All rights reserved. Travis Clark was sentenced to three years of supervised probation after his plea in Louisianas 22nd Judicial District Court on Monday. 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. The now former Rev. He was also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine. A preliminary hearing is set for May 18, and his trial date is May 24. An unidentified witness reportedly saw Mindy Dixon, 41, and Melissa Cheng, 23, allegedly having sex with Clark - who was half naked. While the three wereoriginally charged with obscenity countslast fall, on Friday the St. Tammany Parish District Attorneys Office announced those charges had been reduced. The two identify as dominatrices on their social media pages. 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. Court documents show police arrested him and two other women: Mindy Dixon and Melissa Cheng. 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. See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Dixon, an adult film actor, and Cheng were allegedly wearing high heels and corsets as Clark handled sex toys. 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. A former Catholic priest who pleaded guilty to obscenity on the altar was jailed after doing a television interview with WDSU. Travis Clark, 37, through a church window engaged with two high-heeled, corseted women. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate), Roman Catholic Archbishop Gregory Aymond, pictured entering the Presbytere in New Orleans after celebrating Easter Mass at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans on April 12, traveled Saturday to Saints Peter and Paul Church in Pearl River to consecrate a new altar during vigil Mass. As for Clarks future in the courtroom, Fox 8 legal analyst, Joe Raspanti says its a pretty straightforward case, especially if supposed video evidence is brought to a St. Tammany jury. The now former Rev. 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. 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. NEW ORLEANS, La. The Archdiocese of New Orleans released a statement saying. When the three were arrested, they were booked with obscenity. 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. 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 sentenced to three years in prison, but Creel decided to suspend his time in jail and instead punished him with three years of probation and a $1,000 fine. Police were called, and removed plastic sex toys as well as stage lights from the scene. All three were arrested and booked with obscenity. 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. His obscene behavior was deplorable. Priest, Dominatrices Have Charges Reduced For Altar Sex, A former Louisiana priest and two dominatrices have been charged with vandalism for. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Reverend Travis Clark, 37, worked as a priest at Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Pearl River, Louisiana. (St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office). Millions of men out of work and lonely. In addition, "stage lights were set up, and they were using a cellphone and camera, both mounted on a tripod" to record themselves, according to WWLTV. My clients look forward to their day in court as we continue to fight this baseless allegation.. Travis John Clark, 39, pled guilty Monday in connection with the incident at a church last fall. Rev. Travis Clark, the disgraced priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, pled guilty Monday to a felony count of obscenity for his actions in . 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. My clients look forward to their day in court as we continue to fight this baseless allegation.". Dixon and Cheng told police at the time of the arrest that they were role-playing and recording the consensual acts. (Photo by David Grunfeld, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate), The front door Sts. Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 22, 2022 / 15:40 pm. "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. Fr. He received a suspended three-year sentence and will serve three years of supervised probation, FOX8 New Orleans reported. Dixon and Cheng told police at the time of the arrest that they were role-playing and recording the consensual acts. Professional dominatrix duo Lady Vi and Empress Ming Louisiana Catholic priest, 37, is arrested for recording Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The original obscenity charge was filed after prosecutors alleged the three were having sex in a place open to the public view.. What upsets me is, why did he have to do that there?," she told WWLTV. He saidthat the incident was legal because it didnt occur in public. Market data provided by Factset. [emailprotected]. The witness also said Clark appeared to be recording the act. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, The threesome allegedly engaged in intercourse inside Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church where the Reverend worked, Credit: Sts. interface language. How long have Keir Starmer and Sue Gray been secretly cooking up their plot? The two insist that they were innocent because all parties were adults and the incident took place behind closed doors on private property. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. SNAP calls for Vatican investigation after alleged orgy on church altar, La. He has paid restitution to the Archdiocese of New Orleans, which destroyed the altar. Dixon and Cheng were also arrested in September 2020 and pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor in July. "The defendant made a brief appearance on a television where he apologized and asked for forgiveness," the filing said. Clark had faced a count of felony institutional vandalism, but it was dropped as part of the plea agreement. "Instead, after waiting nearly six months, the state has decided to move forward with a lesser charge of 'institutionalized vandalism.' 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. FLASHBACK: LOUISIANA PRIEST ARRESTED FOR ALLEGED THREESOME ON CHURCH ALTAR, Clark pleaded guilty to felony obscenity on Monday. When the details became clear, we had the altar removed and burned.. Former NFL star gets jail time after horror video showed ex being attacked. Travis John Clark, 39, was accused of engaging in lewd sexual acts . Sts. 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. The women he was with, Mindy Dixon, 41, and Melissa Cheng, 28, face the same charge. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Clark was arrested after filming himself having sex with two dominatrices inside the church on September 30. The case against Clark was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Authement. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. 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. 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.. 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. There was a problem saving your notification. The Archbishop continued by reiterating the church is a holy place, and said that when it is used for unholy things and has been desecrated, we must drive away the evil spirit, That is what we do today.. 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. As part of their plea deals, both dominatrices reportedly agreed to testify against Clark if his case ever went to trial. PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY, Convicted of obscenity, former St. Tammany priest jailed after giving TV interview, The priest was jailed for contempt of court. 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. Travis Clark was sentenced to. To see all content on The Sun, please use the Site Map. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. The St. Tammany Parish Justice Center in Covington. 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 . Keep up with the latest St. Tammany Parish news by signing up for our weekly newsletter, the North Shore Report, at nola.com/northshorereport. 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. Once again, they have overstepped their bounds as this nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to regulate the morality of private individuals. The altar was replaced by the church. All three were then arrested on obscenity charges because they were in view of the public. The two were sentenced to two years of probation. PEARL RIVER, LOUISIANA: A disgraced former priest at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pearl River, Travis Clark, 39, of Lousiana has pleaded guilty to one count of a felony of having a threesome with two dominatrices on the church's altar in 2020.Travis was arrested when one night on September 30, 2020, a witness noticed lights on inside the church, and on "peering through the window . 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. View our online Press Pack. Obscenity charges against a former priest and two professional dominatrices have been dropped, . Phillips has not immediately responded to Oxygen.coms request for comment. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Fox News Flash top headlines for November 22. Travis Clark, 37; Mindy Dixon, 41; and Melissa Cheng, 23, for obscene acts. Travis Clark, 37, instead faces a charge of felony vandalism over the. 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. By Gina Tron Priest, Dominatrices Have Charges Reduced For Altar Sex 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. 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 was ordained in 2013 and had been working at the church since 2019. Police soon arrived and discovered sex toys and a tripod-mounted camera that had apparently been filming the steamy scene. The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests is closely tallying the number of deviant priests and their actions. Rev. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Clark was ordained a priest in 2013. 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. Clark was suspended from the ministry just one day after this arrest. The Sun website is regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. According to . Click Here to report it. An attorney for the women also issued a statement: The District Attorney has rightfully chosen to not pursue obscenity charges against my clients. Clark pleaded guilty to felony obscenity on Monday. Or to keep it anonymous, click here. [Images St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office], Have a tip we should know? Though Aymond says Clark was removed from ministry, his name still appears on the churchs billboard. I am infuriated by his actions. 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. Obscene acts occurred on the altar, which is clearly visible from the street," police said. 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. (St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office). Travis Clark, 39, entered the plea as part of an agreement with prosecutors on Monday. 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. PEARL RIVER, La. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Kellyanne Conway and husband George SPLIT after 22 years following admission in her 2022 memoir that her husband's criticism of Trump was a betrayal, Where IS Gavin? The archdioceses had no comment on the request for a Vatican investigation. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Wattigny also pleaded not guilty on Monday. Reverend Travis Clark, 37, worked as a priest at Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church in Pearl River, Louisiana. When police responded to the scene, they looked at the footage and arrested the trio. 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. Dixon and Clark were both sentenced to serve two years of probation. I will consecrate a new altar tomorrow, Aymond said. latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more, Coronation Street spoilers: Horrifying scenes as Aaron rapes unconscious Amy with a shocking denial ahead, Joe Biden had a cancerous lesion removed from his chest, New mum Kelly Osbourne shares first photo of baby son Sidney as he hangs out with fun uncle Jack, Mikel Arteta explains why he didnt speak to William Saliba for first week of Arsenals pre-season tour, Russias pincers are getting tighter around Bakhmut, says Wagner chief, Do not sell or share my personal information. Travis Clark, Melissa Cheng and Mindy Dixon, Photo: It's unclear if the video was ever released, but Clark is set to appear back in court on January 20 to ensure the trio will never gain profit from the act, according to NOLA.com. Its unclear if Clark has an attorney. Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. 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. But District Attorney Warren Montgomery filed a motion this month asking the court to revoke Clark's probation and send him to jail for the full term for an alleged violation of his plea agreement. His desecration of the altar in church was demonic. Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. Clark, who was a pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Roman Catholic Church . Travis Clark, 37 . Clark was axed from his job by the Archdiocese of New Orleans after the scandal emerged, and has yet to comment on the threesome. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pearl River when the arrest took place.