A former Louisiana pastor and two dominatrices were charged with institutional vandalism after the trio was caught having sex atop a church altar in September last year.
37-year-old Travis Clark, along with 41-year-old Mindy Dixon and 28-year-old Melissa Cheng, were initially charged with obscenity before District Attorney Warren Montgomery formally charged them with a felony.
The unholy trinity may face up to two years in prison and a fine of not more than $1,000 if the court finds them guilty.
Clark was released on a $25,000 bond while Cheng and Dixon were released on a $7,500 bond.
At the time of their arrest, the two dominatrices told cops that they were at the church to film a “roleplay,” and that it was consensual.
Attorney Bradley Phillips, who represents Dixon and Cheng, argued that the prosecutors “overstepped their bounds” by bringing charges against them.
“It is clear the state went out of its way to contort the facts of this case in order to fit their own narrative,” said Phillips.
“This [is] nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt to regulate the morality of private individuals.”
“Just because you don’t like something, doesn’t make it criminal. My clients look forward to their day in court as we continue to fight this baseless allegation,” he added.
Clark, along with his attorney Kevin McNary, appeared before District Judge Ellen Creel and pleaded not guilty.
The preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 18, while the trial date is set for May 24.
Clark, who was a former pastor for Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pearl River, has since been removed the day he was arrested.
Archbishop Gregory Aymond, who had Clark removed, said the Archdiocese of New Orleans would fully cooperate with law enforcement and will petition the Vatican for Clark’s laicization.
The altar where the despicable act occurred had been burned and replaced.