UPDATED::Jury selection for former priest continues Tuesday - KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana

UPDATE::  Ex-priest Mark Broussard to spend life in prison

Ex-priest Mark Broussard has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison.

In the words of Judge David Ritchie, Broussard's punishment comes 30 years late.

The ex-priest convicted of raping and molesting young altar boys is sentenced to two consecutive life sentences on two counts of aggravated rape with 50 years added on for other sexual abuse charges.

First Assistant D.A. Cynthia Killingsworth said part of what made the case so heinous was the level of trust that was betrayed.

"People would just let their kids go over there and let them stay there and certainly had no problem with it; in fact, the moms, whoever were the single moms in this case, were very glad he was mentoring their children," said Killingsworth.
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In sentencing, Ritchie told Broussard he "had no right to use children as his sex toys," and said that what he did was "pure, pure evil."

Ritchie also expressed disgust with Broussard's refusal to accept responsibility for what he's done in blaming anyone but himself.

"He said it was the child's fault - this child came on to him - basically, for the first event that I know of for sure," Ritchie said.

See also:: Former La. priest sentenced to 250 years in prison

UPDATE::   Former priest found guilty of rape, molestation, sexual battery 

Former priest Mark Broussard was found guilty of two counts aggravated rape, one count molestation of a juvenile, one count aggravated oral sexual battery and one count oral sexual battery.

The jury in his Calcasieu Parish case handed up the verdict shortly before 3 p.m. Friday afternoon.

Broussard will be sentenced on March 11. Following the reading of the verdict, 14th Judicial District Judge David Ritchie ordered Broussard be held in prison pending sentencing.

Broussard faces a life sentence for each count of aggravated rape.

Detective Katherine LeBlanc investigated the case for the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office.

First Assistant District Attorney Cynthia Killingsworth prosecuted the case for the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office with the help of Assistant District Attorney Jacob Johnson.

UPDATE::  Former priest Mark Broussard on trial - Day 1

A jury in a former priest's sex abuse trial heard graphic testimony Monday from a man who said he was sexually assaulted by Mark Broussard.

The witness's testimony portrayed Broussard as a predator who groomed the boy for sexual activity, eventually accelerating to rape.

Mark Anthony Broussard is charged with molestation of a juvenile, oral sexual battery, aggravated oral sexual battery and two counts of aggravated rape. The allegations revolve around Broussard's time as a priest at Our Lady Queen of Heaven and St. Henry Catholic Church, from 1986-91. The charges against Broussard are based on allegations of two men who were altar boys. Broussard, who is free on $1.5 million bond, was initially indicted on 224 counts of sexual abuse, but the charges were reduced to five, which reflect the entirety of the accusations.
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Defense attorney Tom Lorenzi attempted to attack the victim's credibility, asking questions that suggested money might have been the motive.

Though the victim received $125,000 from the diocese in 2012, he said the money was not the motive for coming forward - plus there's no money to be gained from a criminal trial.

The man said he thought about keeping the allegations to himself, but ultimately told the secret to protect other children.

He said he considered killing Broussard, but never confronted him.

"I have no motive to lie; it's the truth," he said. "It's time Mark Broussard face the truth about the sexual acts he committed" against me.

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It could take a week to seat a jury in the case of a former priest facing child sex charges.

Jury selection began Monday in the trial of Mark Broussard. He was first arrested in March of 2012 after one alleged victim approached authorities claiming he was abused 25 years earlier by Broussard. He was rearrested twice more the same year on additional charges.

At one point, Broussard faced more than 200 criminal charges. But that number has been reduced to five.

Jury selection for former priest continues Tuesday - KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana