A Louisiana pastor convicted of child abuse for covering children’s mouths with duct tape was a victim of the “woke” case and cancel culture, his lawyers argued.
Pastor John Raymond, 62, a former contestant on the reality show Survivor, was the senior minister of New Horizon Church in Slidell and the founder and director of Lakeside Christian Academy.
He was found guilty Monday of juvenile cruelty for taping the mouths of three 13-year-old students to punish them at the academy, among other crimes.
But in his closing arguments, his defense attorney Joseph Long said Raymond was simply a victim of cancel culture.
In response, Northshore District Attorney Collin Sims said it was the first time the office had been accused of being woke in court.
‘It is not a waking state. “Dude, that’s my son and I didn’t tell you you could do that,” Sims told the jury. NOLA.com reported.
Former Survivor contestant Pastor John Raymond, 62, who was convicted of juvenile cruelty for taping children’s mouths shut at a Christian school he founded in Slidell, Louisiana, said his actions aligned with the Bible. and that he was a victim of cancel culture.
Raymond participated in the fifth season of Survivor, set in Thailand in 2002.
Raymond has stated that his actions were justified by the teachings of the Bible.
It was originally handed over in April 2022 after police received numerous complaints about abusive behavior at the academy.
“On March 18, several students were expelled from a class due to excessive talking,” the police statement said.
‘John Raymond became angry and took the students to his office. At some point, Raymond took a roll of packing tape and sealed the students’ mouths by wrapping it around their heads.
After taping their mouths, Raymond had the students sit at the back of class for about 45 minutes until another teacher felt uncomfortable and removed the tape.
John Raymond with his wife Elizabeth posing in front of the Louisiana Seal
During his appearance on Survivor, Raymond was the first contestant to be kicked off the island.
The victims described difficulties breathing and the painful process of removing the tape.
In another incident, Raymond covered the mouth and nose of a four-year-old preschool student during a tantrum, preventing him from breathing.
Officials stated that he suffocated the child to the point that he was “lame” and only stopped when a staff member intervened.
The employee reportedly told detectives that the boy had mucus coming out of his nose, couldn’t stand up, and seemed “out of it and lethargic.”
He will be sentenced on October 23 and his bail is set at $100,000.
The disgraced pastor is an elected member of the Republican Parish Executive Committee and currently serves on the Republican State Central Committee. He is likely to be removed from office.
Another act of cruelty occurred when Raymond spanked the buttocks of a four-year-old boy after dragging him along the ground “by the ankles.”
The disgraced pastor is an elected member of the Republican Parish Executive Committee and currently serves on the Republican State Central Committee, according to NOLA.com.
He is likely to be removed from office.
Raymond participated in the fifth season of Survivor, set in Thailand in 2002. He was the first contestant expelled from the island.
He will be sentenced on October 23 and his bond is set at $100,000.
