John Raymond, a pastor, is on trial for taping students’ mouths [Video]

DAY IN COURT ON CHILD CRUELTY CHARGES. HE’S ACCUSED OF TAPING FIVE CHILDREN’S MOUTHS AS A FORM OF CLASSROOM DISCIPLINE. WDSU NORTH SHORE REPORTER SHAWANDA JONES JOINS US FROM COVINGTON WITH THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS. AND YOU WERE IN COURT TODAY. SHAWANDA WHAT HAPPENED? YEAH. GINA AND I WAS IN COURT TODAY. COURT JUST LET OUT AROUND 5 P.M. AND IS REALLY A TOUGH SCENE. THE PASTOR AND EDUCATOR, JOHN RAYMOND IS ON TRIAL. OPENING STATEMENTS BEGAN TODAY, TWO YEARS AFTER CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN WERE BROUGHT BEFORE HIM. NOW, THE NEW HORIZONS CHURCH PASTOR IS LOOKING AT THREE FELONY COUNTS OF CRUELTY TO A JUVENILE AND ONE FELONY COUNT OF SECOND DEGREE CRUELTY TO A JUVENILE. IN 2022. HE WAS ACCUSED OF TAPING STUDENTS MOUTHS SHUT WITH PACKAGING TAPE AS PUNISHMENT AT LAKESIDE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY IN SLIDELL, A SCHOOL HE CREATED. JOE LONG IS RAYMOND’S DEFENSE ATTORNEY. HE SAYS RAYMOND WAS …