Ken Stickney

kstickney@theadvertiser.com

The Rev. Felix David Broussard, accused 10 months ago in a child pornography case in Breaux Bridge, is now expected to enter a not-guilty plea Tuesday.

Broussard, an Acadia Parish native and diocesan parish priest for more than 20 years, was accused last July after the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit said they found more than 500 images of child pornography on his personal computer, which was kept at the residence of St. Bernard Roman Catholic Church in Breaux Bridge. State Police joined the investigation at the request of the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office.

Assistant District Attorney for the 16th Judicial District Robert Chevalier said Broussard will appear before district Judge Paul deMahy to receive a series of future court dates. Broussard is represented by attorneys Jason Robideaux and Thomas Guilbeau.

Broussard had served as pastor at St. Bernard and chancellor of the parish school for two years at the time of his arrest. Investigators said he had been seeking pornographic images of children on his computer for most of that time.

On Monday, diocese communications director Blue Rolfes said the diocese expected Broussard to plead guilty. She said Broussard remains on administrative leave from the diocese, "not involved in any priestly ministry." She said the diocese is not providing either an attorney for Broussard nor a place of residence.

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Days after being accused, Broussard sent to his parish and to the diocese a verbal apology, delivered by Bishop Douglas Deshotel, who celebrated Masses at St. Bernard's on the weekend following Broussard's arrest. Deshotel had visited Broussard, who remained free Monday on $25,000 bond, in jail during that week.

Deshotel relayed Broussard's apology during his homily at those weekend Masses.

Rolfes said following the end of the state's case against Broussard the diocese may convene its own tribunal to weigh Broussard's status with the church. Under the church's own laws, sins of adultery including sex with minors are considered criminal acts.

Bishops hold several options for addressing such accusations of crimes, although they must follow civil reporting laws. Bishops must cooperate with civil authorities and must exercise authority to protect children.

Church penalties for abuse of minors may include dismissal from the priesthood. Dismissal means a priest takes a lay person's status, cannot exercise priestly ministries, cannot offer Mass, hold pastoral or teaching duties and cannot receive a priest's income. Dismissal is permanent.

Assistant District Attorney for the 16th Judicial District Robert Chevalier said the accusations against Broussard are for accessing and possessing the pornographic images. The priest is not accused of direct sexual acts involving children, and the images do not involve local children, Chevalier has told The Daily Advertiser previously.