Louisiana pastor on ‘Survivor’ allegedly taped students’ mouths shut

LAFAYETTE, La. — A Louisiana pastor and headmaster of a Christian college who can be a member of the state’s Republican Social gathering governing board and a former “Survivor” contestant has been charged with three counts of kid cruelty for allegedly taping college students’ mouths shut for speaking an excessive amount of.

The Rev. John Raymond, 60, was booked into the Slidell Metropolis Jail Thursday after he turned himself into police, as first reported by WWL-TV.

Louisiana Republican Social gathering Chairman Louis Gurvich advised USA TODAY Community late Thursday he had simply discovered of Raymond’s arrest.

“I merely do not know sufficient concerning the state of affairs to remark at the moment,” Gurvich stated.

Raymond is headmaster of the non-denominational Lakeside Christian Faculty in Slidell.

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“Our college students are inspired to stroll day by day with Christ as they develop in maturity and stature surrounded by a devoted, nurturing school,” Lakeside’s web site describes the college.

WWL reported three college students and their dad and mom stated the youngsters had been introduced by Raymond to his workplace, the place the youngsters’s mouths had been closed with packing tape that wrapped round their heads.

WWL’s report stated the youngsters had been despatched again to class with the tape wrapped round their heads and mouths for 45 minutes “till one other college administrator started feeling uncomfortable concerning the state of affairs and used scissors to take away the tape.”

The youngsters complained that they’d hassle respiration and that the elimination of the tape harm them, in response to the report.

Raymond was a “Survivor” contestant in 2002; he was the voted off the island in Thailand.

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A narrative revealed about his exit from “Survivor” in 2002 described him as “bossy, dominating and (who) irritated his tribemates.”

He has been energetic in state Republican politics as a member of the Louisiana Republican Social gathering State Central Committee as credentials committee chair who determines if there’s a quorum throughout conferences.

Raymond additionally ran for the Louisiana Home of Representatives in 2018, however was defeated by fellow Republican Mary DuBuisson of Slidell.

Observe Greg Hilburn on Twitter @GregHilburn1.