Ex-Priest Accused Of Molestation Out On Bail

LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) — A former Calcasieu Parish priest accused of molesting young parishioners is out of jail on bond.

The American Press reports (http://bit.ly/cseYHv ) 57-year-old Mark Anthony Broussard walked out of the Calcasieu Correctional Center Monday on a $1.5 million cash bond.

Broussard is accused of molesting boys while a priest in Calcasieu Parish between 1986 and 1991. Broussard served at Our Lady Queen of Heaven and St. Henry Catholic Church. He also served at St. Eugene in Cameron Parish.

Defense attorney Tom Lorenzi asked Judge David Ritchie in May to reduce Broussard's bond from $3.42 million to $200,000, an amount Broussard's family could make.

Ritchie declined to do so but did lower the total bond amount to $1.5 million to reflect Broussard's charges.

Lorenzi said family came up with the money after a recent family wedding.