Welcome to Arrest Stories. A 37-year-old Catholic priest in Acadia Parish, Louisiana, has been charged with felony indecent behavior with a juvenile.
Here's what may have happened: On January 16, 2024, Father Korey Lavergne, the pastor of St. Edward Catholic Church in the community of Richard, was arrested and charged with willfully, unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally committing lewd or lascivious acts upon a juvenile. According to reports, the alleged incident occurred on January 1, 2024, when the juvenile was 15 years old.
The Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office conducted an investigation, and Father Lavergne was taken into custody on January 16. He was able to post $15,000 bond within an hour and a half of his arrest and was released from custody. Father Lavergne has entered a not guilty plea in writing, and he will not need to appear in court for his arraignment next week due to the written plea.
The Diocese of Lafayette has issued a statement, saying they will continue to assist law enforcement and request prayers for all who were involved. The diocese was informed of the arrest and is cooperating with the investigation.
Father Lavergne is a Roman Catholic priest and the pastor of St. Edward Catholic Church in Richard. The church's website still lists him as the pastor of the church. He is accused of committing lewd or lascivious acts upon a juvenile, and the alleged incident occurred on January 1, 2024.
All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Do not take this report as factual, always verify facts. Thanks for watching Arrest Stories.
FACTS EXTRACTED:
COMMON FACTS ACROSS SOURCES:
Arrestee(s): Korey Lavergne, Korey LaVergne
Charges: felony indecent behavior with a juvenile, three counts felony indecent behavior with a juvenile, three felony counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, indecent behavior with a juvenile (3 counts)
Date(s): January 2024, mid-January, January 16
Location(s): Acadia Parish, Acadia parish
UNIQUE DETAILS BY SOURCE:
Source 1: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/13/catholic-priest-louisiana-charged
- Quote: "willfully, unlawfully, knowingly and intentionally [committing] lewd or lascivious acts upon [the] juvenile"
- Quote: "inappropriately touched a child"
- Detail: LaVergne is a Roman Catholic priest for the diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana
- Detail: He is the pastor at St Edward Catholic church in the community of Richard
- Bail: $15,000
- Age: 37
- Timeline: January 1, 2024: Korey LaVergne allegedly committed lewd or lascivious acts
- Timeline: mid-January: Police arrested Korey LaVergne
Source 2: https://www.kplctv.com/2026/03/20/priest-with-ties-swla-arraigned-child-sex-abuse-charges/
- Quote: "continue to assist law enforcement and request prayers for all who were involved"
- Detail: Lavergne is accused of committing 'lewd or lascivious acts upon a juvenile' who was 15 years old on Jan. 1, 2024
- Detail: Lavergne posted bond within an hour and a half of his arrest
- Bail: $15,000
- Timeline: January 1, 2024: Korey Lavergne allegedly committed lewd or lascivious acts upon a 15-year-old juvenile
- Timeline: Early March: Korey Lavergne was named in a Bill of Information
Source 3: https://www.kadn.com/news/investigates/acadia-parish-priest-pleads-not-guilty-to-child-sex-crimes/article_4a7c35af-4918-4b89-a804-0ab842837cb0.html
- Detail: Father Korey Lavergne entered a not guilty plea in writing
- Detail: Lavergne will not need to appear in court for his arraignment next week due to written plea
- Age: 37
- Timeline: December 2, 2025: Deputies with Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office first received complaint against Fr. Lavergne
- Timeline: Early December: Fellow priest filed criminal complaint against Lavergne
Source 4: https://www.katc.com/acadia-parish/update-not-guilty-plea-entered-for-catholic-priest-charged-with-child-sex-abuse
- Quote: "The Diocese of Lafayette has received information regarding possible misconduct by a cleric through the Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office. The Diocese was informed that the Sheriff's Office conducted an investigation and that an arrest was made earlier today of Father Korey Lavergne, pastor of Saint Edward Church in Richard. The Diocese will continue to assist law enforcement and requests prayers for all who are involved"
- Detail: Korey Lavergne was pastor of St. Edward Church in Richard
- Detail: The church's website still lists him as pastor of the church
- Age: 37
- Timeline: January 1, 2024: Korey Lavergne allegedly committed lewd or lascivious acts upon a 15-year-old juvenile
- Timeline: January 2024: Acadia Parish Sheriff's deputies arrested Korey Lavergne
SOURCES:
1. Catholic priest in Louisiana charged with child sexual abuse
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/13/catholic-priest-louisiana-charged
2. Priest with ties to SWLA arraigned for child sex abuse charges
https://www.kplctv.com/2026/03/20/priest-with-ties-swla-arraigned-child-sex-abuse-charges/
3. Acadia Parish priest pleads not guilty to child sex crimes
https://www.kadn.com/news/investigates/acadia-parish-priest-pleads-not-guilty-to-child-sex-crimes/article_4a7c35af-4918-4b89-a804-0ab842837cb0.html
4. UPDATE: Not guilty plea entered for Catholic priest charged with child sex abuse
https://www.katc.com/acadia-parish/update-not-guilty-plea-entered-for-catholic-priest-charged-with-child-sex-abuse