Pastor arrested on incest charge
, Publisher
12-04-2007
Union Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested Kenneth Duchesne, the pastor at Beulah Baptist Church Tuesday afternoon, and charged him with two counts of aggravated incest.
Duchesne, 35, was arrested at approximately 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the parking lot of Wal-Mart after the Sheriff’s Office received a complaint on Monday.
Dusty Burroughs, a deacon at the church, said the congregation was shocked by the arrest.
“It’s hurt the church pretty good,’’ Burroughs said. “We’re trying to deal with it and move on.’’
Duchesne had been the preacher at Beulah Baptist, located north of Farmerville between Farmerville and Spearsville, for less than a year, and according to Burroughs, was asked to resign on Sunday night on matters unrelated to the incest charges.
“The deacons asked him to resign on some other things that had come up – but nothing rated with this,’’ Burroughs said. “We never figured on anything like this.’’
Burroughs said Duchesne will be officially relieved of his duties on Wednesday.
Duchesne is married and has two children – a girl and a boy – and lived in the parsonage of the church.
“We’re all shocked and hurt,’’ Burroughs said. “Of course we’re concerned about the family, his wife and children. All we can do is pray for them and pray for him.’’
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