Former ‘Survivor’ Contestant and Pastor Covered 4-Year-Old’s Face Until He Went ‘Limp’, Convicted

Louisiana: A  jury has convicted John Raymond, a former contestant on the reality TV show Survivor and a pastor who founded a Christian school, of child cruelty.

Former ‘Survivor’ Contestant and Pastor Convicted of Child Cruelty

The verdict was delivered on Monday after a six-day trial in St. Tammany Parish, with jurors taking just an hour to decide. Raymond, 62, was charged with multiple counts of cruelty to juveniles following disturbing allegations made by students at Lakeside Christian Academy, a school he established in Slidell, Louisiana.

Raymond was arrested in April 2022 after three middle school students accused him of taping their mouths shut to keep them quiet. According to the Slidell Police Department, this incident was part of a pattern of abusive behavior at the school, leading to the charges. Additional allegations surfaced from former teachers and parents, painting a troubling picture of Raymond’s disciplinary practices over the past five years.

Alarming Allegations of Abuse at Christian Academy

The charges against Raymond stemmed from an incident where he reportedly used tape to silence a group of students. Raymond, however, defended his actions, claiming the students had chosen to have their mouths taped rather than face suspension. He stated that the tape was only placed over their mouths briefly and did not prevent them from breathing. Despite his explanation, several witnesses, including parents and former staff members, came forward with stories of further abuse.

A disturbing case involved a four-year-old pre-K student prone to tantrums. According to police reports, Raymond allegedly covered the boy’s mouth and nose, suffocating him to the point of unconsciousness. The child became “limp” and was unable to stand or respond until a staff member intervened. The same student had reportedly been dragged across the floor by his ankles and spanked by Raymond on multiple occasions. These accounts contributed to the additional cruelty charges brought against him.

Raymond’s Defense and Controversial Views

Throughout the trial, Raymond and his defense attorney, Joseph Long, framed the case as a conflict between political ideologies, arguing that it represented a clash between conservative values and what they described as “cancel culture.” Long argued that Raymond’s disciplinary methods, including corporal punishment, were consistent with Biblical teachings and emphasized that government overreach was at play. In his defense, Raymond remained defiant, blaming the charges on a societal shift that he claimed sought to prevent parents and educators from disciplining children. He portrayed himself as a victim of a cultural battle, telling the jury, “Make no mistake, folks, this country is in the middle of a culture war.”

Quick Jury Verdict and Raymond’s Denial

Despite Raymond’s defense, the jury found him guilty after just an hour of deliberation. Prosecutors expressed satisfaction with the swift verdict, stating that Raymond had overstepped his responsibilities as a pastor and educator. “It was a pastor’s duty to counsel, not suffocate, the child,” one prosecutor commented.

Still in handcuffs, Raymond remained defiant even after the conviction, declaring, “I’m not guilty. I’ve never been cruel to a child and love children.” He is set to be sentenced in the coming month. Raymond first gained national attention in 2002 as the first contestant voted off the reality show Survivor: Thailand.