Former priest to get back seized devices, five years after being arrested for sexual misconduct at the altar.

Priest to Reclaim Electronics After Controversy

A Catholic priest, previously embroiled ina scandal for filming intimate acts with dominatrices on a church altar, is set to reclaim his seized electronics a few years following his arrest. The priest, from Saint Peter and Paul Catholic Church, located about 40 miles north of New Orleans, will be getting back mobile phones, tablets, computers, gaming consoles, along with flash drives and memory cards that local police confiscated during their investigation into the 2020 incident.

Before the items are returned, they will have all data wiped clean. The order for this was first reported by a source and later confirmed as approved by Eren Criel, the judge for the Diocese of St. Tammany.

Travis Clark, who had left the clergy voluntarily, pleaded guilty to felony indecency after recording his acts with the dominatrices, known as the Empress and Lady VI.

At 41, Clark received a three-year prison sentence in 2022. Additionally, he was put on three years of supervised probation, along with a fine of $1,000.

The unusual activities occurred outside church hours on September 30, 2020. A witness noticed a bright light inside the church and, upon investigation, called the police as they found Clark engaged with the two women.

The females involved also faced legal consequences, with one pleading guilty to vandalism and receiving probation that same year.

Authorities took various items during the raid, including stage lights, adult toys, and recording equipment. Reports indicated that Clark had filmed himself in scandalous acts, even urinating into a communion wine vessel.

Church officials opted to replace the altar following the incident.

Clark faced further legal trouble after he violated probation by speaking to a local news outlet. In that interview, he expressed regret over his decisions and discussed his struggles with loneliness during the Covid-19 lockdown. He acknowledged the challenges of being a priest, admitting that “you’ll fall and sin, just like any priest,” while still maintaining his faith in God, emphasizing the significance of mercy and forgiveness.