(LA)
Acadiana Advocate [Lafayette LA]
March 12, 2026
By Claire Taylor
An Acadia Parish priest has been formally charged with alleged indecent behavior with a minor.
Korey LaVergne, 37, was named on March 5 in a Bill of Information by the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office charging him with three counts of felony indecent behavior with a juvenile, court records show.
A Bill of Information is a charge directly from the district attorney’s office, while an indictment is a charge determined by a grand jury.
LaVergne previously was arrested on Jan. 16 on the same charges.
The Bill of Information alleges on or about Jan. 1, 2024, LaVergne “did willfully, unlawfully, knowingly, and intentionally commit lewd and lascivious acts upon a juvenile,” age 15, or in the presence of a juvenile where there is at least a two-year age difference.
LaVergne, through his attorney, Kevin Stockstill of Lafayette, entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday, court records show.
He has a pretrial hearing scheduled for June 12.
Stockstill filed several pretrial discovery motions on Thursday asking:
- that the district attorney disclose any criminal arrests and convictions of any witnesses.
- that officials provide copies of arrest warrants, warrants for search and seizure and affidavits related to those warrants.
- that officials provide all initial reports on the case.
- that the district attorney disclose the substance of any grant of immunity, plea bargain, agreement or consideration to witnesses or prospective witnesses.
- that he reserve the right to move to suppress and/or conduct a preliminary examination of evidence.
LaVergne’s case comes as the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette faces a growing number of sexual abuse allegations in civil court.
At least 13 lawsuits were filed against the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette in 2025, alleging sexual abuse by priests and other employees against minors across Acadiana, bringing the total pending lawsuits filed since June 2024 to about 50.
The Louisiana Supreme Court in June 2024 upheld a Louisiana law giving abuse survivors a three-year window — until June 14, 2027 — to sue for damages.
The Catholic Diocese of Lafayette had challenged a 2021 “look back” law, arguing in court that it violated due process rights. The Supreme Court disagreed, opening the door for victims to file lawsuits against the diocese, churches and others.
The lawsuits filed in 2025 in the 15th Judicial District, which includes Lafayette, involve allegations of abuse at churches and schools in Church Point in Acadia Parish, Abbeville and Gueydan in Vermilion Parish, East Cameron in Cameron Parish, Grand Prairie in St. Landry Parish, Breaux Bridge in St. Martin Parish, Berwick in St. Mary Parish and New Iberia in Iberia Parish.
LaVergne is the pastor at St. Edward Catholic Church in Richard in the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette.
“The Little Cajun Saint,” Charlene Richard, is buried in the St. Edward Church cemetery. LaVergne was the official courier who delivered documents related to her cause for sainthood to the Vatican in July.
Richard died in 1959 at age 12 of acute lymphatic leukemia. A parishioner of St. Edward Catholic Church, she dedicated her suffering in prayer to the salvation of other souls.
For decades, the faithful have visited her grave with prayers and offerings. Devotion to Richard has been credited with healing some people suffering with various illnesses.