A jury trial for Richarde Monde, who is charged with molesting a
13-year-old girl while living with several women in what they claim
was a cult in the hills above Aromas, is scheduled to begin in less
than two weeks.
Hollister – A jury trial for Richarde Monde, who is charged with molesting a 13-year-old girl while living with several women in what they claim was a cult in the hills above Aromas, is scheduled to begin in less than two weeks.
Monde, 55, and his attorney, Greg La Forge, appeared before Superior Court Judge Steven Sanders Wednesday morning to confirm the man’s trial date on Monday, April 18.
Besides both sides affirming they are ready to go to trial, La Forge informed Sanders he will be attempting to have the juvenile records unsealed of the girl accusing Monde of molesting her. La Forge will go to court on April 11 to attempt to have the records unsealed to use in trial.
Monde allegedly committed a lewd act with a child several years ago and was arrested last April, according to San Benito County Sheriff’s Detective Chris Green, who investigated the case.
The criminal investigation began when the child Monde allegedly molested was arrested for shoplifting in July 2003 and told her probation officer about the incident, Green has said.
During his investigation, Green has said he talked to women who claimed Monde was the leader of a cult. Several of the women have said that he brainwashed at least six female followers and fathered six children with three of them over two decades. They said he portrayed himself as a personal growth counselor and enticed them into the group to be in a band called The Final Cut.
Monde has refused to comment on any of the allegations and La Forge has scoffed at the existence of a cult and believes the molestation charges stem from a custody battle Monde has been involved in with one of the women since November 2003.
While the cult allegations are unusual, they are not illegal and have no bearing on the molestation case, Green has said.
If Monde is convicted he could face up to eight years in prison. His jury trial begins on Monday, April 18 at 8:30am in Department 1 of the San Benito County Superior Court.
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
