Ecclesia Founder Held on Civil Rights Charges

Eldridge Broussard Jr., founder of the controversial Ecclesia Athletic Assn., was arrested today on federal civil rights charges, the FBI said.

Broussard, 38, and two of his followers were arrested at a house used by Ecclesia members in north Portland, an FBI spokesman said.

Broussard and seven of his followers were named in a 30-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Portland.

The indictment charges that the defendants conspired to deny the civil rights of at least 29 minor children by subjecting them to involuntary servitude.