7 Plead Guilty to Conspiracy in Ecclesia Child Beatings

Seven Ecclesia Athletic Assn. members, originally charged with slavery, pleaded guilty Friday to lesser charges and were given prison terms ranging from 2 1/4 to 8 years.

They pleaded guilty to charges that they conspired to deny the civil rights of children who belonged to the organization.

A federal indictment charged that leader Eldridge Broussard Jr. and seven followers compelled children to perform athletic drills by beating them. The indictment said Ecclesia intended to obtain money from corporate sponsors for the children’s performance.

The indictment charged that the conspiracy resulted in the beating death of Broussard’s 8-year-old daughter, Dayna.

Eldridge Broussard Jr. died of natural causes last September.

In a May, 1989, Oregon City trial, four Ecclesia followers were convicted of manslaughter. Fifty-three children were taken into protective custody by the state.

Entering guilty pleas Friday were Carolyn Van Brunt, 37, of Portland, sentenced to 3 years and 5 months; Alvin Broussard, 28, of Los Angeles, 4 years, 3 months, and Walter Terry Barnett, 33, of Los Angeles, 2 years, 3 months.

Also pleading guilty were Willie K. Chambers, 38, sentenced to 8 years, 1 month; Josie Faust, 53, of Sandy, 3 years, 1 month; Sherion Johnson, 36, of Sandy, 3 years, 5 months, and Constance Z. Jackson, 42, 8 years, 1 month.