Opening arguments were scheduled to begin Wednesday in the high profile sex abuse case involving members of the now defunct Hosanna Church in Ponchatoula.

WWL-TV

Hosanna Church

Jury selection began Tuesday.

Austin Trey Bernard III, 39, of Hammond is the first of seven former members of the church to go on trial.

Bernard will be tried on one count of aggravated rape of a two-year-old girl back in 2002.

Bernard was indicted in 2005 – he is also accused of killing animals in what authorities believe were occult rituals.

If convicted, Bernard could face life in prison.