AMITE -- The defense attorney for a Northshore man accused of molesting children at a now defunct Ponchatoula church said testimony from two alleged victims may have helped his client.

"I was pleased with their testimony. Obviously, it favors our case and bolsters our theory of the case," said Al Bensabat, attorney for the defendant, Trey Bernard.

The victims, two brothers—now 21 and 17, respectively—had previously told children's services and law enforcement that they had been molested repeatedly by Bernard and others at Hosanna Church, including Pastor David Lamonica.

But on Saturday, the two brothers took the stand and testified that they made up their stories.

District Attorney Don Wall asked the 17-year-old why the doctor who examined him would write up a report detailing what the boy had said about the abuse.

“Your guess is as good as mine,” the 17-year-old said.

WWL-TV

Trey Bernard (left) walks out of the courthouse with his attorney, Al Bensabat (right).

His 21-year-old brother later took the stand and said he’d made up the story because he had an obsessive compulsive disorder.

The district attorney asked him, “So who has the most active imagination, you or your brother?” The 21-year-old answered, “Me. I’m an English major.”

On Monday, Tangipahoa Parish jurors will begin to hear the defense’s case. First up on the stand should be a psychologist, called in as an expert witness. Bernard is also expected to take the stand in his own defense.

“You'll get to hear his side of the case, his version of the events,” Bensabat said. “Find out what was going on in his head at the time, what was going on around the church at the time, sort of the dynamics of it."

Six other church members are still awaiting trial on charges of child abuse at the Hosanna Church.