Minister, staff plead innocent to charges

The Baton Rouge Advocate/AP

LUCEDALE, Miss. (AP) -- The Rev. Herman Fountain and three assistants at his controversial Bethel Children's Home in Lucedale pleaded innocent Friday to charges of assaulting a law officer.

The felony charges stem from an incident June 13 when state officials took the home's residents into custody after allegations of child abuse and neglect.

"I didn't feloniously hit them. I didn't double up my fist and hit anyone," Fountain told reporters when he appeared at the George County Circuit Court for arraignment on charges that he struck officers.

The 38-year-old proprietor of the independent Baptist boarding home admits regular corporal punishment of children. Fountain says he believes in strict discipline and the Biblical dictum "spare the rod, spoil the child."

He maintains that the state has no right to question his disciplinary measures because he answers only to God. No charges have been filed against anyone at the home in connection with the abuse allegations.

Church-run homes are exempt from state regulation in Mississippi, but state officials say they have the power to investigate abuse cases.

Fountain was indicted by a grand jury Tuesday on three counts of felonious assault on law enforcement officers.

Three Bethel staffers, Mike Baldino, Phillip Reining and Mike Rawlings, also were charged with attacking state and county officers assisting the Mississippi Department of Public Welfare in a court-ordered removal of all minor residents at the home.

The state took temporary custody of 72 youngsters on June 10 and June 13 after a 14-year-old male runaway testified in youth court that he and other young residents were physically abused at the home.

Most children were later returned to their parents. The state retained custody of 17 youths who were ruled by Youth Court Judge Robert Oswald as abused and neglected.

Fountain claims about 50 of the troubled youngsters fled during the confusion and probably are wandering the streets as prostitutes or drug dealers.

However, Fountain has refused to provide officials with a list of the home's residents so they can search for the missing children.

Fountain admits a ruckus did occur June 13, but he claims police officers initiated the incident.

"There was some police brutality there," the fundamentalist minister said. "I've got some pictures."

However, members of the news media present June 13 took photographs of Fountain swinging at officers.

The minister refused to further discuss the incident.

Fountain and the three staffers will stand trial in January, according to the circuit clerk's office.

All four were released Friday on property bonds posted in June.

"They want to rule me," Fountain said of state officials. "I won't do what the county wants me to do."