Hollister - Richarde Monde, who is charged with molesting a 13-year-old girl while living with several women in what they claim was a cult in the hills above Aromas, pled not guilty to the felony charge Wednesday.
Monde, 55, and his attorney Greg La Forge, appeared before Superior Court Judge Harry Tobias for no more than five minutes and then quickly left the upstairs courtroom. After accepting the not guilty plea, Tobias made sure Monde was aware of his plea and set a trial setting date for Dec. 29 at 10am.
Shannon Eaton, a woman who left the alleged cult nine years ago after being involved with Monde for 17 years, said Wednesday she expected Monde would plead not guilty.
“I expected he’d fight it all the way,” Eaton said. “He’s not going to admit to anything. He doesn’t have to.”
Monde allegedly committed a lewd act with a child several years ago and was arrested in April, according to San Benito County Sheriff’s Detective Chris Green, who investigated the case.
The criminal investigation was sparked when the child Monde allegedly molested was arrested for shoplifting in July 2003 and told her probation officer about the incident, Green has said.
During his investigation, Green said he talked to women who claimed Monde was the leader of a cult. Several of the women have said he brainwashed at least six female followers and fathered six children with three of them over two decades. They said he portrayed himself as a personal growth counselor and enticed them into the group to be in a band called The Final Cut.
Monde has refused to comment on any of the allegations, and La Forge said he doesn’t believe the molestation charges or the existence of a cult. He said the accusations, which he believes are immaterial to the criminal case, stem from a custody battle Monde has been involved in with one of the women since November 2003.
The women claim the criminal charge has nothing to do with the custody battle.
Green has said the cult allegations are not involved with the molestation case because although the allegations are unusual they’re not illegal.
If Monde is convicted of molesting the girl he could face up to eight years in prison.