Share and Follow
Insets from left to right: Gina Sagona and Mark Sagona (Ascension Parish Sheriff”s Office). Background: The Ascension Parish Jail in Donaldsonville, Louisiana (Google Maps).
The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office has identified the woman as 44-year-old Gina Sagona, who now faces charges of cruelty to a juvenile. Her partner, 45-year-old Mark Sagona, has been charged as a principal to the same offense, indicating his complicit behavior by failing to prevent the abuse.
The disturbing episode came to light on Monday when law enforcement was called to a residence in Ascension Parish. The intervention was prompted by a report from the local Department of Children and Family Services, which highlighted “a child abuse incident” involving the teenage boy. Ascension Parish is centrally located in Louisiana, nestled between the major cities of Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
Mark Sagona, 45, was charged with principal to cruelty to a juvenile.
On Monday, law enforcement responded to a home in Ascension Parish after a report from the area Department of Children and Family Services detailed “a child abuse incident” there involving a 14-year-old boy. Ascension Parish is located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans in the center of the state.
Detectives say that during their investigation, they “reviewed home video footage showing Gina Sagona force the juvenile face down into dog urine and then drag him through it.” The sheriff’s office added that the teenager “was also struck multiple times.”
Mark Sagona was allegedly “present during portions of the incident.”
When investigators interviewed Gina Sagona, she reportedly “admitted to the abuse.” She and Mark Sagona were arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail in Donaldsonville, Louisiana.
Authorities stressed that the investigation was ongoing. The relationship between the defendants and the teen is unclear.
Jail records show both defendants were booked into the jail on Monday and are still in custody. Gina Sagona is being held on a $50,000 bond while Mark Sagona is being held on a $40,000 bond.
They are both awaiting an arraignment in court, the records add.