And you thought Survivor was tough! John Raymond, a former contestant from the 2002 season of the reality show, is making headlines again, but this time for all the wrong reasons. Raymond, now 62, is on trial facing three felony charges of child cruelty for allegedly taping the mouths of students shut at Lakeside Christian Academy, the Louisiana school he founded.

Raymond, who also serves as a local pastor, denies all allegations, with his attorney Joe Long stating that he was merely disciplining the children reasonably and that no one was hurt. Raymond himself doubled down, emphasizing his love for the students and expressing confidence that the law would clear his name.

However, the district attorney’s office disagrees, labeling Raymond’s actions as criminal. For now, the courtroom drama is every bit as intense as an episode of Survivor, with prosecutors painting a vivid picture of humiliated children silenced with tape.

To add another layer of drama, Raymond alleges his actions were aligned with Christian education’s biblical teachings. Whether the jury finds his methods divine or diabolical remains to be seen. Stay tuned—this real-life episode is just getting started!