Hearing set for Luling doctor

Gag order prevents open discussion

An Aug. 25 hearing has been set for David Sampognaro, 45, a Luling doctor who was indicted by the St. Charles Parish Grand Jury on March 29 for 21 counts of possession of child pornography.

A gag order has been issued by the courts preventing any open commentary by the legal system.

Regina Cyrus, spokesperson for athe offices of District Attorney Harry J. Morel Jr., said that she has not been informed on what the hearing will cover, but explained that a gag order is a court order preventing the attorneys or any parties involved in the case from discussing any information.

Sampognaro was first arrested on Jan. 13 and then arraigned on April 4 by Judge Emile St. Pierre after a lengthy investigation led by both federal and local authorities uncovered 58 digital computer files of child pornography from his personal computer.

Before his arrest earlier this year, Sampognaro was employed as a physician at three separate medical facilities:  the St. Charles Parish Hospital in Luling, the Family Doctors Clinic in Harvey and at West Jefferson Medical Center.

The hearing will take place at 10 a.m. at the St. Charles Parish Courthouse in Hahnville.