Deputies said home video and a child welfare report led to the arrests in Ascension Parish.
ASCENSION PARISH, La. — A Louisiana couple was arrested after deputies said home video showed a 14-year-old boy being forced face down into dog urine, dragged through it and struck inside an Ascension Parish residence.
Gina Sagona, 44, and Mark Sagona, 45, were booked into the Ascension Parish Jail after detectives with the sheriff’s juvenile unit responded to a child abuse report from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. Gina Sagona faces one count of cruelty to a juvenile. Mark Sagona faces a charge of principal to cruelty to a juvenile. Authorities said the investigation remains open.
Detectives went to the Sagona residence on Monday, April 27, after receiving the DCFS report involving a 14-year-old male, the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office said. Investigators reviewed home video from inside the residence as part of the case. The sheriff’s office said the footage showed Gina Sagona “force the juvenile face down into dog urine” and drag him through it. Deputies said the boy also was struck several times during the same incident. Mark Sagona was shown present during parts of the episode, according to investigators. The sheriff’s office has not released the teen’s name, his condition or how he is related to the two adults.
The arrests were announced after juvenile detectives said they gathered video evidence and interviewed Gina Sagona. The sheriff’s office said she admitted to the abuse during that interview. Officials have not said who recorded the video, how long the recording lasted or who gave it to authorities. They also have not said whether the footage showed the entire incident or only part of it. The case began with a DCFS report, but public accounts so far do not describe what led child welfare officials to contact law enforcement. No public report has described earlier calls to the home, prior investigations involving the teen or any other possible victims. Deputies have described the case as ongoing, which leaves open whether more evidence is being reviewed.
Gina Sagona was booked the evening of April 27, and her bond was listed at $50,000. Mark Sagona was booked that same evening, and his bond was listed at $40,000. Jail records cited in public reports listed both defendants as awaiting arraignment. Public reports identified Mark Sagona as a Prairieville man and Gina Sagona as having a Sorrento address. Both communities are in or near Ascension Parish, an area between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The arrests drew wider attention in the Baton Rouge region because of the age of the alleged victim and the type of evidence deputies described. Booking images released by authorities showed both defendants, but officials did not identify the child.
Louisiana law defines cruelty to juveniles as intentional or criminally negligent mistreatment or neglect by a person 17 or older that causes unjustifiable pain or suffering to a child under 17. The law allows a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, with or without hard labor, and a fine of up to $1,000 for a person convicted of the offense. The principal statute applies to people accused of being concerned in the commission of a crime, whether present or absent, including those accused of aiding, abetting, counseling or procuring another person to commit the offense. Mark Sagona’s charge does not accuse him of being the person who directly forced the teen into the urine. It accuses him of legal responsibility tied to the alleged cruelty.
The next major step is expected to be an initial court appearance or arraignment, where the charges would be formally addressed in court. Prosecutors had not announced a public arraignment date in the first reports. It was not immediately clear whether Gina Sagona or Mark Sagona had attorneys who could speak on their behalf. The charges are accusations, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. A judge may also decide whether any orders are needed to protect the child while the criminal case is pending. Officials have not said where the teen is now, whether DCFS has taken protective action or whether medical exams were part of the investigation.
The case file described publicly so far centers on four pieces of information: the child welfare report, the home video reviewed by detectives, the alleged admission by Gina Sagona and the alleged presence of Mark Sagona during portions of the incident. Investigators have not released the video. They also have not released a full timeline of what happened before detectives arrived at the home or how soon the arrests followed the report. The sheriff’s office said juvenile detectives handled the case, a detail that points to a specialized unit used for reports involving children. Local coverage described the pair as a Prairieville couple, while jail details and public reports gave separate address information for the two defendants.
The Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office said the investigation is ongoing. As of the latest public reports, Gina Sagona’s bond remained listed at $50,000, Mark Sagona’s bond remained listed at $40,000, and both were awaiting the next court step.
Author note: Last updated May 6, 2026.