Man sentenced for sex crimes may need additional representation

A Louisiana man who was facing charges of aggravated rape was recently sentenced to a prison term of 45 years after entering into a plea agreement with prosecutors. He is the same man who remains under suspicion for the death of his infant son in Lake Charles. Now that he has been convicted of sex crimes, authorities there may once again pursue a first-degree murder charge against him, which means he may need additional representation.

He was accused of raping a teenage girl on more than one occasion between 2014 and 2015. While in custody, officials from Lake Charles attempted to interview him regarding the death of his 9-day-old son. His wife pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact in 2002. The father’s case never went to trial.

In Aug. 2001, the coroner determined that the baby was put into a freezer alive. He died of hypothermia. The Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office says the case remains open and is still under investigation. Ascension Parish officials report that the murder case was not in any way part of the man’s plea deal.

It would be in the man’s best interest to secure representation for himself regarding the ongoing investigation and potential first-degree murder charge. Regardless of the fact that he is imprisoned for unrelated charges, he still has rights. His counsel will be responsible for ensuring that those rights are safeguarded. The details of the investigation such as any reports, physical evidence and statements made by his wife and/or others will also be reviewed in anticipation of any official action against him.

Source: theadvocate.com, “Prairieville man, previously accused of killing newborn son, receives 45 year sentence in sexual assault“, David J. Mitchell, Dec. 4, 2015