L’Observateur / March 17, 1999

LAPLACE – An 18-year-old Reserve man was arrested Friday in the alleged rape of a 16-year-old LaPlace girl in front of her home.

Joseph B. Jenkins, 18, 102 Riverside Drive, Reserve, was booked withforcible rape.

Lt. Michael Tregre of the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office said the 16-year-old girl was in the driveway of her residence at about midnight March 7, talking to a girlfriend. Jenkins happened by and joined them, Tregrecontinued, then the girlfriend left.

Tregre added Jenkins allegedly began groping the girl, despite her objections. She believed he carried a knife, and he pushed her down andraped her. She managed to escape from him but didn’t tell her parentsimmediately, according to police reports.

The following day, her father suspected something was wrong and got the story from her, then phoned police. She was taken to Children’s Hospitaland examined.

Tregre said Jenkins was in the neighborhood to visit another friend, who wasn’t home at the time, and happened upon his alleged victim.

He is being held on a $40,000 bond.

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