L’Observateur / May 19, 1999

LAPLACE – A 15-year-old LaPlace boy will be tried as an adult for the alleged aggravated rape of a 3-year-old girl. If convicted, he could facethe death penalty.

Robert S. Dunking, 15, 1625 Jefferson St., LaPlace, was transferred to theparish jail on Monday. He has been held since his April 18 arrest at the St.James Juvenile Detention Center.

Durking was a visitor at the home of the victim when he allegedly entered a den where the child was playing and forced himself upon her, according to Lt. Michael Tregre of the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office.Aggravated rape was the charge because of the age of the alleged victim, Tregre explained.

Tregre added that the child reported the incident to her aunt, who had been asleep in a nearby bedroom at the time. The child was transported toChildren’s Hospital in New Orleans for examination and treatment.

An aggravated rape conviction carries a life sentence without benefit of parole, probation or reduction of sentence, according to Assistant District Attorney Charles Lorio. However, Lorio continued, in the case where thevictim is under age 12 the state could seek the death penalty.

A St. John Parish grand jury indicted Durking on May 10, and he wastransferred from St. James to the Sherman Walker Correctional Center inLaPlace to await trial.

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