ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / August 26, 2000

LAPLACE – A 12-year-old Reserve boy has been arrested by the St. Johnthe Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office and charged with two counts of aggravated assault and indecent behavior with two girls, ages 9 and 12.

The assaults allegedly happened two months apart, and even though the boy was arrested Aug. 4 the sheriff’s office just reported the incidentsWednesday.

Authorities were alerted to the crimes when a deputy working a shift at River Parishes Hospital was informed that a woman had brought in her 12- year-old daughter and said the girl may have been raped.

The officer notified a detective, and upon further questioning the girl told her story.

According to reports, the girl was taking clothes out of a dryer in the garage of her Reserve home when a young man sneaked up behind her, put a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her if she did not take off her clothes. He then attempted to rape her, but a car pulled up into thedriveway and scared him away. The boy then told the girl not to tellanyone or he would come back and kill her.

The girl told her friend, a 9-year-old girl, about the sexual assault, and the friend told the older girl the same suspect had attacked her two months earlier, according to authorities.

The 9-year-old said that on May 24 she was visiting the sister of the suspect at their house. When her friend left the room the boy grabbed her,threw her on a bed, took off her clothes and attempted to rape her. He wasunsuccessful, but he threatened her with violence if she told anyone about the incident.

After talking to her friend the 12-year-old girl reported the assaults to her mother, who took her to River Parishes Hospital.

After hearing both stories, deputies arrested the boy and charged him with assault and indecent behavior with a juvenile. According to authorities,the boy has denied the charges against him.

Both of the girls were taken to Children’s Hospital in New Orleans for examinations, and no physical evidence of rape was found, according to reports.

Capt. Mike Tregre of the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office said, “If you seethese two girls and listen to their stories, they appear very credible and honest.”The boy, whose name has not been released because of his age, has been returned to the care of his parents.

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