Girl’s scream alerts other people in victim’s house

By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE — An 11-year-old LaPlace girl was recently allegedly molested by her friend’s father, who also happens to be a neighbor.

Maj. Mike Tregre, spokesman for the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office, said the incident happened on May 17 around 8 p.m.

&#8220The girl was at the house visiting with one of her friends,” Tregre said. &#8220The mother and daughter left to go to the store, and that is when the incident took place.”

Tregre said the girl was in a room, when the 47-year-old man went in there and &#8220made comments about her, and then touched her private area from the outside of her clothing.”

There were other people in the house, so the girl screamed and the man left the room, according to Tregre.

&#8220When the mother and daughter returned the girl told the mother what happened, and then ran home to tell her father,” Tregre said. &#8220The father then called the sheriff’s office.”

Tregre said during investigation of the case, the man admitted to touching the girl, but not in her private area.

The LaPlace man was arrested on May 18 and placed on a $50,000 bond, which he posted the same day, and was released.