Holden Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Assault of Juveniles

Published 10:54 am Thursday, April 15, 2021

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On April 13, 2021, John Betz of 17400 Florida Blvd. Holden, LA., age 61, pled guilty to Sexual Battery (5 counts). Betz was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Phil Maples, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Cody Martin. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors shortly before Betz going on trial in connection with a 2019 arrest for the sexual assault of two juvenile females. 

 

On or about February 26, 2019, deputies with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a local school after receiving information indicating two juvenile females had been sexually assaulted by a family friend. During the course of an extensive investigation, detectives learned that John Betz had inappropriate sexual contact with the two juveniles who were under the age of 13. Detectives secured and arrest warrant for Betz who was subsequently arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail. 

 

Upon entering a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charges, pursuant to the plea agreement with prosecutors, Betz was sentenced to 27 ½ years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. The said sentence is to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

 

Submitted by Public Information Officer Tyler Cavalier for 23rd Judicial District Attorney Ricky L. Babin.