An East Baton Rouge grand jury indicts a 17-year-old with first-degree rape in the Madison Brooks case and he will be tried as an adult. Jeff Palermo has the story…
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The Orleans Parish DA’s refusal to prosecute 15 illegal gun possession cases from Mardi Gras has created an uproar. Brooke Thorington has more.
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An East Baton Rouge grand jury indicts a 17-year-old with first and third-degree rape in the Madison Brooks case. Authorities allege four males were involved in raping the 19-year-old LSU student before she died last month. Legal analyst Franz Borghardt says a first-degree rape conviction carries a life sentence…
The 17-year-old defendant will also be tried as an adult and has been identified as Desmond Carter from Walker.
Borghardt says it’s easier for prosecutors to convict Carter on third-degree rape, which occurs when the victim does not consent because they were too impaired. He says first-degree rape is harder to get a conviction, but it could still work in the D-A’s favor…
A grand jury has yet to hand down indictments against Carter’s three co-defendants. East Baton Rouge Deputies have charged 18-year-old Kaivon Washington with third-degree rape while two other men face charges of principal to three-degree rape.
Carter is represented b the East Baton Rouge Public Defender’s Office and Borghardt says it’s appropriate for him to be tried as an adult based on his age and the charges he faces
Attorneys for the men charged say the sex was consensual.
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There’s an uproar over the Orleans District Attorney’s office’s decision not to prosecute 15 individuals for illegal gun possession during Carnival. Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche says it undermines efforts by the police to eliminate guns from the French Quarter and parade routes
By refusing the charges, the accused are not entitled to receive their guns back from evidence.
One of the cases was LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers who was accused of carrying a weapon on Bourbon Street.
In addition to Goyeneche, the DA’s actions have received criticism from Lt Governor Billy Nungesser. Goyeneche says at a bail hearing, which takes place within 72 hours of an arrest prosecutors haven’t been able to review the suspect’s possible criminal record nor evidence from police. He says basically the DA refused to accept the charges without all the facts.
Interim Police Superintendent Michelle Woodfork praised officers for removing more than 150 guns from the streets during Mardi Gras. Goyeneche says however with the DA refusing charges on a handful of gun possession cases has created a problem.
Cut 8 (09) “…selective prosecution.”
He says the remaining offenders who were charged if they are arrested for a second time for carrying a concealed weapon could potentially be charged with a felony.
In response the Orleans District Attorney’s office issued a statement:
“When faced with a no probable cause finding by the court, the ADA (Assistant District Attorney) made decisions that would increase safety in our city like requiring defendants to forfeit their weapons. To be clear, these cases will still be screened by the DA’s Office.”
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Record highs are possible today. State Climatologist Barry Keim says temperatures are running about 15 degrees above normal….
A frontal boundary is hanging out just north of Louisiana. When it dips down, it will bring colder temperatures to north Louisiana, but Keim says south Louisiana will stay warm for the next week…
While Louisiana is enjoying comfortable temperatures, a large portion of the country is impacted by a huge winter storm. There are some areas of California getting snow that rarely sees it. Keim says the forecast remains favorable for moderate weather in south Louisiana.
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UPDATED from earlier in the day
A six-year-old was fatally shot around 8:00 pm last night in Raceland. Police say the 6-year-old and his brother – another 6-year-old were playing with a loaded gun. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Captain Brennan Matherne says at one point the gun discharged, striking six-year-old D.J. Michel Junior….
Cut 12 (10) “…pronounced dead.”
In 2020, firearms were the number one cause of death for children ages 1-19 in the United States. Matherne says children should never be left unsupervised in a home with a gun.
Matherne believes guns should be kept in a safe place.
The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services also responded to the scene. Michel was a first grader at Lockport Lower Elementary School. The school system is providing counseling services.
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Cut 16 (12) “…minor injuries.”