On Tuesday, October 8, 2013, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office Detectives arrested a LaPlace couple in connection with the sexual assault of the women’s 12-year-old daughter. The girl told detectives that her stepfather sexually assaulted her continuously since she was 9-years-old. Some of the assaults occurred in the presence of her mother. When the girl talked to her mother about the sexual assaults, her mother told her not to tell anyone because she would go to jail.

The girl told detectives that her stepfather hit her in the face with a shoe. Her 14-year-old brother told detectives that the stepfather beat him several times with a belt, leaving marks on his body.

Detectives initiated an investigation on October 1 after a school counselor notified detectives that the 12-year-old girl told the counselor about the sexual assaults.

The girl’s stepfather, age 28, was arrested and booked with aggravated incest, cruelty to juveniles (2), and an attachment.   His bond was set at $155,350.00.

The girl’s mother, age 31,  was arrested and booked with principal to aggravated incest and principal to cruelty to juveniles (2). Her bond was set at $120,000.00.

All names have been withheld for protection of the juveniles.