Della Guidry
February 12, 2008
Robert Mike
February 14, 2008A rape and a traffic fatality put a damper on what area law enforcement officers are calling a fairly safe Carnival season.
Houma Police reported the rape of a 14-year-old girl behind a building on Wolfe Parkway during the Krewe of Cleopatra parade Monday, Feb. 4, at approximately 9:30 p.m. Because of her age, the name of the girl is being withheld.
Police spokesman Lt. Todd Duplantis said the girl was allegedly intoxicated when she was escorted from the parade route to the back of the building, which is located near First Baptist Church of Houma on a dead-end road off Main Street.
Keith Jupiter, 17, of 7146 Main St., Houma, was arrested and charged with forcible rape three hours after the incident.
The investigation is ongoing and additional charges are pending, Duplantis said. If convicted of rape, Jupiter faces five to 40 years in prison.
Houma Police tallied six parade-related arrests on Friday, three on Saturday, five on Sunday, four on Monday and four on Tuesday.
The arrests were for driving while intoxicated, fighting, public intoxication and the rape.
Although Carnival season has ended, state police said local troopers plan to continue enforcing strict penalties for DWI arrests and other traffic violations.
Troop C spokesman Trooper First Class Gilbert Dardar Jr. reported one fatality, 40 accidents resulting in 75 injuries and 112 property-damage accidents during the nearly two-week Carnival season.
There were also an abundance of traffic and vehicle violations. Officers made 47 DWI arrests and 11 narcotic arrests. They handed out 668 speeding tickets and cited 142 people for not wearing a seatbelt, 13 for not having proper child restraints and 56 for careless operation.
Troopers also cited six people for littering, 37 for insurance violations, 22 for failing to yield, nine for following too close and 85 for ignoring traffic controls.
“Unfortunately, one life was lost in a crash this Carnival season and we would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family of the crash victim,” said Troop C Commander Val Penouilh in a release. “Although the Carnival season is over, Troop C will continue to take strict enforcement against impaired and hazardous driving in order to make our roadways safer for all in the Troop C area.”
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office reported four DWI arrests between Feb. 1 and Feb. 6. Sheriff’s spokesman Larry Weidel said three of the arrests were in south Lafourche while the other was near Thibodaux.
“We didn’t see an increase or decrease in parade-related incidents,” Weidel said.
The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office reported 22 arrests between Feb. 1 and Feb. 5. The majority of the arrests were for DWI, public intoxication and disturbing the peace.
“Overall, we had a normal Mardi Gras. I know the city had some incidents throughout the Carnival season, but we didn’t have anything major in the parish,” said Capt. Malcolm Wolfe, speaking for the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office.
