Post by CCADP on Aug 25, 2005 9:53:30 GMT -5
DA considers death penalty in rape case
The Caddo district attorneys office is seriously considering seeking the
death penalty if an Ohio man is convicted of raping a 5-year-old girl he
and a woman were baby-sitting.
Assistant District Attorney Hugo Holland said he will decide possibly as
soon as next week whether to seek the death penalty for Richard Lee Davis,
33, of Evansport, Ohio.
Under Louisiana law, prosecutors can seek the death penalty on a charge of
aggravated rape if the victim is under age 12. The other penalty for the
crime is a mandatory life sentence in prison without the possibility of
parole.
Davis and girlfriend Melissa Ticer, 21, of Shreveport were booked into
Caddo Correctional Center on a charge of aggravated rape after being
indicted by a Caddo grand jury. The 2 were supposed to be baby-sitting the
child.
Davis also faces one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile. Bond has
been set at $200,000 for Ticer and $400,000 for Davis.
Davis has a criminal history in Bossier Parish, where he has been
convicted of 2nd-degree battery stemming from the sexual abuse of his son,
Holland said. According to Bossier Parish court records, Davis also has
been convicted of promoting prostitution.
Ticer is cooperating with investigators, Holland said.
Investigators believe the 5-year-old was drugged and sexually assaulted by
the couple while she was unconscious. On several other occasions, the
5-year-old reportedly was sexually assaulted by Davis and Ticer while she
was awake.
Detectives learned of the alleged rape after a relative of the 5-year-old
went to authorities in late January.
So far, no new victims have come forward in this case, but the
investigation is continuing, Caddo sheriffs Lt. Larry Nunnery said.
Meanwhile, a local group is trying to raise public awareness about sexual
abuse of children.
"A child can be sexually abused by anyone, even a relative or trusted
friend. So it's important to talk to your children about their bodies and
their right to protect themselves," said Alisa Politz-Roberts, director of
the northwest Louisiana office of Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana.
The nonprofit offers parenting and public education, prevention programs
and advocacy efforts.
"Children need to know that no one has the right to touch them in any way
that makes them feel uncomfortable," Politz-Roberts said.
She also warns parents about the symptoms of sexual abuse, which include
overly seductive or aggressive behavior, depression, injury to the genital
area, painful urination, bed wetting, an inappropriate knowledge of sex
and sudden fear of leaving their parents or their home.
"The child should know he or she did nothing wrong and is not to blame for
what happened."
(source: Shreveport Times)
The Caddo district attorneys office is seriously considering seeking the
death penalty if an Ohio man is convicted of raping a 5-year-old girl he
and a woman were baby-sitting.
Assistant District Attorney Hugo Holland said he will decide possibly as
soon as next week whether to seek the death penalty for Richard Lee Davis,
33, of Evansport, Ohio.
Under Louisiana law, prosecutors can seek the death penalty on a charge of
aggravated rape if the victim is under age 12. The other penalty for the
crime is a mandatory life sentence in prison without the possibility of
parole.
Davis and girlfriend Melissa Ticer, 21, of Shreveport were booked into
Caddo Correctional Center on a charge of aggravated rape after being
indicted by a Caddo grand jury. The 2 were supposed to be baby-sitting the
child.
Davis also faces one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile. Bond has
been set at $200,000 for Ticer and $400,000 for Davis.
Davis has a criminal history in Bossier Parish, where he has been
convicted of 2nd-degree battery stemming from the sexual abuse of his son,
Holland said. According to Bossier Parish court records, Davis also has
been convicted of promoting prostitution.
Ticer is cooperating with investigators, Holland said.
Investigators believe the 5-year-old was drugged and sexually assaulted by
the couple while she was unconscious. On several other occasions, the
5-year-old reportedly was sexually assaulted by Davis and Ticer while she
was awake.
Detectives learned of the alleged rape after a relative of the 5-year-old
went to authorities in late January.
So far, no new victims have come forward in this case, but the
investigation is continuing, Caddo sheriffs Lt. Larry Nunnery said.
Meanwhile, a local group is trying to raise public awareness about sexual
abuse of children.
"A child can be sexually abused by anyone, even a relative or trusted
friend. So it's important to talk to your children about their bodies and
their right to protect themselves," said Alisa Politz-Roberts, director of
the northwest Louisiana office of Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana.
The nonprofit offers parenting and public education, prevention programs
and advocacy efforts.
"Children need to know that no one has the right to touch them in any way
that makes them feel uncomfortable," Politz-Roberts said.
She also warns parents about the symptoms of sexual abuse, which include
overly seductive or aggressive behavior, depression, injury to the genital
area, painful urination, bed wetting, an inappropriate knowledge of sex
and sudden fear of leaving their parents or their home.
"The child should know he or she did nothing wrong and is not to blame for
what happened."
(source: Shreveport Times)