Louisiana Man Allegedly Rapes 12-Year-Old Girl, Gives Her Marijuana; Arrested

A 40-year-old man in Louisiana has been arrested for raping a 12-year-old girl after giving her marijuana.

Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office on Friday arrested Rydell Stipe on charges of first-degree rape and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

Stipe was known to the victim’s family, who lives in the suburb of Kenner in New Orleans. He was accused of inappropriately touching the child and sexually assaulting her.

The alleged assault came to light after the victim revealed it to her mother last month, reported local news outlet the New Orleans Advocate. The victim’s mother reported it to the police and the sheriff’s office started an investigation.

The victim was sexually assaulted at her home in Old Jefferson in September 2018. Stipe is also accused of giving the girl marijuana, said Jason Rivarde, a Sheriff's Office spokesman, the media outlet reported. Stipe has, however, denied the allegations.

Stipe has also been charged with being a fugitive from justice, which stems from an outstanding warrant, reported NY Daily News. The outstanding warrant was issued from Kenner police, but no further details were available regarding the case.

He is being held Wednesday at Jefferson Parish correctional center in Gretna. The court has set his bond at $1,500 on charges of delinquency and one other attachment.

First-degree rape charge in Louisiana refers to rape committed with a weapon, when there are multiple perpetrators or when the victim is under 13, over 65, or disabled. It is a felony charge that can allow sentencing up to life imprisonment without parole. The convicted offenders also need to be registered as a sex offender after the period of imprisonment.

In a similar incident reported in India, a man was arrested on charges of raping his friend’s daughter, bludgeoning her with a rock and trying to bury her alive. The police arrested 36-year-old Sushil Verma from the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh on charges of rape and attempted murder for allegedly assaulting a 14-year-old victim. The victim who went missing from her family’s farm was found buried under thorny bushes and slabs of stones. The girl was found unconscious and suffered serious injuries from the assault.