Eyewitness alerts mother to crime, third suspect still sought

By LEONARD GRAY

Managing Editor

LAPLACE — One man has been arrested, a teenage boy is in custody and a third male is being sought for the sexual assault on a 12-year-old LaPlace girl.

Carlos Barrow, 20, of 1600 Tiffany Drive, was charged with aggravated rape and carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Two other males are believed to be involved as well and are to be similarly charged.

Maj. Michael Tregre of the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that the victim’s mother called police after she was called by a neighbor, who allegedly witnessed the assault.

According to the incident report, the incident took place on April 18 when the victim’s mother received a phone call saying the child was seen through a window, having sexual contact with a man.

When the child was questioned, the victim said she was called by a 16-year-old boy she knows and asked to come to his residence, according to the report.

Upon her arrival, three males had sexual contact with the girl after she was threatened, and she returned home.

The report continued that the victim &#8220seemed to be very reluctant to speak in the first place, because she would be known as a snitch.”

It added that &#8220she did not want to say anything to her mother because she thought she would gt in trouble for leaving the house in the first place.”

A 16-year-old male, already jailed in St. John Parish on an unrelated charge, is to also be charged on this incident, according to Tregre, while a third male, yet to be identified, is being sought for his involvement.