By MOLLY DRYMAN

Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – A suspect that was sought for sexual battery of a 12-year-old LaPlace girl turned himself in on Monday.

Maj. Mike Tregre, spokesman for the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office, said after Joshua Riley Sr., 25, of Kenner, saw himself in the newspaper, he turned himself in.

&#8220He showed up on Monday at 10:49 a.m.,” Tregre said. &#8220He was arrested and charged with sexual battery.”

Riley, was a Katrina refugee that had been living with a LaPlace family since the storm. A warrant was issued for his arrest after evidence showed Riley had sexual contact with the host family’s 12-year-old daughter.

On Feb. 3, the mother of the victim took her daughter to River Parishes Hospital for an examination, after a letter was found in the girl’s bedroom.

The letter revealed the two had sexual contact, according to information provided by the Sheriff’s Office.

It was reported that the girl’s examination did reveal she had sexual contact, and with further questioning, the victim determined that Riley had made comments about other members of the family, including his desires about the victim’s 15-year-old sister.

Riley is being held at the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility on a $75,000 bond set by Judge Mary Hotard Becnel.