By LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – Former Destrehan resident John Borskey entered a guilty plea this week to two counts of attempted forcible rape before 29th Judicial District Judge Robert Chaisson as part of a plea agreement. In exchange for the plea, Borskey, 36, was sentenced to 10 years in prison with all but 18 months suspended due to his poor health. He received credit for time served and was released from custody. He was placed on five years of active probation.

Borskey was charged on Feb. 14, 2001 with the aggravated rape of two girls, ages 9 and 11, District Attorney spokeswoman Regina Cyrus said. Under a 1996 state law, Borskey faced a possible death sentence if convicted, since he was charged with the rape of a child under the age of 12.

He allegedly raped the children in the early spring of 2000. Police were notified in April 2000, and the St. Charles Parish Grand Jury issued an indictment against him that same month. He was later found in Metairie and arrested by Jefferson Parish authorities.

Booked into the system, his arrest was not made public until October 2001, when the judge asked the St. Charles Parish Council for an extra $26,750 to cover the trial’s anticipated expenses. The expenses included meals and housing for a sequestered jury for up to two weeks.

Borskey was held on a $750,000 bond at the Nelson Coleman Correctional Center to await trial.

Prosecuting the case was assistant district attorney Howat Peters, and the defense was led by Mark Marino. Peters said the plea agreement was reached when it was learned Borskey is suffering from a progressive, likely fatal, disease.

District Attorney Harry Morel Jr. said, “There were extenuating circumstances in this case, which is why the plea was offered. Myself and my assistant district attorneys took into consideration the defendant’s fatal illness and our desire to save the victims from having to testify, and we decided that it was in everyone’s best interest to offer and accept the plea.”

Borskey was sentenced under the sex offender statute, which requires him to register his residency.