Ville Platte man charged with rape of underage minor
VILLE PLATTE, La. (KLFY) -- A Ville Platte man is accused of raping a minor and impregnating her, authorities said.
Lepoleon Herbert, 56, of Ville Platte, was booked into the Evangeline Parish Jail Friday afternoon and charged with molestation of a juvenile, indecent behavior with juveniles, aggravated crime against nature and aggravated rape, jail records show.
The Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office received a report Jan. 16 that Herbert was having inappropriate contact with a minor, officials said.
Investigators said they found Herbert had sexually assaulted the minor over seven years ago when she was 15 years old. After securing DNA from the victim and the suspect, it was confirmed that Herbert had fathered a child with that victim whose child is now seven years old, authorities said.
EPSO received information Friday that Herbert was in Eunice. Detectives then forwarded the warrants for Herbert to the Eunice City Marshal's office, which located Herbert at a home on W. Ash Street. He was arrested, transported to the Eunice City Jail, and then transferred to the Evangeline Parish Jail.
Herbert is being held on a $1.3 million bond.
The investigation is still ongoing.