According to Berwick Police Chief David Leonard, on October 27th, the Berwick Police Department was contacted by Children’s Hospital in New Orleans concerning a juvenile patient who disclosed that she had been repeatedly raped over the last several years. Detectives were assigned to the case and learned that the abuse took place at a residence in Berwick when the victim was under the age of 13.
Throughout the course of the investigation, the suspect was identified as 30-year-old Randell Thomas of Howard Lane in Napoleonville.
Through investigative means, detectives were able to establish that probable cause existed for the arrest of Mr. Thomas. Warrants were prepared for his arrest and on November 28th, Thomas surrendered himself to the Berwick Police Department where he was processed on the warrants.
Howard was charged with 2 counts of First-Degree rape – Victim under 13 years old.
The investigation is ongoing and due to the age of the victim and nature of the crime, no further information regarding this incident can be released.