Dulac woman gets eight years for sexually assaulting boy

Dulac woman gets eight years for sexually assaulting boy

Bridget Mire Staff Writer
Monday, April 04, 2016 6:18 PM


A Dulac woman will serve eight years in prison after pleading guilty Monday to the sexual battery of a boy when he was between 11 and 13.

Denise Lapeyrouse, 25, will not have the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence and must also register as a sex offender for 25 years, said Kristine Russell, first assistant district attorney for Lafourche Parish.

"After discussing it with the victim, who's older now, instead of going through a trial, we felt that was a just offer," Russell said. "We thought that would be a fair offer with the victim. I'm satisfied with the eight years and the registration for 25 years. I'm a big proponent of registration. That's something I never want to negotiate on."

State District Judge John LeBlanc presided over the case in Thibodaux.

Lapeyrouse also faces charges involving the same victim in Terrebonne Parish, where Assistant District Attorney Bud Barnes is prosecuting the case.

Barnes said he offered Lapeyrouse a plea deal for forcible rape in October and he expects her to accept it. If she does, she'll get 13 years in prison, suspended on the condition of serving eight.

Lapeyrouse would have to serve two years without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence, be on supervised probation for five years and register as a sex offender for life, Barnes said. State District Judge Randy Bethancourt would decide whether or not that sentence runs concurrent with the one for the Lafourche case.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff's Office charged Lapeyrouse with aggravated rape July 29, 2014, after the victim reported her. The boy said Lapeyrouse had sex with him in Terrebonne and Lafourche when he was between 11 and 13 and she was between 17 and 19.

Lapeyrouse admitted to about 10 incidents, according to court records.

Houma attorneys Tracy Schwab and Kerry Byrne were Lapeyrouse's public defenders for the Lafourche and Terrebonne cases, respectively. Neither could be reached for comment.