Former Police Officer in Louisiana Pleads Guilty to Sexually Assaulting a 15-Year-Old Crime Victim in Federal Civil Rights Case

Louisiana — A former police officer with the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) pleaded guilty on November 16, 2022, in federal court to sexually assaulting a 15-year-old crime victim in violation of her constitutional rights.

According to court filings, in May 2020, Rodney Vicknair, 55, escorted a 14-year-old girl who had been a victim of sexual assault to the hospital for a forensic exam, often known as a rape kit, while serving as a NOPD officer. The defendant volunteered to be the victim’s friend and mentor and gave her his cell phone number. The defendant was 53 years old at the time.

“The defendant’s job was to protect a child who was a victim of sexual assault but instead he exploited her vulnerabilities and abused his position of power to carry out his own sexual assault of the victim,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “Law enforcement officials who sexually assault children are not above the law. The Civil Rights Division will continue to hold accountable law enforcement officers who sexually assault their victims when they should have otherwise been keeping them safe.”

“The safeguarding of all of our citizens’ civil rights is an essential part of our Constitution, especially for crime victims,” said U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans for the Eastern District of Louisiana. “Any violation of these rights, especially when committed by a law enforcement officer sworn to protect the rights of our citizens, is particularly disturbing. The public must be able to trust that law enforcement will execute their sworn duties honestly and faithfully and, if not, that they will face the consequences of their actions. Our office, along with the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as state and local law enforcement agencies will continue to investigate and prosecute any violations of civil rights.”

“The preservation of civil rights and the investigation of Color of Law violations are of utmost priority for the FBI,” said Special Agent in Charge Douglas A. Williams Jr. of the FBI New Orleans.

” Today’s guilty plea sends a clear message that individuals like Rodney Vicknair will be held responsible and no one is above the law. We thank our partners at the U.S. States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Department of Justice Civil Rights Division for their strong partnership and dedication to protecting the civil rights of every citizen.”

Vicknair and the victim spoke on the phone and exchanged Snapchat messages in the months and weeks that followed, according to court filings. Vicknair, while in uniform, frequently dropped by the victim’s home unannounced. Vicknair made sexually charged comments to the victim over time.

The defendant arrived at the victim’s house on the night of September 23, 2020. She had only turned 15 at the time. He motioned for her to come outside and get into his vehicle. She sat in the passenger seat while the defendant remained behind the wheel. The defendant then closed the doors, preventing the victim from leaving. He leaned in close to the victim, and she was concerned for her physical safety. The defendant then sexually assaulted the victim by touching her genitals without her consent under her clothing. In court, the defendant stated that he behaved without a valid law enforcement objective, that he knew his acts were improper and against the law, but that he continued to engage in such behavior.

The date for the sentencing hearing has been set for March 8, 2023.

The matter was investigated by the FBI New Orleans Field Office and the New Orleans Police Department Public Integrity Bureau. The case is being prosecuted by Criminal Chief Tracey Knight of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana and Special Litigation Counsel Fara Gold of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division’s Criminal Section.