LAKE CHARLES, La. — A 20-year-old Lake Charles man has been arrested in Calcasieu Parish after a girl under the age of 14 reported ongoing sexual abuse, according to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives with the Sheriff’s Office began investigating on January 21 after the juvenile disclosed that she had been sexually abused multiple times.
During the initial investigation, the victim told detectives that she had been sexually abused on more than one occasion by William R. Leonards, 20, of Lake Charles, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
Later the same day, detectives spoke with Leonards. According to investigators, he confirmed that he had inappropriate sexual contact with the victim, including two occasions in which he had sexual intercourse with her.
Leonards was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center. He is charged with three counts of sexual battery and two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile.
- Sexual battery typically involves non-consensual sexual contact, especially when a victim is unable to legally give consent because of age or other factors.
- Carnal knowledge of a juvenile in Louisiana generally refers to sexual intercourse with someone who is below the legal age of consent, even if the minor appears to agree, because the law assumes a child cannot legally consent.
Judge Tony Fazzio set Leonards’ bond at $450,000, according to information released by the Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation is being led by CPSO Special Victims Unit Detective Elizabeth Ivey. The Special Victims Unit (SVU) focuses on cases involving vulnerable victims, including children and victims of sexual crimes.
No additional details, including the relationship between the suspect and the victim or how long the reported abuse had been occurring, were released. Authorities also did not disclose where the alleged offenses took place within Calcasieu Parish.
The Sheriff’s Office did not announce any further charges as of the latest information provided. All charges are accusations at this stage of the criminal process. Leonards is presumed innocent unless and until he is found guilty in a court of law.
Because the case involves a juvenile, additional information may be limited as the investigation continues and as prosecutors review the evidence for potential future court proceedings.
All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.