06 Apr Lafayette Man Faces 164 Years In Prison After Guilty Verdict
Lafourche Parish District Attorney Kristine Russell announced that a Lafayette man arrested in June of 2019 for Pornography Involving Juveniles, Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile, and Aggravated Crime Against Nature was found guilty as charged by a Lafourche parish jury on Wednesday, April 6th.
Eli Charpentier, 35, became the focus of a Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Juvenile Detectives’ investigation when the pre-teen victim came forward and disclosed abuse endured on multiple occasions at the hands of Charpentier.
During the investigation, Charpentier was discovered to be in possession of pornographic images that showed his genitalia and the pre-teen victim. Juvenile Detectives were also able to match a distinctive tattoo on Charpentier with a tattoo seen in the images. As a result of the investigation, Charpentier was arrested and eventually taken to trial.
“Since April is Child Abuse Awareness month, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the amazing work that Forensic Interviewer Shannan Gros does at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Lafourche,” said Jason Chatagnier, who prosecuted the case. “Without the hard work done at the center, we would not be able to hold child abusers like Eli Charpentier accountable for their crimes.”
Chatagnier continued, “It’s important that the citizens of Lafourche parish continue supporting the center now more than ever. There are many children who need the services that the center provides. Our children must be protected, because without them we have no future.”
After deliberations, the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on all three counts. Eli Charpentier faces no less than twenty-five (25) years and up to ninety-nine (99) years and up to a $50,000 fine for Aggravated Crime Against Nature, no less than ten (10) years and up to forty (40) years in prison and up to a $50,000 fine for Pornography Involving Juveniles, and up to twenty-five years (25) for Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile.
Eli Charpentier’s sentencing date is set for June 16th, 2022 at 1:30 PM where the Honorable Marla Abel, who presided over the trial, will impose Charpentier’s sentence.