Lafayette Parish jury convicted a man for first degree rape

LAFAYETTE PARISH, La. (KLFY) -- A Lafayette Parish jury convicted Eric Falgout earlier this afternoon for first degree rape of a juvenile female who was twelve years old at the time of the last incident.

According to authorities, the defendant was the victim's 42 year old stepfather. The evidence and testimony during the weeklong trial showed that the victim and her parents lived in Lafayette Parish in November of 2022 when the last rape occurred.

The victim told authorities that the sexual abuse had been ongoing since she was about six years old. The rapes occurred over approximately six years at every location where the victim lived or visited her mother and stepfather, including in Vermilion and Livingston Parishes, authorities reported.

Falgout was also arrested and indicted for first degree rape and sexual battery committed on the same victim in Livingston Parish, and the evidence there showed that the defendant committed that rape in the same manner as in the other parishes.

Lafayette Parish felony prosecutors were able to present evidence of the other crimes in the Lafayette trial, which showed a pattern of criminal acts. The evidence showed that the defendant created advances to sexually assault his stepdaughter over the six-year period when the victim was in his sole custody.

During the investigation, and forensic interview of the victim at the Denham Springs Child Advocacy Center showed the jury that her statements were consistent throughout the investigation, and provided important piece of evidence for the jury.

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