Harry Lee Touchet was convicted in the 15th Judicial District Court in Abbeville of molestation of a juvenile victim who was under the age of thirteen.

ABBEVILLE, La. (KLFY) -- A Vermilion Parish jury found a man guilty Thursday of molesting a 4-year-old, prosecutors said.

Harry Lee Touchet was convicted in the 15th Judicial District Court in Abbeville of molestation of a juvenile victim who was under the age of thirteen.

Abbeville Police Department witnesses testified that the crime occurred when Touchet babysat the 4-year-old female victim while her mother worked, and during his time alone with her sexually assaulted the young victim, prosecutors said. Lt. Eugene Rougeaux led the investigation for Abbeville P.D., with assistance from Department of Child and Family Services.

District Attorney Don Landry said the victim’s family had consistently communicated with
his office and cooperated whenever called on.

“We appreciate the victims helping us to get this case to trial so quickly," Landry said. "We will continue to keep our community safe by prosecuting sexual predators who victimize young children, and we will continue to see that the victim obtains justice. That family is to be commended for doing so in this case.”

Felony prosecutor Aaron Meche, who prosecuted at the jury trial with fellow assistant DA
Celeste White, said he was very satisfied with the result and that the victim’s family obtained justice.

“Thanks to the hard work and commitment of Lt. Rougeaux and the Abbeville Police Department
and the entire staff at the District Attorney’s Office in Vermilion Parish, we were able to give the victim and her mother closure and ensure that this defendant cannot victimize any other children in Vermilion Parish or anywhere else,” Meche said.

District Judge Laurie Hulin set sentencing for Aug. 8, with a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years at hard labor without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence provided under Louisiana law. The maximum sentence for molestation of a juvenile is 99 years.

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