[StBernard] Houma teen allegedly raped at St. Bernard center

[Westley Annis]

Houma teen allegedly raped at St. Bernard center

By Matthew Pleasant
Staff Writer


Published: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. 
Last Modified: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 11:30 a.m. 
HOUMA - The parents of a Houma teen say their son was raped at the St.
Bernard Parish Juvenile Detention Center while serving part of a six-month
sentence there last month.

The 16-year-old boy, whom the parents say is mentally impaired, stayed at
the center while the Terrebonne Juvenile Justice Center in Ashland - damaged
and short-staffed after Hurricane Ike - was partially shut down.

St. Bernard authorities charged a 17-year-old inmate from their detention
center, identified as Caleb Punch, who is from the New Orleans area, with
attempted rape following their investigation.

He has been moved to the St. Bernard Parish Prison and has a $100,000 bond.

St. Bernard Chief Deputy James Pohlman said Punch was charged with attempted
rape because that was the only crime the physical evidence would support.

Punch, charged Nov. 25, was kept from other boys while deputies performed an
investigation, St. Bernard authorities said.

The alleged victim's identity - and those of his parents - have been
withheld because the case involves a sex crime.

His parents, distraught by the allegation, said they have spoken to an
attorney to explore their redress options but have not decided how they wish
to handle the matter.

The alleged victim was one of 15 boys evacuated from the Terrebonne Parish
juvenile detention center ahead of Hurricane Gustav. The boys were take to a
detention center in Bossier City at that time.

Jason Hutchinson, the Terrebonne center's director, said all returned after
the storm and were able to stay at the center, which was left undamaged from
storms winds.

During Hurricane Ike, the teens were evacuated to a government building
within the parish or released to their parents if they were serving time for
minor offenses, said Doug Holloway, clerk of Houma City Court.

"If we don't feel that they're a real threat to the community, we'll allow
them to be released to their parents with the understanding that they'll be
returned to the detention center," he said.

The mother of the 16-year-old said detention workers released him to her
care for three weeks after the storm.

"He was so happy," she said.

Detention workers asked her to return her son to complete his six-month
sentence for probation violation because they were able to house him after
the storm.

Four inches of water covered the center, damaging floors and requiring crews
to clean air-conditioning ducts in case mold had grown inside, Hutchinson
said. The center also lost staff, who either moved on to new jobs or were
dealing with their own hardships.

The juvenile center opened nearly a month after Hurricane Ike with enough
bed space to hold 20 boys, Hutchinson said.

Shortly after the teen boys who weathered Ike with their parents returned,
five were sent to St. Bernard to alleviate the space problem.

Holloway said the boys were chosen because they were serving actual
sentences rather than awaiting trial and had no pending court dates.

The mother, who assumed her son would stay locally, said she hadn't learned
her son had been sent out of parish until he called and told her he had
checked into the St. Bernard center.

The next call the family received from him was Nov. 8, when he told his
parents he had been raped and sent to the hospital for treatment.

The parents visited him that day.

The mother said she recalled her son asking " 'Mama, you think I did right
by telling someone?' "

The mother said she recalled telling him "Yes, because you never let someone
do that to you.'"

Police reports say the attack 

allegedly occurred Nov. 7, she 

said. 

According to a report by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office, the boys
shared a cell where the alleged incident occurred.

"Even though this happened, he was still in good spirits," his mother said.
"I didn't want him to see me cry."

The boy, along with the others staying in St. Bernard, returned to
Terrebonne's juvenile center Nov. 28. The 16-year-old is due to be released
in January.