The St. Tammany Council today votes on a measure urging the incoming coroner to quit before he takes office in two and a half weeks.
The resolution reads, "THE PARISH OF ST. TAMMANY HEREBY RESOLVES and urges Coroner-Elect Dr. Christopher Tape to not assume the elected office of St. Tammany Parish Coroner and to otherwise resign and not accept that position on March 25, 2024."
It comes amid reports of past criminal allegations of child sex assault against Dr. Tape.
The measure says, "The St. Tammany Parish Coroner must be vigilant to maintain a high degree of fidelity to the law, as well as credibility and integrity, with adherence to the highest of professional and ethical standards and obedience to the rule of law."
No one ran against tape in last year's elections.
Since the election information has surfaced that Tape was arrested and charged with molesting a juvenile in New Mexico in 2001, but the case was thrown out after prosecutors took too long to bring the matter to trial.
Councilwoman Martha Cazaubon writes, "The St. Tammany Parish Coroner must not only maintain such high standards, but should also avoid all appearances of impropriety which might undermine the public trust, confidence and support for the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office, or which might suggest that such high standards are not being, or will not be, maintained by that office, or which might otherwise impair the effectiveness of the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's office."
The meeting starts at 6:00pm.
Dr. Tape was charged with six counts of child sexual assault after accusations he spanked and rubbed the bare bottom of a seven year old girl.
Police also said they found pornography inside Tape's shed showing young females being whipped inside.
The coroner elect told WWL TV that he was the victim of "false accusations."
Tape said he was disciplining the child, who was his girlfriend's daughter, and denied anything inappropriate.
He also said the pornography found was legal. The magazines recovered included one named "Barely Legal."
