An effort is intensifying to remove the next coroner of St. Tammany Parish before he ever takes office.
The reason is child sexual abuse allegations against Dr. Christopher Tape.
"The expectation is, we can do better," Northshore State Senator Beth Mizell said. "We were caught off guard."
She is among a group of leaders working to convince Tape to quit or face a recall.
WWL TV investigators discovered that Dr. Tape was charged with six counts of child sexual assault in 2001. The case was dismissed because a judge rule prosecutors violated Tape's Constitutional right to a speedy trial.
Mizell says while Tape was not convicted, a trial did not clear him either.
"There was no proven innocent," she insisted. "I appreciate the Constitution, but that doesn't change the facts."
WWL TV's David Hammer reported that Tape admitted lowering a seven year old girl's pants and underwear and spanking and rubbing her bare bottom.
Police also said they found pornography inside Tape's shed showing young females being whipped inside.
Mizell and others issued a public statement.
"We are asking Dr. Tape to resign from his position as incoming coroner. Otherwise, we, as the parish legislative delegation, would support a recall petition to protect the people and the families we serve... We collectively share serious concerns about a story appearing on local television news detailing previous child assault charges against Dr. Tape in the state of New Mexico... We believe there is a reasonable and rightful expectation among voters that our public leaders possess unquestionable character and sound judgment as a way to instill trust within the community. An elected official who has six unresolved charges of child sexual abuse violates that trust; especially an official serving as coroner investigating sexual assault.”
Tape is scheduled to take office on March 25, 2024.
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 was legal. The magazines recovered included one named "Barely Legal."
