A Lafayette man faces a maximum of 149 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of child molestation and possessing child pornography.
Lafourche Parish District Attorney Kristine Russell announced that 35-year-old Eli Charpentier was found guilty Wednesday on one count of Pornography Involving Juveniles, Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile, and Aggravated Crime Against Nature.
Detectives began investigating Charpentier after a pre-teen victim came forward and told them he was abused by Charpentier on multiple occasions.
Detectives discovered that Charpentier had pornographic images that showed his genitalia and the pre-teen victim through the investigation. Juvenile Detectives were also able to match a distinctive tattoo on Charpentier with a tattoo seen in the images. As a result, Charpentier was arrested in June of 2019.
Charpentier eventually was taken to trial and a jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict on all three counts.
Charpentier faces up to 99 years and up to a $50,000 fine for Aggravated Crime Against Nature, up to 25 years in prison, and up to a $50,000 fine for Pornography Involving Juveniles, and up to 25 for Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile. Sentencing is set for this June.
“Since April is Child Abuse Awareness month, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the amazing work that Forensic Interviewer Shannan Gros does at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Lafourche,” said Jason Chatagnier, who prosecuted the case. “Without the hard work done at the center, we would not be able to hold child abusers like Eli Charpentier accountable for their crimes.”
Chatagnier continued, “It’s important that the citizens of Lafourche parish continue supporting the center now more than ever. There are many children who need the services that the center provides. Our children must be protected, because without them we have no future.”
