Jurors on the Northshore today began deliberating the evidence in the sex abuse trial of former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain.
After prosecutors presented dozens of witnesses, including five people who say former sheriff Jack Strain either raped or sexually abused them, the defense rested without calling anyone.
During closing arguments today, Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Authement called the former sheriff "the ultimate manipulator," who used his position as sheriff to help his victims find jobs and other benefits, in order to keep them quite.
The defense repeated its argument the state had not presented credible evidence or testimony to convict Strain.
Strain is charged with four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated incest, one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile, and one count of sexual battery.
