A Jefferson Parish jury convicted a St. Rose man of the first-degree rape of a 59-year-old woman from Metairie. The verdict came in on Wednesday, following a trial where evidence presented included DNA linking the accused to the crime. According to the Jefferson Parish District Attorney, Paul J. Beebe Jr., 65, was found guilty as charged for a May 2023 incident in an apartment on Riverside Drive.
The facts of the case, as laid out during the trial, are harrowing. The victim, a small-statured woman and acquaintance of Beebe’s brother, was at the apartment the night before the attack. Beebe, who had been drinking, fell asleep on the floor. The following morning, the prosecution argued that he assaulted the victim after his brother left for work. "I got you now," Beebe allegedly told the woman before he proceeded to beat, drag, and rape her. The victim managed to escape afterwards, despite her injuries, as reported by the Jefferson Parish District Attorney.
The jury deliberated for about 2 and a half hours before reaching their verdict. The case, prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Brendan Bowen and Lindsay Truhe, included testimonies and physical evidence that swayed the decision. Swabs from a sexual assault examination provided DNA evidence that played a crucial role in Beebe’s conviction. The Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office reported that Beebe had conflicting defenses, stating the act was consensual, but also claimed he was incapable of completing the act.
Sentencing for Beebe is scheduled for next Tuesday, where Judge Shayna Beevers Morvant of the 24th Judicial District Court will deliver the sentence. This verdict follows a multi-day trial process, commencing this past Monday, and concluding with Wednesday's deliberation. The jury’s decision underscores the gravity of the evidence and the harrowing accounts presented in court. Various reports have not indicated whether Beebe plans to appeal, as per the Jefferson Parish District Attorney.
