Yesterday, a St. Tammany Parish judge handed 32-year-old George Starks of Pearl River a life sentence for the rape and sexual battery of a child, closing the book on a brutal 2022 case that began on a dead-end road in Slidell. Prosecutors said the crime took place in July 2022, when Starks lured the child into his vehicle, drove to a secluded dead end and attacked her. A jury found him guilty in December, and the court ordered that the life term be served without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension.
Prosecutors' Account and Evidence
According to the District Attorney's Office, evidence at trial showed that Starks lured the child into his car, drove to the dead end of Bull Run in Slidell, and forcibly removed and assaulted her. Surveillance footage from a nearby gas station helped place Starks in the area, and DNA testing conducted by the St. Tammany Parish Coroner's Office was central to the case. Investigators led by Detective Patrick Rigney pieced together the timeline, and prosecutors told jurors that although Starks’ story shifted during the proceedings, the physical evidence ultimately carried the day.
Fast Verdict and Sentence
As per FOX 8 live, the trial lasted four days, and jurors deliberated for about 19 minutes before returning the guilty verdict in December. According to WGNO, Judge Tara Zeller then imposed a life sentence for first-degree rape of a child under 13, along with a concurrent 50-year hard-labor term for sexual battery.
DA Statement and Victim Support
District Attorney Collin Sims called the punishment necessary, saying, "Today’s sentence ensures that a dangerous predator will never again have the opportunity to harm a child in our community. The victim’s bravery throughout this process remained the foundation of this case. This life sentence is the only just outcome for such heinous acts," according to the District Attorney's Office. The release also thanked the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, the Coroner's Office, Hope House and the Morgan Rae Center for Hope for their work in securing the conviction and supporting the victim. Prosecutors noted that the sentences are mandatory, must be served at hard labor, and that the 50-year term will run concurrently with the life sentence.
