A 19-year-old LaPlace man is behind bars after deputies say he sexually assaulted a 10-year-old girl. Marlon A. Primero‑Xitumul was booked with first‑degree rape and molestation of a juvenile and is being held in the St. John Parish jail.
What the sheriff's office says
Deputies with the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office were called on Sunday to the 200 block of Persimmon Street in LaPlace after a report of a sexual assault. Investigators say the child’s mother reported that Primero‑Xitumul, a relative, had sexually abused the girl.
The victim was taken to Children’s Hospital in New Orleans for a medical evaluation, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies arrested Primero‑Xitumul and booked him with first‑degree rape and molestation of a juvenile. The agency’s release states he is being held in the St. John Parish jail on a $150,000 bond.
Potential penalties and next steps
First‑degree rape is among the most serious felonies in Louisiana. The statute calls for “life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.” Under Louisiana law, sexual intercourse with a victim under 13 is classified as first‑degree rape, which can significantly increase sentencing exposure if prosecutors bring charges and secure a conviction.
How to help investigators
Detectives say the investigation is ongoing and more information could be released as the case moves forward. The sheriff’s office is asking anyone with information to call its TIPS line at 985‑359‑TIPS or submit a tip through the department’s website, according to the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office.
