New Orleans, LA– A former priest from New Orleans has admitted to sexually assaulting a teenage boy almost 50 years ago.
Lawrence Hecker, 93, entered a guilty plea on Tuesday, Dec. 4, to charges from the Orleans Parish District Attorney, including aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated crime against nature, and theft related to the assault of a teenage boy in 1975 and 1976.
Hecker submitted his plea just ahead of the scheduled jury selection for his trial.
Bobby Hjortsberg, the former priest’s attorney, informed reporters outside the court that Hecker chose to plead guilty because “he wanted to take responsibility for the crimes that he committed.”
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams expressed his hope that the plea would comfort the victims.
“I believe this investigation and this prosecution represents a critical moment for some little boys who are now men — some of them who are now grandfathers, who have lived with this horrific abuse for years,” Williams said.
“Decades ago, these little boys told adults what happened to them and they weren’t believed,” he continued. “There were a lot of legal mechanisms and gymnastics just to get to a trial date. And I knew when we got this firm trial date, there would not be a place for this predator to run.”
In September 2023, Williams revealed the indictment of Hecker related to the rape of a teenager that occurred on January 1, 1975, and December 31, 1976.
A few months after The Guardian acquired a written confession from Hecker dating back to 1999, this indictment was issued. In that confession, he acknowledged engaging in sexual acts with underage children he encountered during his ministry.
Hecker’s case encountered multiple postponements after the indictment, as questions arose regarding his mental fitness for trial due to a dementia diagnosis. A judge initially assigned to Hecker’s case stepped down, citing a conflict with the lead prosecutor, as reported by The Guardian.
Hecker’s court appearance is set for Dec. 18, where he is expected to be sentenced to life in prison.
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