Charles Wesley Coleman pleaded guilty a week before his 42nd birthday to the felony and was sentenced by Judge Ellis Daigle to 10 years with credit for time served.
Coleman, arrested in June 2010, was indicted in March 2011 on 20 counts of forcible rape, according to records previously shielded in St. Landry Parish’s criminal court system.
An order by district judges allows public inspection of minute records only in such cases, inspection that was not permitted until a month ago.
According to the record, the District Attorney’s Office reached agreement with the defense and amended Coleman’s charge on Feb. 8. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced.
At sentencing, Judge Daigle, according to the record, said Coleman posed an undue risk of committing another crime if giving a suspended sentence or probation.
He also said the defendant showed no sign of remorse for his actions.
Grand jury proceedings are closed and its reports shielded by order.
According to records, the grand jury alleged that Coleman entered the girl’s bedroom on June 16, 2010, threw her down on the bed, pulled off her clothes and began to rape her. She called for help and her mother busted into the room. The girl, according to the grand jury, told her mother that Coleman had attacked her beginning about April 1. According to the record, the girl said she was a virgin prior to the time the attacks began and a test that night indicated the girl was pregnant.
Had he been convicted of forcible rape, Coleman would have received at least five years per count, but not more than 40.
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