Court upholds conviction of Beauregard man serving life sentences for rape of child
Published 10:30 am Friday, April 29, 2022
- The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal serves 21 parishes in Southwest and central Louisiana.
The Third Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the conviction this week of a Beauregard Parish man serving two life sentences for two counts of first-degree rape involving a child under the age of 13.
William Ray Weeks, 46, contended that the 36th Judicial District Court in DeRidder did not have sufficient evidence when it found him guilty last June, saying the court only had the testimony of his victim and no physical evidence.
The appellate court disagreed with Weeks’ argument, saying that while there was no physical evidence due to delayed reporting by the victims, testimony alone is sufficient so long as there was no internal contradiction within the victim’s statements. Simply put, the jury chose to believe the victim’s testimony.
“It is not the court’s role to second guess the credibility determinations made by the jury,” the court’s opinion reads.
Weeks also argued in his appeal against two molestation charges against him that were heard in addition to the rape charges. Weeks argued those charges should have been severed and that those charges “could have been used by the jury to infer a criminal disposition,” according to court documents.
During the 2021 trial, jurors had been unable to reach an unanimous decision in regards to the molestation charges, requiring Judge Martha Ann O’Neal to declare a mistrial on those charges only. The state later dismissed those charges.
In its opinion, the appellate court dismissed Weeks’ argument regarding those charges, saying the alleged actions would have been admissible in court and as such, the argument lacked merit.
With its ruling, Weeks will continue to serve his two life sentences without the possibility of probation or parole.
Weeks was originally arrested in Vernon Parish in 2018, where he was indicted on three counts of molestation of a juvenile for acts that occurred while he lived in Rosepine. He was later transferred to Beauregard Parish and charged with four counts of first-degree rape. The case was tried by Beauregard Parish Assistant District Attorney Wayne Bush.
