A former New Orleans priest had pleaded guilty to raping a teenage boy nearly 50 years ago.
Lawrence Hecker, 93, pleaded guilty on Tuesday, Dec. 4, to charges handed down by the Orleans Parish District Attorney of aggravated rape, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated crime against nature and theft for the rape of a teenage boy in 1975 and 1976, according to WWL-TV, The Guardian and CBS News.
Hecker entered his plea shortly before jury selection was set to begin for his trial, according to the news outlets.
The former priest’s attorney Bobby Hjortsberg told reporters outside of the court, per WWL-TV, that Hecker made the decision to plead guilty because “he wanted to take responsibility for the crimes that he committed.”
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams said he hoped the plea would provide some relief for his victims, per WWL-TV.
“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 announced the indictment of Hecker in connection with the rape of a teenager on Jan. 1, 1975 and Dec. 31, 1976.
This indictment came a few months after The Guardian obtained a written admission from Hecker from 1999 in which he admitted to committing sexual acts with underage children he had met during his ministry.
Hecker’s case faced several delays following the indictment, with his mental competence to stand trial at issue due to a dementia diagnosis. The judge who was also first assigned Hecker’s case recused himself from the case, citing a personality clash with the lead prosecutor, according to The Guardian.
Hecker is scheduled to return to court on Dec. 18, where he will receive a life sentence.
