By Bonnie Culverhouse
A Webster Parish man, found guilty of rape charges, will face sentencing Wednesday, July 7.
After three hours of deliberation, a 12-person jury found Michael W. Duck, 54, guilty of one count of first-degree rape of a child under 13 years of age and one count of second-degree rape.
He was remanded to the custody of the sheriff awaiting an investigation, which was scheduled to be concluded before sentencing by Judge Michael Craig.
“The judge wants to know prior criminal history,” Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said. “He wants as much information about his background before sentencing. This man doesn’t have a lot in his background, so there won’t be much to investigate.
“I think justice was served,” he added.
The sentence for first-degree rape is a mandatory life sentence. Duck faces up to an additional 30 years for the charge of second-degree rape. He was represented by Eric Johnson and Eric Whitehead of the Johnson Law Firm.
Duck was arrested in 2016, following an extensive investigation by the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office when one of the minor victims contacted the WPSO and reported that her stepfather had been sexually assaulting her.
During the course of the investigation, multiple other family members revealed they were also sexually assaulted by Duck.
The jury heard testimony from Detective Teresa Rogers and Detective Heather Boucher, both experts in the fields of clinical psychology, DNA analysis and sexual assault examinations as well as from multiple other victims who came forward during the investigation.
The cases allegedly took place in the Sarepta area, according to Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jimbo Yocom and Hugo Holland. District Attorney Schuyler Marvin thanked the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office for their hard work and dedication finding justice for these young children.
“It is the height of evil that Michael Duck would stand before you and ask that you find him innocent when innocence is the very thing he stole from these young children,” Assistant District Attorney Jimbo Yocom told jurors.
