By Bonnie Culverhouse
A south Webster Parish resident is behind bars for alleged rape.
Muadh “Mark” Hozam, 48, of the 500 block of Fuller St., Doyline, was arrested by Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputies for first degree rape of a juvenile under 13. Bond has been set at $350,000.
Sheriff Jason Parker said early February 2023 reports of a missing 12-year-old were made to the sheriffs office.
“The child’s father made the initial report of the child missing and during the investigation it was disclosed that the child ran away from his home in Doyline,” said the sheriff. “Through the investigation, detectives discovered the child reportedly had been sexually abused by the father. This information was reported by a family member in South Carolina who picked up the child after reports of abuse. The child was located in Monroe.”
On July 10, Hozam, an employee of Doyline Country Store, was arrested and charged with one count of first-degree rape of a juvenile under the age of 13.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
