By Pat Culverhouse

A 55-year-old Minden man is facing a charge of first degree rape for an incident involving alleged sexual activity with a mentally handicapped person.

Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said Tony R. Wooldridge, a resident of the 800 block of Pine St. in Minden, is being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center following his arrest Tuesday. No bond reportedly has been set.

Sheriff’s detectives reportedly were dispatched to Minden Medical Center Monday in response to a call for service involving the victim. During questioning, investigators learned the victim had been taken by the suspect to an unknown location in the parish and forcibly assaulted.

Detectives Karen McDonald, Chase Walsworth and Sgt. Josh McCormick reportedly obtained a search warrant to collect the suspect’s clothing and DNA. After receiving his Miranda warning, Wooldridge reportedly admitted to having sex with the victim, claiming the act was consensual.

According to investigators, the victim was unable to give consent due to her mental capacity, and Wooldridge was taken into custody.

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.