Former Officer Walter Urena Incest Conviction Upheld

The Louisiana 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal has affirmed the incest convictions of a retired Alexandria police officer, but it ordered a review of part of his sentencing.

Walter Urena, 66, was found guilty on five of six counts of aggravated incest in a jury trial in 2013. He was sentenced to two consecutive 20-year terms and three concurrent 10-year prison terms.

Urena, who was arrested in July 2011, appealed the convictions and the sentences on the grounds of insufficient evidence and that the two 20-year sentences were excessive.

On May 7, the appellate court sent the case back to the trial court to reconsider the consecutive 20-year sentences.

According to the appellate court’s opinion, written by Judge Billy Howard Ezell, Urena “is not one of the worst of offenders when it comes to child sexual abuse.”

The opinion also states that “while the victim in the current case was a minor, five or six when the abuse began, it did not escalate from touching and ended when the victim told him to stop. Without sufficient justification, we find that the two consecutive sentences totaling forty years is nothing more than cruel and unusual punishment.”

Rapides Parish Assistant District Attorney Monique Metoyer prosecuted the case.

She said prosecuting a public figure, such as a former police officer, carries with it a different level of expectations.

“There’s a level of disappointment you don’t have otherwise,” she said. “It’s almost incomprehensible. You think you know someone, and you don’t. It’s a total violation, and it’s a selfish, selfish act.”

NOPO Arrested for Raping Stepson & Stepdaughters

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office deputies arrested a New Orleans police officer Thursday, accused of raping his stepson and two stepdaughters, Sheriff Jack Strain confirmed Saturday morning.

With his lawyer in tow, the 50-year-old Slidell man, a 17-year- veteran and sergeant of the NOPD patrol section, turned himself into authorities Thursday about 4:30 p.m., Strain said.

He was booked into St. Tammany Parish Jail in Covington on three counts of aggravated rape and aggravated incest, Strain said. Strain did not reveal the alleged victims' ages, but under Louisiana law aggravated rape can be charged when a victim is 13 or younger.

Aggravated rape carries a mandatory life in prison sentence if convicted.

The alleged abuse came to light when one of the children told an 'educator' about the abuse, Strain said.

An investigation was launched, and 'obviously it didn't take long to realize who (the suspect was),' Strain said.

'I personally spoke with (NOPD Police) Chief Warren Riley to tell him about our investigation,' Strain said. 'He offered any support the department can give and complete cooperation.'

The man, whose name is being withheld to protect the victims, has been suspended from the NOPD pending the investigation, Bob Young, an NOPD spokesman said.

The investigation took six weeks after the 'kids were removed from custody' because St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office investigators wanted to build a strong case, Strain said.

'We believe this case is just as good as any we solved,' Strain said. 'It's an incredibly unfortunate incident, but it shows how serious we are.'

Detectives investigated where other abuses occurred in the suspect's role as a police officer, but to date 'we have seen no evidence that there could be any other victims related to his job,' Strain said.