NEW ORLEANS (LA)
Nola.com [New Orleans, LA]
December 8, 2023
By Jillian Kramer
He is charged with one count each of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated crime against nature, first-degree rape and theft of $500 or more.
An Orleans Parish judge on Thursday set a March 25 trial date for Lawrence Hecker, the 92-year-old retired New Orleans priest accused of raping and kidnapping a teenager nearly 50 years ago.
Hecker, who served in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, allegedly confessed in 1999 to church leaders that he had molested several teenagers over a span of 15 years, according to an investigation The Guardian published in June. The archdiocese allowed him to stay in the church.
An indictment charges Hecker with assaulting only one teenager. Hecker faces counts of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated crime against nature, first-degree rape and theft of $500 or more. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in September.
Criminal District Court Judge Benedict Willard set bail in September at $885,000 for Hecker, who has remained since in the Orleans Parish jail.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams had pledged a swift trial for Hecker, whose attorneys have pressed for his release from jail based on his age and health concerns. Hecker appeared in court on Thursday bent over a walker in an orange jail-issued jumpsuit.
The Guardian reported that Hecker confessed in a written statement to engaging in “overtly sexual acts” with two boys and other illicit behavior with other children from 1966 to 1979. Archbishop Gregory Aymond knew about at least nine allegations against Hecker, the outlet reported, but the church did not publicly acknowledge accusations against him for years.
The archdiocese released a statement after Hecker’s indictment, saying it had reported him “to law enforcement authorities in different jurisdictions multiples times since 2002. We have fully cooperated and will continue to cooperate with any law enforcement investigation” into Hecker.
Email Jillian Kramer at jillian.kramer@theadvocate.com.