A Port Barre police officer is in hot water after being accused of raping and coercing sex from a woman he pulled over for speeding in exchange for leniency.
Officer Darwin Fontenot, 21, was arrested and charged with third-degree rape and malfeasance in office. Fontenot admitted to having sex with the woman during an interview in the course of being investigated.
According to Police Chief Deon Boudreaux, he first became aware of the incident on April 27 after receiving a report from the St. Bernard’s Sheriff’s office. The report detailed a complaint from a Chalmette woman who accused Fontenot of engaging in a sexual act with her during a traffic stop on U.S. 90 for speeding that had occurred on March 10, according to Bossip.
Boudreaux said Fontenot is currently out on bail and has been “placed on administrative leave until termination.”
“It’s a sad day when we have to arrest one of our own, but wrong is wrong,” Boudreaux said.
Fontenot worked as a St. Landry Parish Sheriff corrections officer before working for Port Barre. He has been with Port Barre for about a year and a half. He graduated from the police academy in November 2019.
