NOLA Ex-Priest Gets Life For Multiple Child Rapes

New Orleans’ NBC affiliate reports:

A former New Orleans priest who pleaded guilty to rape and kidnapping has been sentenced to life in prison. Lawrence Hecker, 93, was sentenced Wednesday, just weeks after he entered his plea moments before jury selection was slated to begin in his trial

He does not have the eligibility for parole. District Attorney Jason Williams wants Hecker to serve his life sentence at Angola. It is unclear at this time what prison he will be sent to.

Three people who say they were molested by Hecker were in court during the sentencing hearing Wednesday. Three of those victims took the stand to give impact statements. The first person, Aaron Hebert, called Hecker as “Satan in priest’s clothing.”

The local archbishop, who has appeared here many times for his batshittery, has issued a statement:

Today, it is our hope and prayer that the survivors of abuse perpetrated by Lawrence Hecker have some closure and some sense of peace in his sentencing. On behalf of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, we offer our sincere and heartfelt apologies to the survivors for the pain Hecker has caused them to endure for decades.

To those who have so recently come forward after struggling with this pain for so many years, we commend your bravery and echo Judge Campbell’s words as we hope you can again learn to trust. Our prayers are with all survivors and when the bankruptcy has concluded, I will meet with those survivors who wish to do so.

At the first link above, you’ll find much more from Hecker’s victims, one of whom says he was choked unconscious before being raped. Hecker was deemed eligible for prison despite having been diagnosed with dementia. At 93, his life sentence will be brief. Watch the video reports.