Seventh Ward man with history of sexual crimes pleads guilty to rape of 9-year-old

The Advocate - 6/19/2018

June 19--A 7th Ward man accused in a November 2014 rape pleaded guilty to the charge on Monday and has been sentenced to 80 years in prison, according to a news release from District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro's office.

The man, Kenya McCall, was scheduled to go to trial Tuesday on incidents that happened on Nov. 15, 2014, when a 9-year-old girl said McCall forced her to perform oral sex on him in the bathroom of his home in the 2700 block of St. Bernard Avenue before raping her later that day at a house in New Orleans East.

The victim later disclosed the account to school officials and told a forensic investigator with the New Orleans Child Advocacy Center that McCall had offered her money to keep silent on the abuse.

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McCall was initially charged with first-degree rape, which carries a life sentence. His plea was to an amended charge, though -- two counts of second-degree rape and one second offense count of failure to register as a sex offender relating to 1992 guilty plea of second-degree rape and sexual battery charges in Orleans Parish for which McCall received a 10 year sentence, and ended up serving five years. McCall was 16 years old at the time.

McCall was again convicted of sex crimes in 2007, that time in Tangipahoa Parish. He was sentenced to five years in prison in that instance after pleading guilty for failing to register as a sex offender and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

"A defendant with such a history of sex crimes against juveniles does not deserve to walk the streets of our city," Cannizzaro said. "This young victim has moved out of state and remains traumatized by what this trusted man did to her. Her family pleaded that she not have to re-live her experience on the witness stand. I am pleased that we were able to resolve this case in a manner that not only met her needs, but also the safety needs of our community. We can take comfort knowing this repeat sex offender will be unable to harm anyone else for the next three decades."

In other matters recently handled by local law enforcement:

One man was found shot to death Monday afternoon in the Florida area neighborhood, according to New Orleans police.

The male victim was found shortly before 1:30 p.m. inside a residence in the 3000 block of North Galvez Street after police responded to a call of a victim lying unresponsive inside a vacant house.

When police arrived, they found a man inside the house suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

According to police, the man was discovered after the property's landlord came to the property to do maintenance.

Anyone responsible, as well as motive, are still under investigation, police said.

The Orleans Parish Coroner's Office will release the victim's name, along with cause of death, upon completion of an autopsy and notification of family.

Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Robert Barrere of the NOPD homicide unit at 504-658-5300 or Crimstoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP.

A man died after a single-vehicle crash about 9 a.m. Sunday on La. 300 near mile post 7.9 in St. Bernard Parish, State Police said.

The driver, Scott Lopez, 54, of St. Bernard, was transported to University Medical Center but died from his injuries.

Preliminary evidence indicates that Lopez was driving a 2015 GMC Sierra east on La. 300 and lost control in a curve. His vehicle traveled across the westbound lane and continued off the roadway, striking a traffic sign and a tree.

Lopez was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, and whether he was impaired is unknown, State Police said.

The New Orleans Police Department is seeking information in four vehicle thefts that have taken place in June.

The first took place on June 7 in the 1400 block of Prentiss Avenue, according to police, where a victim reported that around 7:30 p.m., his grey 2010 Land Rover SUV with license plate number VNL195 was parked outside of his residence but noticed later that evening that vehicle information and personal belongings were found on the ground at a gas station in the 2400 block of Elysian Fields Avenue.

Detectives believe the Land Rover has since been used in several recent vehicle burglaries, and that the victim's keys were used in its theft.

Surveillance video of the suspects can be seen here: https://youtu.be/6HBR3PorHpw.

Another theft police are looking into occurred June 14, when a woman reported her silver 2014 BMW 328i sedan stolen in the 200 block of Poydras Street.

The woman told police that around 3:54 p.m., she turned over her keys to a valet at a business but when she returned around 7 p.m., her car was gone.

She reported the license plate number to be RCR9205 and the plate's registration as the state of Georgia.

Police are also investigating a theft reported the next day, June 15, in the 1500 block of Esplanade Avenue, where police said a vehicle was left with the engine idling while parked at a Discount Zone gas station.

A man -- wearing only a hospital gown and yellow socks -- then entered the vehicle before fleeing the area.

Yet another theft was reported June 16 in the 1300 block of Behrman Avenue.

That's where a man reported parking his beige 2009 Hyundai Sonata with license plate number 819CNN at around 6:30 a.m. before leaving his residence for work.

At 8:30 a.m., the victim's mother then noticed the vehicle was missing, according to police.

Police are searching for two men after they allegedly struck a 44-year-old male victim in the face before taking his cell phone a little after 3:30 a.m. Monday morning, according to police.

The victim then got into a vehicle he believed was an Uber, police said, and vehicle's driver got out armed with a gun and demanded the victim's wallet. The victim complied and the suspect fled, according to police.

A woman was raped shortly before 8 a.m. in the 2400 block of Canal Street, according to the New Orleans Police Department.

The rapist was an unknown man, police said. No additional information was immediately available.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office reports an armed robbery took place Monday at a McDonald's at 5315 Veterans Boulevard in Metairie.

No one was injured in the incident, according to police, which happened shortly before 5:30 a.m.

No additional information was immediately available.

New Orleans police arrested 19-year-old Lavante Riley Wednesday, June 13, for two counts of armed robbery, one count of illegal carrying of a weapon and two warrants for simple burglary relating to an armed robbery near the intersection of Peony Street and Sullen Place.

There, police said they responded to call of an armed robbery, and after arriving, they were able to locate the suspect -- Riley -- within minutes walking toward the intersection of Brunswick Court and Sullen Place.

After a brief chase on foot, police arrested Riley in the 6400 block of Peony Street. Two victims were then able to positively identify Riley as the suspect.

The New Orleans Police Department is investigating the robbery of a 48-year-old man in the 900 block of St. Louis Street after the man said he was approached by four other men as he entered his vehicle.

The men then told the victim he could not leave, claiming he hit their vehicle. The men then asked for money for the alleged damages, and the victim refused.

One of the men then entered the victim's car through the driver's side window and took the victim's cell phone, while also opening a compartment on the victim's arm rest and taking a hat, glasses and small towel, according to police.

The men then fled.

The New Orleans Police Department arrested 51-year-old Clarence Jason on Wednesday, June 13, after serving a warrant in the 3300 block of Garden Oaks Drive.

During the execution of the warrant, police arrested Jason on charges of possession of a firearm while in possession of illegal narcotics, possession of a stolen firearm, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and marijuana.

Police also found and confiscated 20 grams of crack cocaine, a semi-automatic handgun and $600 in cash.

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