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Louisiana Cop Allegedly Coerced Woman Into Sex As Way To Dismiss A Speeding Ticket
Darwin Fontenot admitted to having sex with the woman but claimed it was when he was off duty, police say.
A Louisiana police officer has been arrested after allegedly coercing a woman into having sex with him in exchange for getting out of a speeding ticket.
Darwin Fontenot, 21, was accused in April of coercing the woman, an unnamed Chalmette resident, on March 10, the Lafayette Daily Advertiser reports. The woman claimed that Fontenot, a Port Barre police officer, pulled her over on U.S. 90 for speeding, but then offered to go easy on her in exchange for sex, and the two engaged in sexual activity. The woman reported what happened the following month, on April 27, to the St. Bernard Sheriff's office, who shared the complaints with the Port Barre Police Department; the PBPD then asked the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office to conduct the investigation into the claims, according to the outlet.
Fontenot later admitted to having sex with the woman during an interview with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, Port Barre Police Chief Deon Boudreax told the Daily Advertiser. Boudreax said that Fontenot also admitted it when Boudreax spoke with him, but told the chief that he was not on duty when he had sex with the woman.
“Even if he was off duty, it doesn't make it right. An officer, nor any public servant, should engage in that type of activity of exchanging sexual favors for leniency,” Boudreax told the outlet.
Following the investigation, Fontenot was booked into the St. Landry Parish jail and charged with malfeasance in office and third-degree rape, local outlet KATC reports.
Fontenant was released from custody on Saturday after posting bond, according to the Daily Advertiser. Boudreax told the paper that he has since placed Fontenant on administrative leave, pending his termination.
“The public holds law enforcement to a high standard and so do I,” Boudreax said. “Whether the sexual interaction was consensual or not doesn’t justify it. I will not tolerate such unprofessional behavior from our police officers.”
The Port Barre Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Oxygen.com.
Fontenot began his law enforcement career as a corrections officer with the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office before making the move to Port Barre, according to KATC. He was a new officer, having graduated from the police academy in the fall of 2019.
