Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) –– Former priest and accused child rapist Lawrence Hecker was absent from court Friday morning. According to defense attorneys, Hecker is currently hospitalized at UMC, citing a significant deterioration in his health.
The defense said Hecker is disoriented, bedridden and requires constant care, but claimed the hospital is unable to keep him, and the jail cannot take care of him.
Hecker is currently held on a $855,000 bond, which the defense has actively fought, arguing he cannot afford bail and does not pose a risk to the public. They again requested the judge release Hecker on house arrest, to which the judge firmly responded, “that’s not going to happen.”
However, prosecutors strongly opposed any form of release that would put Hecker near children or grant him access to computers, based on Hecker’s previous admission under oath to viewing child pornography, which the defense claimed a lack of record of such an admission.
Prosecutors offered a facility in East Feliciana that could provide the care Hecker needs. Bobby Hjortsberg, an attorney on the defense, stated the hospital “is potentially an option.” But he said they will need more time to “get some more records, have him evaluated by some other doctors, and hopefully we can have something settled by next week.”
Another hearing is scheduled for Friday, Jan. 26 to determine a suitable facility.
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