Executive Summary
- Grand jury indicts three men on first-degree rape charges in East Feliciana Parish.
- Defendants include Rinaldo Robinson, a high school mascot accused of abusing two young sisters.
- Desmond Wilson indicted in a separate case involving one of the same victims.
- Michael Robert Harrell indicted in a third, unrelated case.
CLINTON, La. – A grand jury in East Feliciana Parish has returned indictments against three individuals in separate first-degree rape investigations, including a man identified as a local high school mascot, according to announcements made by District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla.
The indictments, which were handed down on Tuesday, February 24, name Rinaldo “Rah Rah” B. Robinson, a resident of Clinton in his 40s. Robinson, who is known in the community as the mascot for East Feliciana High School, faces first-degree rape charges stemming from alleged offenses involving two female minors. According to the District Attorney, the victims are half-sisters and were between the ages of 6 and 8 at the time of the alleged incidents.
In a second indictment, Desmond Wilson of Jackson was charged with first-degree rape involving a victim who was 6 or 7 years old. District Attorney D’Aquilla stated that while the legal cases against Robinson and Wilson are not connected, the investigation revealed that Wilson is accused of abusing one of the same minor victims involved in the allegations against Robinson.
The grand jury also indicted a third individual, Michael Robert Harrell, on separate first-degree rape charges. Prosecutors confirmed that Harrell’s case is entirely unrelated to the investigations involving Robinson or Wilson. As of the announcement, arraignment dates for the three defendants have not been scheduled.
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Judicial Proceedings
These indictments mark the formal transition of these cases from investigation to prosecution within the 20th Judicial District Court system. First-degree rape carries the most severe penalties under Louisiana law for sexual offenses, necessitating rigorous procedural adherence regarding evidence and witness testimony. The complexity of cases involving minor victims, particularly where one victim is associated with multiple alleged perpetrators in separate incidents, will likely require specialized handling to protect the rights of the accused while safeguarding the welfare of the testifying minors.
