District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on Friday, December 5, 2025, a St. Tammany Parish Jury unanimously found George Starks guilty of First-Degree Rape of a Child Under Thirteen and Sexual Battery Involving a Victim Under the Age of Thirteen, after nineteen minutes of deliberation.
The conviction follows a thorough investigation and four-day trial that took place in Judge Tara Zeller’s, Division B Courtroom, detailing the brutal sexual assault of the child victim, which occurred in Slidell in July 2022. The case was tried by Assistant District Attorneys Iain Dover and Tiffany Dover.
Evidence presented during the trial demonstrated that the victim was approached by a male on a bicycle who invited her to smoke marijuana. The victim later accepted a ride with the bicyclist and the defendant, George Starks, who was driving a white or silver sedan. After the initial stop at a local Shell Station, where surveillance footage confirmed the defendant and victim were together, Starks drove the victim toward her home.
The court heard testimony that Starks stopped his vehicle and sexually assaulted the victim, including forcing her to expose herself and digitally penetrating her. The victim, to escape the situation, briefly convinced Starks to drive to a secluded location at the dead end of Bull Run. There, Starks forcibly pulled the child from the vehicle and performed anal sex before the victim managed to run away, and Starks fled the scene.
The victim reported the assault to her grandmother the following morning, who immediately contacted the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office (STPSO). Lead Detective Patrick Rigney of the STPSO Special Victim’s Unit conducted an extensive and meticulous investigation. During the investigation, Starks initially denied any interaction with the victim but later admitted to meeting her and driving her to Shell Station after being confronted with photographic evidence from the gas station’s surveillance camera. He denied ever inappropriately touching or assaulting the victim. The sexual assault examination kit as well as the clothing worn by the victim at the time of the assault were sent to the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office where DNA testing confirmed the defendant’s DNA was located on the victim. At trial, the defendant changed his version of events and instead stated that the victim assaulted him by forcibly putting her finger in his mouth in order to obtain his DNA to rub on her body. The jury ultimately found his testimony to be contradicted by the evidence and the victim’s consistent statements.
District Attorney Collin Sims issued a statement regarding the verdict:
“This is a victory for justice and for the protection of our children. The crime committed by George Starks is among the most heinous we prosecute. Thanks to the courage of the victim and the diligent work of our prosecutors and the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, we have held this offender accountable. This verdict sends a clear message that predators who target the most vulnerable members of our community will be met with the full force of the law.”
DA Sims emphasized that this outcome was the product of exceptional interagency collaboration and praised the investigative efforts of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, particularly Lead Detective Patrick Rigney – who flew in from Kosovo to testify, as he is currently deployed with the National Guard, as well as Hope House, the Morgan Rae Center for Hope and the St. Tammany Parish Coroner’s Office.
Starks is facing a mandatory life sentence. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for January 27, 2026.