District Attorney J. Collin Sims announces that on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Arthur James White, 50, of Mandeville, Louisiana, was sentenced to 60 years at hard labor without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence for the sexual assault of a 65-year-old victim. The Honorable Judge Tara Farris Zeller handed down the sentence following White’s guilty plea yesterday to Sexual Battery of a Victim Over 65 Years of Age.
The conviction stems from an incident that occurred in the early morning hours of May 29, 2021. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a residence in Mandeville after receiving an emergency call. Upon arrival, deputies located the 65-year-old victim hiding behind bushes in a neighbor’s yard.
While the victim was sleeping on her couch, White forced himself on top of her and shoved a cloth into her mouth to silence her screams before sexually assaulting her. The victim was subsequently transported to St. Tammany Parish Hospital for forensic examination, and White was apprehended at the scene.
During today’s sentencing hearing, the victim delivered a powerful impact statement in open court. Addressing White directly, she stated:
“I thank God I’m here to make this statement. Five years, 5 months ago, I woke up in the middle of the night to see this person standing over me – next thing I know, he’s on top of me. I said Stop. I tried to scream. He shoved a rag down my throat. I remember you telling me when you were on top of me…you said, ‘I’m doing this because I’m going to prison for the rest of my life anyway.’ Today I’m saying to you…Yes, you are. You raped me.”
A statement from another victim previously targeted by White over a decade ago was also read aloud by the DA’s Office Victim Assistance Coordinator:
“Although it happened over a decade ago, he sought me out. I’m writing this letter for her and for a piece of myself I can never get back.”
District Attorney Collin Sims commended the victim’s resilience and the collaborative work of law enforcement and prosecutors:
“Today’s 60-year sentence ensures that a dangerous predator will spend the rest of his life behind bars where he belongs. I want to commend the victim for her immense bravery in speaking out and holding this offender accountable, as well as the victim who came forward from his past. Our office remains steadfast in our commitment to seeking justice for victims of sexual violence and removing dangerous offenders from our community.”
The case was investigated by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Tiffany Dover and Taylor Nicholson.