FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Slidell Man Found Guilty of Indecent Behavior with a Child Under Age 13
December 1, 2023
COVINGTON – Collin Sims, District Attorney (Interim) reports that on November 30, 2023, District Judge Reginald Badeaux, III, deliberated for 45 minutes and rendered a guilty verdict against Samuel Juan Perry, age 35, of Slidell, for indecent behavior with a juvenile under the age of 13.
In December of 2021, the victim disclosed that the defendant had been sexually assaulting her for over a year. From August 20, 2020 until December 18, 2021, he would kiss her, touch her private areas, penetrate her with his fingers, and rub her body with his private part.
At trial, prosecutors presented evidence of a voice recording between the victim and her friend’s mother where she disclosed the abuse for the first time. The victim disclosed more details of the abuse in her forensic interview conducted at the Children’s Advocacy Center (Hope House). A DNP nurse with Children’s Hospital testified as to her medical examination of the victim and also testified as to her expertise in evaluating and treating victims of sexual abuse. The victim testified in court about the sexual abuse that she suffered.
In his closing argument, Assistant District Attorney Zachary Popovich asked the Judge to consider that the victim, each and every time she’d had the opportunity to tell her story, included sensory details that illustrate a lived experience. “Judge, she was not influenced or coached, she lived through it. In each memory, she recalled whether the lights were on or off, what she was wearing or watching on TV, how her body was positioned. Her level of detail and consistency leaves no reasonable doubt that this man is a child molester.”
Prosecutors challenged the reliability of the expert witness who testified on behalf of the defense that all women suffer tearing and scarring of the vaginal area as a result of any form of penetration. The OB/GYN doctor admitted that he does not subscribe to any professional medical publications and just looks things up on Google. ADA Popovich asked the Judge to enforce the law, review the evidence and find the man guilty as charged.
Defense told the Judge that there was no corroborating evidence; that it was a “he said, she said” situation and that he must therefore believe the person most credible. He said that the victim was on medication and that she was only acting out because she wasn’t allowed to attend a party. He said that the State did not prove its case.
In her closing argument, Gabrielle Hosli addressed the Judge, “The defense wants to ask you to consider who is more credible — when the defendant just testified that he was sent to prison for murder and kidnapping. He’s already proven he’s not a rule follower.” Hosli told the Judge that this victim’s experiences were “seared into her brain” and that “she’ll remember this as her first sexual experience for the rest of her life.” She asked the Judge to find the defendant guilty as charged.
The defendant has a prior conviction of murder and kidnapping. For the charge of Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile under the age of 13 he faces 25-99 years in prison. He is scheduled for sentencing on December 7, 2023.
The case was presided over by District Judge Reginald Badeaux, III and prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Gabrielle Hosli and Zachary Popovich. The Children’s Advocacy Center (Hope House) performed the forensic interview. Detectives Scott O’Shaughnessy of the Slidell Police Department handled the investigation. Judith Dodd, DNP of the Audrey Hepburn Care Center performed the forensic medical examination and also testified at the trial.