Houston, TX (2/6/2023) – Vernon Parish Sheriff’s Office reported a Leesville man was arrested in Harris County, Texas (Houston Area) and charged with first-degree rape.
Thomas A. McCartney, age 35, of Leesville, was arrested without incident by the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
The arrest stems from a complaint received by VPSO on Sunday, February 5, 2023.
At the time, the complainant advised that she had walked in on McCartney, her boyfriend, engaging in sexual contact with her 7-year-old daughter.
The complainant indicated that a firearm disturbance ensued, and McCartney fled the residence in a vehicle.
VPSO began an immediate canvas of the area, and a warrant was prepared for McCartney.
During the course of the investigation, Detectives learned that McCartney was a Tier 3 registered sex offender in the State of Louisiana. A Tier 3 sex offender conviction is viewed as the most serious of all convictions, and those offenders carry the highest chance of a repeat offense. Crimes categorized as Tier 3 are considered the most severe.
Detectives also learned that McCartney was previously arrested in 2006 for Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile and in 2010 was arrested for two counts of Aggravated Rape regarding a 12-year-old victim.
Utilizing forensic investigation tools, VPSO Detectives were able to determine that McCartney was in Harris County, Texas. Law enforcement personnel in Harris County were notified and were able to locate Thomas McCartney at a hotel in East Houston.
McCartney was taken into custody without incident and will be extradited to Vernon Parish for prosecution.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges are expected.
