Kaplan, LA (7/23/2023) – The Vermillion Parish Sheriff’s Office (VPSO) reported a Kaplan Police Department (KPD) Officer was arrested for rape.
According to Sheriff Mike Couvillon, a KPD Officer, identified as Terry Wayne Leopold Kraut Jr., 35, of Kaplan, La, has been arrested on a Third-Degree Rape charge.
The allegations stem from an incident during the early morning hours of July 22nd, 2023, where Kraut Jr. was at a bar within the city limits of Kaplan when a female patron was fixing to leave. Kraut Jr. asked if he could bring the female home, but she said no. Kraut persisted and stated that she would make it home safely.
Knowing Kraut Jr. was a local police officer, the victim accepted Kraut’s persistent request. Instead of bringing her home, the victim stated that Kraut Jr. traveled to a “country” road just outside of Kaplan city limits and committed a non-consensual sexual act on her. The Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division responded to the complaint and subsequently called out the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division (CID).
The Criminal Investigation Division obtained probable cause through the investigation, and an arrest warrant was secured for Third Degree Rape, with a bond set at $25,000.00.
Kraut Jr. was booked into the Vermilion Parish Correctional Center without incident. The investigation is ongoing, and more charges are possible.
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A law enforcement-related agency has provided this information as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal “All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.” or arrested and charged with a crime have not been convicted of any criminal offense. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
