Former New Orleans priest Lawrence Hecker receives mental evaluation in court
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — A former New Orleans priest accused of sex crimes who’s awaiting trial has had a mental evaluation in court on Thursday, April 4.
92-year-old Lawrence Hecker is facing charges of aggravated rape, kidnapping, crimes against nature, which stem from a 1999 document with what is believed to be Hecker’s confession of sexually molesting and harming several teenagers between 1966 and 1972.
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Hecker surrendered to authorities in September 2023 and has been held at the Orleans Parish jail on a bond totaling $855,000.
Hecker’s request to lower the bond was denied by a judge, twice.
In January, Hecker failed to appear in court. He was hospitalized at University Medical Center in New Orleans with his lawyers claiming a significant deterioration in his health.
The defense said Hecker was disoriented, bedridden and requires constant care, but claimed the hospital is unable to keep him, and the jail cannot take care of him.
Hecker’s previous mental evaluation was delayed by two weeks.
The results of the mental evaluation taken on Thursday is expected to be examined on April 18.
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