A police officer accused of raping two 13-year-old girls is set to become a town's police chief because he is the only candidate left on the ballot. Republican candidate Christopher Paul, 48, is poised to win the election in Elizabeth, Louisiana, USA, despite being arrested earlier this month on charges of child rape.
Arrest and Charges
Paul was arrested on September 8 after an Allen Parish Sheriff's Office investigation into allegations he raped two girls, both 13 at the time, between 2005 and 2006. Detectives received a complaint in August and, after interviewing the alleged victims and witnesses, booked him on two counts of second-degree rape.
He was later released on a $60,000 (£45,000) bond. Under US law, Paul is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
Legal Constraints and Withdrawal
Mayor Mandy Green and the village's board of aldermen say their hands are tied, because Louisiana law only disqualifies candidates from office following a felony conviction, not an arrest or pending charge, the Guardian reported. “Moving forward, my administration will always act in the best interests of our community,” Green wrote. “Together with the Board of Aldermen, we remain committed to total transparency, maintaining an open-door policy, and navigating these circumstances together with you.”
Paul initially entered a two-man race, but his opponent Zachary LaCaze withdrew on September 23 after realising his full-time federal job at Fort Polk, a US Army installation, made his candidacy illegal under the Hatch Act, KOMO reported.
Community Response and Referendum
LaCaze said he had no choice but to step aside, writing on Facebook: “As much as I love being a police officer and as much as I wanted to be your Chief of Police, I have a responsibility to my family. My full-time job is what provides for my wife and son, and I cannot take that away from them.”
“So, as much as it hurts me, I have to step away from this election. Being a police officer is something I truly love. I wanted the Chief of Police position because I believed I could make a difference in the community where I grew up, where my family lives, and that I proudly call home.”
Because his withdrawal came after the sign-up deadline, no replacement candidate can be added - leaving Paul set to take office by default on January 1, 2027, unless he is convicted of a felony before then. He has refused calls to step aside and declined to comment. Now, the village council has approved a special referendum on December 12, asking voters whether the police chief role should be changed from elected to appointed, subject to board approval. Residents are also exploring a recall petition, requiring signatures from 40% of qualified voters in the village of roughly 400 people.
