Former St. Tammany Sheriff Jack Strain pleads not guilty to charges of aggravated rape, aggravated incest, indecent behavior with a juvenile, and sexual battery. Loyola law professor Dane Ciolino says despite the fact that some of the accusations date back to when 56-year-old Strain was 17, there is no statute of limitations.
“Like the crime of murder, there is no statute of limitations for aggravated rape so these charges are, surprisingly enough, timely brought,” said Ciolino.
The most recent accusations are fifteen years old. Ciolino says the centerpiece of the defense will likely be the age of the charges as well as putting the criminal background of one of the accusers on trial.
“On trial for faulty memories, grudges, decades-old grudges, etcetera. But keep in mind the allegations are just being lodged by one victim, there are four victims,” said Ciolino.
Ciolino expects Strains’ legal defense to also lean on his years of public service.
Ciolino says at this point the trial moves into discovery as the defense tries to get a hold of police reports and evidence.
“Of course there is no DNA evidence or other sorts of scientific evidence that’s going to come into this case, other than perhaps psychological experts,” said Ciolino.
The allegations carry up to a mandatory life sentence.
