Jury convicts in library assault case

Christopher Brown does not deny walking into the girls bathroom at the Kaplan Library. What he does deny is that he entered the room to rape a 13-year-old girl. A jury did not buy his argument.
It took jurors only 11 minutes Wednesday to find him guilty of attempted forcible rape, a conviction that carries a three- to 40-year sentence.
Sentencing will occur at a later date.
Brown was on trial in the District 15th Courthouse and was being charged with attempted forcible rape.
The victim testified she was in the ladies bathroom and saw Brown enter the bathroom with her inside. The girl told the jury he pushed her down and put his hand over her mouth. She began to try to fight him off.
“I was scared of what may happen,” the girl said. “I did not know if he was going to rape me or kill me.”
The girl, who lives in Kaplan, managed to kick her way out of his hold and also managed to kick him in the head. The girl hurried out of the library and ran into people outside.
She pointed to Brown and said he was the person who attacked her.
One of the first persons she saw when she escaped from the bathroom was Edward Poche, who was near the door. She told him what occurred and he yelled at Brown to stop, which he did. Poche testified Brown said, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry” a few times to him.
Brown remained in the library until the Kaplan police arrived.
Kaplan police officer Seth Comeaux testified he interviewed Brown who he said told him he went into the bathroom to kiss a girl.
Comeaux talked to Brown in the Kaplan police station about 45 minutes later and asked him the same question about going into the girls’ bathroom. He also testified he saw Brown’s pants unzipped and his belt unhooked.
Comeaux told the court when he talked with Brown in the police station, Brown allegedly said, he went into the bathroom, “To have sex with her.”
When the verdict was read, the Kaplan family was in the courtroom to hear.
“I am happy,” said the mother. “Now we wait for a sentence.”
The girl, now 15, said she has not stepped foot into the Kaplan library since that afternoon. She also admitted for a while it was hard to go to the bathroom by herself in a public place.
“You would have never expected a library not to be a safe place,” said the mom.