Ex-cop accused of rape

A former New Iberia police officer, and registered sex offender, is in custody for alleged rapes he committed more than 25 years ago.

Burt Gauthier, 49, of 2406 Labit Road, was arrested at his home Monday and charged with aggravated rape and attempted aggravated rape for alleged rapes that took place between 1981 and 1983 and involved then-juveniles who only recently came forward with the allegations, the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office said.

Gauthier is being held in the Iberia Parish Jail on $500,000 bond.

Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Wendell Raborn said although the rapes took place long ago, this is not considered a “cold case” because the allegations were made recently.

“The victims came forward and reported the incidents to investigators, which occurred when they juveniles between the ages of 7 and 10 years old,” Raborn said. “The incidents apparently occurred on two different occasions at Gauthier’s home while the female victims were visiting.”

Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal said the nature of the charges against Gauthier are “very, very serious.”

“If the statue of limitations has not run out on the case, then someone will have to answer for these crimes,” Ackal said.

Ackal said applying statutes of limitations is a matter for the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s office to decide.

He acknowledged the fact the alleged rapes took place so many years ago raises suspicions.

“Why did it take 20-something years to come forward?” Ackal said. “What triggered it? Revenge? You can ruin an individual’s life with charges such as these if they are not true.”

Raborn said Gauthier, formerly a motorcycle officer with the New Iberia Police Department, is registered as a sex offender in the Louisiana State Police Sex Offender Registry, stemming from a 2002 conviction against him for contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. The registry’s Web site said Gauthier was convicted and released Jan. 15, 2002.

Phone calls to the city of New Iberia for details about when Gauthier was employed and the reason his employment ended were not returned by press time. The IPSO could not provide additional time served information about Gauthier’s 2002 conviction.

Raborn said the victims’ testimony is an important factor in the continuing investigation but declined to comment on any other evidence in the case.