St. Martin Parish Inmate Charged With Kidnapping, Rape After Hostage Situation

ST. MARTINVILLE, La. (KPEL) -- Police in St. Martin Parish are accusing an inmate of assaulting the correctional officer he took hostage at the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center Monday night.

According to Maj. Ginny Higgins, spokeswoman for the sheriff's office, 43-year-old Melvin Celestine has been charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape.

Celestine sustaned some "minor self-inflicted injuries prior to his surrender," Higgins said.

The investigation is ongoing.