Former Louisiana Priest Pleads Guilty to Abuse Allegations

A former New Orleans priest accused of sexually assaulting a teenage boy nearly 50 years ago, has pleaded guilty to charges brought up against him.

Lawrence Hecker, who is now 93 years old, pleaded guilty to the charges of sexual assault and will serve the rest of his life in prison. This all comes as his highly anticipated trial was set to begin today in New Orleans.

WAFB reports, "The former priest was indicted last year after court documents came to light that Hecker had admitted to archdiocesan superiors that he had either sexually molested or shared a bed with multiple minors during his priesthood about 30 years after the alleged crimes occurred."

The formal charges against the former priest include: first-degree rape, aggravated crimes against nature, aggravated kidnapping, and theft.

The abuse by Hecker started in the 1960s and carried into the 1970s, and it wasn't until 2002 that Hecker was removed from the ministry.

Hecker is in a long-term care facility and will be formally sentenced on December 18.

You may recall that Hecker was on camera with WWL where he admitted to “overtly sexual acts” with at least three teens, as well as sexual contact with at least four others.