‘Wanted’ man convicted of rape try

• By DAVID J. MITCHELL
• Advocate River parishes bureau
• Published: Nov 21, 2009 - Page: 4B

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GONZALES — A 12-member jury this week convicted a Prairieville man of committing attempted aggravated rape about 10 years ago, a fugitive brought to justice with a boost from the “America’s Most Wanted” TV  show, prosecutors said.

John Ryan Stephens, 27, faces up to 50 years in prison without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence, prosecutors with the 23rd Judicial District said in a statement. The district encompasses Ascension, Assumption and St. James parishes.

Assistant District Attorney O’Neil Parenton Jr., who prosecuted the case, said the incident that led to the conviction occurred when Stephens was 17 and involved an 8-year-old girl.

District Judge Jane Triche-Milazzo, who presided over the trial at the Ascension Parish Courthouse in Donaldsonville, deferred sentence after the jurors’ verdict Wednesday, prosecutors said. The judge ordered a pre-sentence report.

André Belanger, Stephens’ private defense attorney, said Stephens had faced an aggravated rape charge at trial.

But Belanger said he argued prosecutors did not have physical evidence and said he was pleased jurors came back with the responsive verdict of attempted aggravated rape.

“I am just glad for the opportunity to save my client’s life,” Belanger said.

Conviction on a charge of aggravated rape carries a mandatory life sentence in Louisiana.

Stephens, who remained in the Ascension Parish Jail Friday, was arrested by parish sheriff’s deputies on March 26, 2000, prosecutors said.

Stephens failed to appear for trial Dec. 17, 2002, but appeared on “America’s Most Wanted” a few days before his capture in April 2008, according to prosecutors and the show’s Web site.

The Middle Louisiana Fugitive Task Force and Livingston Parish sheriff’s deputies tracked down Stephens at a trailer in Holden on April 21, 2008, the task force said then.

Some people saw Stephens on digital billboards and at least one on the show, said the task force and a TV show statement.

At the time of Stephens’ capture, he had faced charges of aggravated rape and aggravated oral sexual battery and two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile.