State of Louisiana v. Donovan Davis
Feb 18, 1997OUTCOME: Defendant pled guilty and received a sentence of 90 years DOC at hard labor.
Prosecuted as co-lead counsel a jury trial with Richard Johnson against defendant on charge of aggravated rape. Defendant was charged with forcing his way into an apartment off of Jefferson Highway an ... d raping victim and then kidnapping her and allowing other perpetrators to sexually assault her and leave her for dead in the trunk of a burning car. The victim managed to escape before being incinerated. PCFR DNA evidence tied defendant to the crime and I was now highly experienced in the introduction of this forensic evidence. After I gave opening statement, the court was informed that witnesses in the hall had violated the rule of sequestration and the court declared a mistrial. After this ruling, the defense attorney approached us and she said her client agreed to plead guilty to the charges of forcible rape, second degree kidnapping and armed robbery and a sentence of 90 years at hard labor. Victim and her family approved the plea prior to our acceptance.