A New Orleans police officer was sentenced last week to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Michael Thomassie, 41, who in August was convicted of raping a 7-year-old girl more than 10 years ago, was sentenced by the New Orleans Parish criminal courts Judge Tracey Flemings-Davillier. He was found guilty of aggravated rape earlier this year on Aug. 20.
During jury selection of his trial, Thomassie sent a selfie and raunchy texts to his girlfriend in Florida.
Now, another inmate wants to make Thomassie his boyfriend.
“Put him in a cell with me! I’ll turn him over and make him a mop!” yelled Erik Beasley, an inmate convicted of a home invasion robbery, who was sitting in the courtroom during Thomassie’s conviction.
According to NOLA.com, Beasley received an additional 950 days to his sentence for his outburst.
Thomassie, his head shaved bald and a gray billy-goat beard hanging below his chin, smiled nervously as he was brought back to his seat next to Beasley. He avoided eye contact with Beasley, and with family members of the victim seated in the front row.
The 7-year-old girl Thomassie was convicted of raping is the daughter of his ex-girlfriend whom he dated back in 2003.
“[I’m] disgusted by the unspeakable actions of this officer,” NOPD Superintendent Michael Harrison said in August.
Thomassie was a 13-year-veteran of the New Orleans Police Department. Following an investigation by the Public Integrity Bureau and the Child Abuse Unit back in July of 2014 for the rape accusations, Thomassie was placed on administrative reassignment.
The biological father of the 7-year-old victim praised New Orleans Parish Assistant District Attorney Laura Rodrigue, who was the lead prosecutor.
“It worked out good,” the father said. “He’s getting what he deserves.”
“I didn’t think we were going to get a fair shake,” he added. “He’s a New Orleans cop, here in New Orleans. I said, ‘We ain’t never going to get a fair shake here.’
Flemings-Davillier denied motions by the defense attorney who wanted a post-conviction acquittal. The attorney, Pat Fanning, was also seeking an order for a new trial, which was also denied.
Eventually, Fanning filed a motion to withdraw as Thomassie’s lawyer because his client, allegedly, wanted the Louisiana Appellate Project to appeal his conviction.
More than a decade went by without any details of Thomassie’s sexual assault being reported. And that was beause the victim’s mother depended on Thomassie financially, prosecutors told the jury nearly four months ago.
The victim said in court she considered Thomassie her stepdad but testified that he raped her in two rooms of their house when he lived with her and her mother in October of 2003. She was in second grade when the incident occurred. She is now 19.
“I am taking immediate steps to remove him from within our ranks. There is no place in this department for officers who choose to commit acts of violence,” Harrison said.
But the police superintendent does not appear to be in much hurry to fire the convicted cop because he is still officially on the force.
Tyler Gamble, New Orleans police spokesman, said last week efforts to officially fire Thomassie have begun but are not fully completed just yet.
No word yet on whether the New Orleans cop will be imprisoned with Beasley, the inmate who threatened to rape him.
Last week, the 36-year-old man was incarcerated in the city jail, where he continues to get in trouble, so it does not appear as if he cherishes his freedom.
And the only thing lower than a cop in prison is a child molester.
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