Gretna Man Acquitted of Forcible Rape Charge
David Brousseau admitted to Jefferson Detectives that he mistreated women, took their money, and cheated on them often. What he didn’t do, was rape an ex-girlfriend, who accused him of forcible rape, 2 months after their relationship ended, he said. After spending a year in jail, the DA’s office brought Brousseau to trial on the charge of Forcible Rape.
A Jefferson jury agreed with Brousseau and acquitted him on the charge that would have sent him to Angola for a minimum of twenty years, because of his previous conviction. Thomas Calogero argued to the jury that Brousseau was no prize, unworthy of dating any concerned parent’s daughter, and was nothing more than a gigolo, who took over $1300 from his accuser while they dated without the intention of paying her back. His 18 year old accuser always maintained that she was raped in her apartment by Brusseau. Calogero pointed out numerous inconsistencies in her statements. Initially, she never mentioned to police that they had an emotional argument over the money and about Brusseau’s new girlfriend. Later she claimed they argued outside, but she let him in the apartment because everything was fine. Brousseau, who chose not to testify, always maintained that the argument took place in open view after he left her apartment and had consensual sex with his 18 year old ex- girlfriend. He gave a lengthy statement to police, upon his arrest, acknowledging the sex act as well as the heated argument that took place in her parking lot. No physical or medical evidence supported the accuser’s version, other than a minor abrasion on her neck. The jury deliberated for 3 hours before reaching their verdict.
