Louisiana cop, 21, is charged with rape after he 'forced a woman to have sex with him in exchange for not giving her a speeding ticket'

A Louisiana police officer allegedly coerced a woman to have sex with him during a traffic stop in exchange for not giving her a speeding ticket. 

Officer Darwin Fontenot, 21, is facing charges of malfeasance and third-degree rape, defined as sexual activity between an authority figure and someone in custody, in connection with the March incident, Port Barre police said in a statement on Saturday. 

Fontenot admitted to having sex with the woman but claimed the pair met up after he was off duty, according to Chief Deon Boudreaux.  

'The public holds law enforcement to a high standard, and so do I,' Boudreaux said. 

'Whether the sexual interaction was consensual or not doesn't justify it. I will not tolerate such unprofessional behavior from our police officers.'

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Officer Darwin Fontenot, 21, was charged with third-degree rape after he allegedly coerced a woman to have sex with him in exchange for not giving her a speeding ticket during a traffic stop in Port Barre, Louisiana, on March 10

Authorities began investigating the incident after the woman from Chalmette filed a complaint with the St Bernard Sheriff's office on April 27.

The woman, who had other unspecified violations on her record, claimed Fontenot stopped her for speeding on Interstate 90 on March 10 and offered her leniency in exchange for sex.  

St Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz told the Lafayette Daily Advertiser that Boudreaux asked his office to conduct the investigation - during which Fontenot confessed to 'engaging in sexual activity' with the woman.  

Boudreaux said Fontenot confessed again when the pair spoke on Saturday morning.

'Even if he was off duty, it doesn't make it right,' the chief said in an email to the Advertiser. 

'An officer, nor any public servant, should engage in that type of activity of exchanging sexual favors for leniency.' 

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Port Barre Police Chief Deon Boudreaux (left) said Fontenot (right) admitted to having sex with the woman but claimed the pair met up after he was off duty

Fontenot was released on bond and will remain on administrative leave 'until termination', according to the department statement. 

'It's a sad day when we have to arrest one of our own, but wrong is wrong,' Boudreaux said. 

'Police officers are trusted with great power and responsibility to do what is right and to be the wedge between right and wrong. That trust is tarnished when officers are unprofessional.' 

Fontenot worked as a corrections officer for the St Landry Parish Sheriff's office prior to joining the Port Barre Police Department about a year and a half ago, Boudreaux said. The officer graduated from the police academy in November 2019.