TERRICA HENDRIX
Reporter
NASHVILLE – Formal
rape charges have been
filed against a 32-yearold
man.
Luis Reyes Lucas, of
Nashville, appeared in
Howard County Circuit
Court yesterday morning
– with his interpreter,
Emilia D’Auteuil, and
public defender. Lucas
was arraigned on six
separate charges.
Lucas requested that
the Court appoint him
a public defender to assist
him in his case and
Greg Vardaman was appointed.
The attorney
waived formal reading
of Lucas’ charge. Circuit
Judge Charles A. Yeargan
advised Lucas of
his rights and told him
that he has “six separate
counts against” him.
Lucas is charged with:
1. Rape
2. Rape
3. Engaging children in
sexually explicit conduct for
use in visual or print medium
4. Engaging children in
sexually explicit conduct for
use in visual or print medium
5. Engaging children in
sexually explicit conduct for
use in visual or print medium
6. Forgery in the second
degree
Lucas is charged with
two separate counts of rape.
Yeargan told Lucas that the
two charges are “Class Y Felonies
which carries a penalty
of 25-40 years or life in prison
on each one if found guilty.”
Each count of engaging children
in sexually explicit
conduct (Class B Felonies)
carries a separate penalty
of 5-20 years in prison and
fines not to exceed $15,000
or any combination of fines
or prison.
Forgery in the second degree
is also a Class B Felony.
“Mr. Lucas, do you understand
the charges against
you?,” the judge asked. “Yes,
I understand,” Lucas answered
via an interpreter.
The judge ordered that
Lucas return on Feb. 3 for
pretrial and on Feb. 16 for
trial and that his $250,000
bond remains the same.
Lucas was arrested on
Nov. 18 after the Nashville
Police Department “received
a report from Crimes Against
Children regarding a possible
rape of a 12-year-old
female,” according to a press
release issued by Nashville
Investigator Larry Marion.
During interviews with
the victim, investigators
learned that Lucas had been
having sexual intercourse
with her. The 12-year-old
victim told investigators that
Lucas would video them having
sexual intercourse with
his cell phone.
“On Nov. 23, Howard
County Investigator Blake
Eudy, Nashville Assistant
Chief Amy Marion, and
Nashville Investigator Larry
Marion executed a search
warrant at 1216 Mine St. #87
in Nashville. During the execution
of the search warrant
evidence was collected that
corroborated the 12-year-old
victim’s claims. Lucas was
arrested at the residence
and transported to Howard
County Jail.” Lucas was also
found to be in possession of
a counterfeit Texas Driver’s
License with his photograph,
but someone else’s name,
the press release adde
