Photograph: Kenneth Paul Rene
According to Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz, “On January 21, 2021, school officials at a St. Landry Parish school reported to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office that a juvenile student was forced to perform inappropriate acts while visiting Kenneth Paul Rene at his home in the City of Opelousas.
Later that evening, medical personnel with the Opelousas General Hospital South Campus reported to the Opelousas Police Department that a juvenile patient disclosed that Kenneth Rene had been doing inappropriate sexual things to her.
During the early stages of the investigation St. Landry Parish Detectives learned that the inappropriate acts occurred at Kenneth Rene’s residence located within the city limits of Opelousas, Louisiana. Sheriff Detectives forwarded the information and investigation to the Opelousas Police Department.
On August 2, 2022, Opelousas Police Department requested a forensic interview from the Hearts of Hope Child Advocacy Center located in Opelousas, La.
On August 11, 2022, the forensic interview was conducted. During the interview it was learned that while the female juvenile was at the residence of Kenneth Rene, he would perform explicit sexual acts on her. Kenneth Rene would then manipulate, coerce, and force the juvenile to reciprocate the acts on him. The juvenile told the forensic interviewer, as she got older, Kenneth Rene would give her a white powdery substance that would make her dizzy and tired. When the juvenile awoke, she would be hurting and she was told by Kenneth Rene that they had fun the night before.
The forensic interviewer was informed by the juvenile that the sexual abuse also occurred within the parish outside the city limits prior to January of 2021. The juvenile advised that Kenneth Rene would cause pain to her private area for telling him NO! The juvenile told the interviewer that Kenneth would reward her with gifts, food, and lavish trips also.
Immediately following this interview, the Opelousas Police Department and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office began a joint investigation into this matter.
On September 27, 2022, a second forensic interview was conducted at the Hearts of Hope Child Advocacy Center in Opelousas, La. During this interview, the juvenile provided more details relative to the sexual abuse she endured. Investigators also learned that Kenneth Rene had multiple social media accounts.
On September 30,2022, Kenneth Paul Rene was booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail and charge with 3 counts of unlawful use or access to social media. Kenneth Paul Rene has been registered Sex Offender with the St. Landry Parish Sex Offender Unit since September 11, 2006.
On October 5, 2022, Kenneth Paul Rene was charged with 6 counts of human trafficking and was given a bond of $300,000.
Upon further investigation by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office, it was learned that a second juvenile was a victim of Rene’s illegal sexual activity. The second juvenile stated that during 4-8 years of age, Kenneth Rene would do inappropriate sexual acts to her, and she would have to do the same to him.
On October 7, 2022, Kenneth Paul Rene received the following additional charges; First degree rape, 3 counts of sexual battery, and 3 counts of oral sexual battery. Kenneth Rene was given a bond of $310,000 for these charges
*****************************************************************************
ARRESTED:
Kenneth Paul Rene, age 42 – 1621 W. Vine Street, Apt. #2 – Opelousas, LA., 70570
CHARGES:
Unlawful Use or Access to Social Media (3 counts)
Human Trafficking (6 counts)
First Degree Rape
Sexual Battery (3 counts)
Oral Sexual Battery (3 counts)
BOND: $625,000
*****************************************************************************
Sheriff Guidroz stated, “Something that we would like to bring to light is, even if no sexual act is performed, the promise of something of value in order to obtain a sexual act is still a crime.”
Hearts of Hope 24-hour Crisis Line; 337 233-7273;
National Human Trafficking Hotline; 1-888-373-7888;
You may also call Crime Stoppers at 337-948-TIPS, download the P3 app on your mobile device or simply dial ** TIPS on your mobile phone to tip. All calls are anonymous and you can earn a cash reward for information leading to an arrest.
On behalf of Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz, this is Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
