
Caddo Jury Finds Eckles Guilty of Molestation of 12 Year Old Child
A Shreveport man whose trial on sex charges was delayed one day this week as he was detained in a DeSoto Parish jail on unrelated charges, was found guilty late Tuesday, January 28, 2025, in Caddo District Court.
The Caddo Parish jury, a three-man, three-woman jury in District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.'s court, found LaQuinton Eckles, 38, guilty as charged of Molestation of a Juvenile and Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile.
The jury returned its unanimous verdict after deliberating for 70 minutes. The trial was originally scheduled to began Monday at 1 p.m., but was delayed because Eckles had been arrested over the weekend on unrelated charges in DeSoto Parish, and had to be transported to court from Mansfield.

The Caddo District Attorney’s office called seven witnesses during the trial to prove that on Mother’s Day in 2022, Eckles molested the minor victim. One week prior to the crime, Eckles spent several hours with the now-15 year-old child.
Eckles Had Permission to Visit the Child
On the night of the crime, the victim's mother consented for Eckles to visit with the child for two hours; however, he failed to return the child as promised and kept her out past midnight. The following day the girl reported the attack to her counselor, who notified the police.
The victim was interviewed at the Gingerbread House and that recorded interview was played for the jury. At trial, Eckles denied ever being alone with the child. The jury rejected that assertion, returning its guilty verdicts.
Judge Denied Defense Attempts at Appeal Bond
Following conviction, defense counsel moved for an appeal bond to allow Eckles to remain free pending sentencing. Judge Hathaway denied that request, citing defendant’s arrest in DeSoto for unrelated criminal activity while on bond for the molestation charge.
Eckles faces a possible sentence from five to 20 years in prison for molestation of a juvenile when the offender has custody or control over the victim, and up to seven years in prison for the indecent behavior with a juvenile conviction.
Caddo Correctional Center Booking Photos December 28th-January 3rd
Gallery Credit: Caddo Correctional Center