As I discussed yesterday here in The Hayride, New Orleans has remained one of the most violent cities in America. But the crime problem doesn’t end there. Other major cities in Louisiana have extremely high crime rates as well–including Monroe and Alexandria.

Law-abiding citizens in Louisiana’s cities continue to suffer from the heinous acts of so-called “super predators”–repeat violent offenders who victimize good people again and again.

Time and again, we hear and see stories of career criminals in Louisiana who either receive light sentences or walk free due to “post-conviction” plea deals from “soft-on-crime” prosecutors like New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams. All too often, these super predators go on to commit even more brutal crimes in the future.

Perhaps worse, corrupt local politicians like New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell do their best to support these obvious dangers to society by showing up to their criminal trials and offering consolation to their families (yes, this really happened in 2022).

A similar story has developed in Baton Rouge.

Last weekend, the Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) arrested a 25-year-old career criminal named Anthony Jelks, who allegedly raped a four-year-old child. The victimized child also tested positive for an STD as a result of this horrific assault.

The sad reality is that this super predator should have been rotting behind bars a long time ago. According to BRPD Chief T.J. Morse, Jelks had been released on parole in June 2025 for a separate crime–just weeks before he allegedly raped a four-year-old in August.

Based on a recent article from WAFB, we can see the litany of crimes and convictions that Jelks has committed over the the past few years:

“Mr. Jelks, we have arrested six times over the past six years,” Baton Rouge Police Chief TJ Morse said. “He has everything from firearm charges to domestic violence battery, violation of protective orders, and is currently on probation. Definitely someone we are doing our best to go after, and if anyone knows where he is, give us a call.”

The WAFB I-TEAM found court records indicating Jelks was arrested in August 2020 on accusations that he punched a woman in the face. Records show his bond was set at $1,000, and charges were later dismissed in December 2024.

In March 2022, Jelks was arrested for domestic abuse battery with serious bodily injury and child endangerment, court records show. His bond was set at $30,000. He pleaded guilty to domestic violence battery and was sentenced to six months in prison. His probation was revoked in December 2024.

In June 2024, he was arrested for Illegal possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm or carrying of a concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies, resisting an officer, and battery of a dating partner. For those charges, his bond was set at $15,000, and a probation hold was put into place. He pleaded to unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and pleaded to battery of a dating partner, according to court records. He was released on parole on June 26, 2025.

On August 1, weeks after his latest release, investigators said he raped a four-year-old and gave her Chlamydia.

Six arrests in six years–for domestic violence, child endangerment, firearm charges, and more. And yet he was still walking free.

Fortunately, Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore is exploring all available options to punish Jelks in this child rape case. In fact, DA Moore can seek to surgically or chemically castrate Jelks, if convicted, due to the Louisiana Legislature passing a law that allows judges to punish child molesters with castration.

When will Louisiana see an end to this super predator problem? We can start by calling on our criminal justice system to punish convicted child rapists with castration and capital punishment. And when local judges and DAs fail to properly punish career criminals, the state government and Attorney General must step up to the plate and properly punish these individuals. The law-abiding citizens of Louisiana deserve no less.

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