A former district attorney in Louisiana who was labeled as a sexual predator pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice charge on Wednesday. Authorities had been investigating the long-serving prosecutor over the said misconduct.
According to ABC News, Harry Morel, who have been a veteran district attorney, elected at St. Charles Parish for 33 years admitted he harassed a witness and attempted to get rid of evidence over a federal grand jury probe centered on him. The investigation involves on Morel, who took sexual advantage to at least 20 women, in exchange for his legal service.
Investigators and prosecutors said during a press conference after the hearing, the victims sought Morel's help to handle their case which some involves their relatives' cases. "By title, he was the embodiment of justice. However, in the darkness of his heart, he was something else entirely, a man who perverted his position of power to take sexual advantage of desperate women who needed help. And he did this over and over and over again," U.S. Attorney Kenneth Polite stated.
Greg Champagne, the St. Charles Parish Sheriff said, Morel knew who to target and he was good at doing it. Nola.com reported, the 73-year old former district attorney is expected to serve three years in jail, which is a maximum sentence, according to Polite. His sentencing is also scheduled on 17th of August.
Morel pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Kurt Englehardt to a single count of obstruction of justice, which was charged against him last month. According to Salon, Ralph Capitelli, his representing attorney, Morel intended to admit the charge. Polite's predecessors were against on prosecuting the defendant because of lack of evidence over his "sexual predator" crimes.
Court records filed on March 31, stated the defendant and a witness has an "inappropriate" meeting, discussing about the criminal charges against the witness ad others. It is also stated, that Morel told the witness to destroy the evidence of their meetings. FBI has been investigating and monitoring Morel for a long time.
The defendant declined to comment after the hearing, but his attorney said officials' comments describing him as a sexual predator were a tactic to influence sentencing. Morel is free on $50,000 bond pending sentencing.
