Bikers Protect Louisiana Child after Man Convicted of Rape and Abuse

Franklin, LA (KPEL News) - An Amelia man got his day in court after his 2021 arrest on rape and other heinous crimes involving a child. Bikers Against Child Abuse were in court during the trial to protect her.

The investigation began when St. Mary Parish detectives received a tip from a mandatory reporter who said the suspect admitted to having inappropriate sexual contact with a juvenile.

In the state of Louisiana, people in certain professions are mandated to report to authorities when they suspect abuse or neglect as a way of protecting the victim. The list includes educators, people in the medical profession, and members of the clergy. The Louisiana Department of Child and Family Services spells out details about who and what information should be provided.

Once they began investigating the allegations and looking for John Vandercook, they got a tip about his location and found him in a shed at the address.

Vandercook, who was 49-years-old at the time of his arrest, told St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Deputies that he had committed first degree rape of a child under the age of 13. Additionally, they discovered evidence that led to a charge of sexual batter of a child under the age of 15 and video voyeurism of a child under the age of 17.

A jury in Franklin found Vandercook guilty of 11 different counts including:

• Two counts of first degree rape.
• Five counts of sexual battery.
• Four counts of video voyeurism of a child under the age of 17.

READ MORE: St. Mary Parish Man Arrested on Sex Charges

Vandercook's conviction came down during National Crime Victim's Rights Week, and Assistant District Attorney Heather Hendrix said:

The victim overcame her fear by taking the witness stand and identifying the perpetrator, thus slaying the dragon. She left that courtroom victorious, moving forward on her healing journey surrounded by the fine members of Bikers Against Child Abuse (B.A.C.A.)'s Bayou Region Chapter and Ann Naquin, our office's Victims' Assistance Coordinator. I send heartfelt appreciation to the jury for their focus, dedication, and service, which delivered justice to the victim."

BACA has chapters around the world. You can see how they protect children who have been abused in the video below. Each biker abides by the same mission statement:

Bikers Against Child Abuse, Inc. (B.A.C.A.) exists with the intent to create a safer environment for abused children. We exist as a body of Bikers to empower children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live. We stand ready to lend support to our wounded friends by involving them with an established, united organization. We work in conjunction with local and state officials who are already in place to protect children. We desire to send a clear message to all involved with the abused child that this child is part of our organization, and that we are prepared to lend our physical and emotional support to them by affiliation, and our physical presence. We stand at the ready to shield these children from further abuse.

Vandercook will officially be sentence on July 9, 2024, but he faces a mandatory life sentence on the rape charges, without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

The sexual battery conviction carries a sentence of 25 to 99 years at hard labor, and the sentence for video voyeurism is 2 to 9 years.