Former Louisiana sheriff gets 4 life sentences for sex crimes, including incest and rape

COVINGTON, La. (TCD) -- A former St. Tammany Parish sheriff was sentenced to four life terms in prison this week after being convicted of sex crimes that involved children as well as family members.

WGNO-TV reports Jack Strain will not be eligible for parole for the crimes that reportedly occurred over the span of nearly 40 years. The abuse began in the 1970s, and one of the victims, Mark Finn, told Strain during the sentencing hearing, "You are a monster, a predator, and a pervert."

A jury found Strain guilty in November of four counts of aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated incest, indecent behavior with a juvenile, and sexual battery, according to WWL-TV. Following his conviction, WGNO reports 22nd Judicial District Attorney Warren Montgomery said, "Jack Strain was a very powerful and influential individual and it shows that no one is above the law. The evidence was overwhelming and the evidence was convincing."

Strain was indicted by a grand jury in June 2019. The 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced the charges against him and laid out a timeline of the accusations against him. Strain reportedly raped a victim between June 1979 and July 1980, and another between January 1975 and September 1981.

The aggravated incest and indecent behavior reportedly happened from April 1996 to July 2002. The other incident of aggravated incest and indecent behavior involving a fourth victim occurred on or around June 1, 2004, according to the District Attorney’s Office statement.

In addition to the sex crimes charges, Strain was charged with federal conspiracy to commit honest services wire fraud, soliciting a bribe, and offering a bribe in August 2019 regarding a work release program. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana, Strain pleaded guilty in December 2021.

WGNO reports Strain’s attorneys plan to appeal the sentence.

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