Louisiana Woman Gets Probation in Sex Case - Update

(Gretna, Louisiana)

A New Orleans woman was ordered to serve two years of probation today for her conviction of having sex with a 14-year-old boy in Gretna two years ago.

Kendra Greenwald, 33, eluded prison time for her July 12 conviction of carnal knowledge of a juvenile, in connection with the June 10, 2010 encounter inside her 12th Street apartment.

The boy's mother alerted police after learning her son had sex with Greenwald, who was 31 at the time. Greenwald contends the boy, now 16, forced her to have sex by threatening her and to harm her child.

Greenwald, who is now married and had no criminal history before her conviction, could have faced up to 10 years in prison. Judge Ross LaDart of the 24th Judicial District Court ordered she serve one year in prison, but he suspended the incarceration in favor of two years of probation with the condition she get her GED and receive counseling.

"You have a small child," LaDart told her in explaining the sentencing. "I understand you're pregnant."

Greenwald was also ordered to register as a sex offender.

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Louisiana Woman Guilty of Sex with Boy
[Previous 7/13/1 post]
(Gretna, Louisiana) In June 2010, a 31-year-old local woman, Kendra Greenwald, was accused of engaging in sex with a 14-year-old boy.

Yesterday, Kendra Greenwald, now 33, was convicted by a jury after 45 minutes of deliberation.

As deputies placed Greenwald in handcuffs, she muttered something about her husband and the courts being "crooked."

By then, Judge Ross LaDart of the 24th Judicial District Court had already ordered her to jail, where she will remain at least until he hands down his sentence on July 23. Carnal knowledge of a juvenile carries a sentence range of probation to no more than 10 years in prison.

Greenwald had no criminal history, not even an arrest, her attorney Bruce Netterville noted in asking LaDart to allow her to remain free on bond, either until her sentencing or during the appeal.

Assistant District Attorney Seth Shute opposed the request, characterizing Greenwald as "a flight risk."

I speculate that Greenwald will be treated leniently at sentencing.