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Dusty Rineheart

Man indicted in Lake End Park incident

Staff Report

A 31-year-old Plaquemine man was indicted Monday in 16th Judicial District Court for second degree battery stemming from an Aug. 31 incident at Lake End Park in Morgan City, according to Assistant District Attorney Anthony Saleme.
Dusty Rineheart, 31, of Plaquemine, has been indicted by a grand jury for an altercation during which he is accused of having beat Max Cordova, 39, of Morgan City, after Cordova was accused of molesting a 16-year-old girl and attempting to push her head under water at Lake End Park in Morgan City.
Cordova was charged with molestation of a juvenile and simple battery in the incident.
On Aug. 31, officers responded to a complaint of a person who had attempted to drown a female victim. Investigating officers were able to determine that a 16-year-old girl, according to witnesses, was approached by a man who attempted to push her head under the water, Morgan City Police spokesman Capt. James Blair said in a Sept. 1 news release.
Cordova was accused of attempting to grab and remove the top portion of the girl’s bathing suit before she was able to leave the water, Blair said.
Cordova then exited the water and walked to the parking area of the park where he was approached by Rineheart, a relative of the victim, Blair said.
“According to witnesses as well as statements from Rineheart, he (Rineheart) became enraged and attacked Cordova causing severe facial injuries which required Cordova to be transported to the local hospital for treatment,” Blair said.
“This attack took place well after the initial incident and in another physical location, not in an effort to prevent the initial attack of the juvenile.” Cordova was in the parking lot at Lake End Park about 75 yards to 100 yards from the water when Rineheart attacked him, Blair said.
Consequently, the juvenile victim of the alleged attack by Cordova told officers that she did not want to pursue criminal charges against Cordova, Blair said. “The Morgan City Police Department sought out and contacted the juvenile’s parents to determine what action should be taken to protect the rights of the juvenile victim and to keep the parents informed,” Blair said.
In a news release, Blair said the department would support any individual who stands with police and comes to the aid of another in an effort to protect life and property. “However, this incident and battery occurred well after the initial attack,” Blair said.
The resulting attack on Cordova caused severe injuries and could have had the potential of becoming a fatal injury, the release stated.
“The Morgan City Police Department is charged with the protection of the rights of all, including suspects in any case,” Blair said. “The attack on the suspect, Cordova, hindered the initial investigation into the motive and reason behind the incident.”
Saleme said Rineheart’s arraignment is scheduled for Sept. 29. Saleme was not aware where Cordova’s case is in the court system, but said Assistant District Attorney Erica Rose is handling the case.
Saleme said Rose would be in court most of the day and probably would not be able to get in touch with The Daily Review until Wednesday morning. As of this morning, The Daily Review had not received any information on Cordova’s case.

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