A Louisiana judge handling the Madison Brooks rape case reportedly dismissed a 1972 rape conviction a year after releasing another rape suspect on reduced bail.
According to FOX News Digital, District Judge Gail Horne Ray’s actions sparked concerns about conflicts of interest due to her son’s serial rape conviction, along with dismissing two additional rape cases.
Ray assumed her role as a 19th Judicial District Court judge on January 12, 2023. Three months later, she released De’Aundre Cox, accused of raping a 12-year-old, without notifying the victim or the DA’s office.
Earlier this month, she dismissed Donald Ray Link’s 1972 aggravated rape conviction, even though Link’s lawyers had not requested it.
Ray’s son, Nelson Dan Taylor Jr., raped numerous classmates between 1995 and 1996, after into their homes in a mask and attacking the victims at knifepoint, court documents state. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Brooks had been out drinking at Reggie’s bar on January 15, 2023, in Baton Rouge; she asked for a ride home since she was reportedly too drunk and couldn’t find her friends.
Kaivon Washington, 18; Everette Lee, 28; Casen Carver, 18; and 17-year-old Desmond Carter were identified as the defendants in the car with Brooks. Since Brooks was purportedly unable to tell them where she lived, they dropped her off in a subdivision; she was later hit by a car driven by a ride-share driver.
Madison passed away from her injuries at a hospital.
According to the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office, the suspects are now facing charges that include:
- Washington: Third-degree rape
- Carter: First and third-degree rape (will be tried as an adult)
- Lee: Principal to third-degree rape (which means they were present but did not take part and did nothing to stop it)
- Carver: Principle to third-degree rape
Link, who was serving a life sentence, appeared before Ray last month to request parole eligibility. She vacated the conviction, citing “improper instructions” given to the jury during the trial as a “glaring error,” WBRZ2 reports.
“Ultimately, the trial court relies on its ‘inherent authority’ to reach its decision,” District Attorney Hillar Moore III said, following Ray’s decision. “The fact remains that the trial court does not possess the inherent authority to ignore proper legal procedures and consider whatever it wants, whenever it wants.”
The Louisiana Supreme Court issued a stay in the dispute, halting any action until the U.S. Supreme Court makes a ruling.
Meanwhile, the defendants’ attorneys in the Brooks rape case, some of whom are civil rights attorneys, argued that the prosecution’s aggressive pursuit of charges against Black men accused of raping Brooks had a racist undertone.
Following Brooks’ death, the case became a public spectacle after the defense released video snippets that portrayed Brooks in a negative light. A few months later, one of the defense lawyers reportedly leaked Brooks’ autopsy report, revealing details of the alleged rape.
An autopsy revealed that Brooks’ blood alcohol level was nearly four times the legal limit, and all four of the suspects had been drinking at the bar. Only the 28-year-old Lee, however, was drinking legally, as the drinking age is 21.
Defense attorneys have claimed no crime took place because Brooks had sex with Washington and Carter consensually.
Check back for updates.
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[Featured image: Madison Brooks/Instagram]
