Madison Brooks death: Desmond Carter, 17 faces first-degree rape charges and will be tried as adult

BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA: A teen boy accused of raping Madison Brooks will face adult charges after a grand jury incriminated him on first-degree rape. Desmond Carter, 17, now faces life in prison for the January 15 assault on the Louisiana State University sorority girl, 19, in East Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

The teen was charged with raping the 19-year-old, as was Kavion Washington, 18, who was given third-degree rape charge. Casen Carver, 18, and Everett Lee, 28, have been accused of witnessing the two assaults on the inebriated student. Madi died soon after the assault when she exited the car and was hit by a ride-share vehicle at 3 am.

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Who is Desmond Carter?

Desmond Carter, 17, is accused of first- and third-degree rape in the accusation handed by an East Baton Rouge grand jury on Wednesday, Feb 22. Prior to the decision to charge him as an adult, he had been arrested on a charge of third-degree rape with his identity being kept secret, reports The Advocate. The East Baton Rouge Public Defender's Office is in charge of representing Carter. According to court documents, the grand jury also contemplated whether to indict Carter for second-degree kidnapping, but ultimately decided against doing so, though it is still possible, says the outlet.

The LSU girl was last seen staggering out of Reggie's pub in Tigerland with the group while intoxicated; the establishment's license has since been revoked. Reports say the four young men's arrests sparked a commotion on campus at LSU and refocused attention on student sexual abuse. Brooks ran into the group after a drinking session at Reggie's club, one of several Tigerland hangouts that are staples of LSU student life but have repeatedly come under fire for having poor safety procedures that allow abuse.

Driver not charged

When she left the bar and asked the four men to take her home, they pulled over by the side of the road, where she was allegedly raped. She was later killed by a vehicle after the men dropped Brooks off in an area near the campus. Prosecutors and legal experts say that the unusual conditions surrounding her death — she was struck by a driver who is not charged in the case — and the choice to prosecute her alleged attackers after her death makes for a unique case. Prosecutors claim they are prepared to overcome the difficulties. Hillar Moore, the district attorney for East Baton Rouge, earlier said "Just because she is not here to personally testify doesn’t mean that we cannot move forward."

'Under Louisiana law, this is rape'

The teenagers definitely sexually attacked Brooks, according to a lawyer for her family. "Under Louisiana law, this is rape," Kerry Miller said to WBRZ. "We were deeply offended by blaming the victim, and statements regarding if she hadn’t been hit she wouldn’t be complaining of things. We thought that was deeply offensive and plain wrong." According to Louisiana law, rape in the first degree carries a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole.

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