Slidell man found guilty in 2023 rape case

SLIDELL, La. (WGNO) — A Slidell man has been convicted in in a 2023 rape investigation.

The Office of District Attorney Collin Sims reported that a jury found 57-year-old Bernard Denham guilty of second-degree rape on Friday, May 9.

Court documents state that a teenage victim was raped after being grabbed, dragged into a restroom and punched in Possum Hollow Park on March 27, 2023.

The victim then told their mother about the incident and was taken to a hospital. In a forensic interview, the victim gave a description of the person who assaulted them.

Court documents state that detectives investigating the case saw Denham in the park and questioned him after determining that he matched the description provided by the victim.

According to detectives, Denham denied being at the park when the assault happened; however, “a computer check revealed he had an active warrant for an unrelated burglary. He was arrested on the burglary warrant.”

Court documents state that surveillance footage showed Denham in the park’s area during the time of the incident, and the victim identified him after being shown a lineup of pictures of Denham and similar-looking people.

A DNA expert stated that DNA “consistent with Denham’s DNA profile” was found on the victim’s body.

The district attorney’s office reported that Denham was found guilty after 90 minutes of jury deliberation.

Denham’s sentencing is set for July 31. According to the district attorney’s office, “second degree rape usually carries a sentence of five to forty years in prison but due to Denham’s status as a repeat offender, he is facing a mandatory sentence of life in prison.”

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