Sex offender accused of sexually abusing children, human trafficking in Opelousas

Editor's note: This story contains details about sexual assault that some readers may find disturbing. The Hearst of Hope 24-hour crisis line is 337-233-7273 and the National Human Trafficking Hotline is 1-888-373-7888.

An Opelousas man who is a registered sex offender is facing multiple charges after the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office said he sexually abused two children.

Kenneth Rene was charged with six counts of human trafficking, three counts of sexual battery, three counts of oral sexual battery, three counts of unlawful use or access to social media and one count of first-degree rape.

If convicted, first-degree rape carries a life sentence.

School officials in St. Landry Parish were notified in January 2021 that a juvenile under the age of 10 was forced to perform inappropriate acts while visiting Rene at his home, St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office spokesperson Deputy Chief Eddie Thibodeaux said in a release. The girl also told medical personnel later that day Rene did sexually inappropriate things to her.

During a forensic interview in August, the girl said Rene would perform sexual acts on her, Thibodeaux said. He would then manipulate, coerce and force her to reciprocate the acts on him. She said as she got older, Rene would give her a “white powdery substance that would make her dizzy and tired,” according to the release. When she woke up, she would be in pain and Rene would tell her they “had fun the night before.”

The juvenile also said the abuse happened within the parish and outside the city limits before January 2021. He would “reward” the girl with gifts, food and lavish trips, according to the release. He would cause pain to her private area if she told him no. Investigators think the abuse may have been happening for several years.

Rene, who has been a registered sex offender since September 2006, had multiple social media accounts.

Rene also is accused of sexually abusing another child, according to the release. The child said Rene would perform inappropriate sexual acts on her and she would have to reciprocate them when she was 4-8 years old.

Rene is being held at the St. Landry Parish Jail on a $625,000 bond.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Sex offender accused of sexually abusing children in Opelousas