Slidell man pleads guilty to girl'��s rape

22-year-old man sentenced to 15 years

By Matthew Penix
St. Tammany News
Published on Friday, February 6, 2009 8:16 AM CST

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A Slidell man, 22, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after he admitted on Monday to raping a girl he met at a nightclub in May.

State Judge Richard “Rick” Swartz Jr., in his first major sentencing since taking office in January, sentenced Terrance Kelm to a mid-level range for forcible rape, punishable by up to 40 years in prison.

Kelm faced a minimum of five years, at least two of which must be served without the possibility of parole, suspension, or probation.

On May 24, 2008, Kelm met the 29-year-old victim and a friend at Club Phoenix at 227 Cousin St. in Slidell and later in the night “offered to give them a ride home,” Rick Wood, spokesman for District Attorney Walter Reed said.

When the women agreed and arrived at the victim’s friend’s house, Kelm wouldn’t leave without the victim.

He “pulled the victim back in the van to take her back to his house,” Wood said.

Later at his Slidell area house, “he forced himself on her,” Wood said, and “after everything he brought her back to her friends and dropped her off.”

Back at her friend’s house, the victim admitted what happened and went to the hospital. Slidell Police were called.

Kelm, however, had already fled the state, Wood said.

Four months later, in September 2008, authorities found Kelm in Atlanta and he was extradited back to St. Tammany to face charges, Wood said.

The victim’s name was withheld by The St. Tammany News to protect her identity.

Assistant District Attorney Jack Hoffstadt prosecuted Kelm.

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