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JEFFERSON, La. -- Jefferson Parish deputies have arrested a 61-year-old man and charged him with a rape that happened in the late 1970s.
Daniel Parks Sr., 61, faces one count of aggravated rape, possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance.
Sheriff Newell Normand said deputies received a call from a "very distraught" 40-year-old woman living in Arkansas. Normand said the woman told deputies Parks was a close friend of her father.
The victim said on the day of the rape, some time in 1978 or 1979, when the victim was 8 years old, Parks started a game of hide and seek with her and her brother. After telling the boy to go hide, Parks allegedly led the girl to the bathroom, placed his hand over her mouth, removed her clothing and then raped her, Normand said.
Parks told the victim he'd kill her father and her brother if she ever told anyone about the rape, Normand said.
The victim suffered "a great deal of mental anguish," and she decided to come forward more than three decades later through the help of counseling.
Normand said Parks, who was around 30 at the time of the rape, admitted that he "did touch the victim inappropriately and further raped her."
Deputies also confiscated marijuana and guns from Parks' home.
