Mason Jr, 21, was first arrested June 19 and booked with simple rape, three counts of video voyeurism, three counts of extortion, computer-aided solicitation of a minor and indecent behaviour with a juvenile, said Sgt. Brandon Veal, spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office. — Image by Freepik
A Kenner man accused of illegally obtaining sexually explicit images of three female victims, including a minor, and extorting them is now facing several dozen additional charges after authorities identified a new victim, a 13-year-old girl.
Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office officials fear there may be many more.
Dekunta Mason Jr, 21, was first arrested June 19 and booked with simple rape, three counts of video voyeurism, three counts of extortion, computer-aided solicitation of a minor and indecent behaviour with a juvenile, said Sgt. Brandon Veal, spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office.
The charges stem from complaints from two women, ages 18 and 19, as well as a juvenile girl whose age was not available, according to court records.
The Sheriff's Office rearrested Mason June 21 after a detective spoke with the 13-year-old victim. He was booked with 16 counts of video voyeurism, 15 counts of possession of juvenile pornography, six counts of extortion, indecent behaviour with a juvenile and computer-aided solicitation of a minor, Veal said.
Mason appeared in Jefferson Parish Magistrate Court Friday for a bail hearing on the new charges.
He met the 13-year-old victim online, according to Jefferson Parish Assistant District Attorney Tonia Williams. Mason is accused of coercing the girl to expose herself and do “sexual things” on video and Facetime. He took screenshots of the acts without her knowledge or consent, Williams said.
There are videos of Mason instructing the girl, who was on the verge of tears, according to authorities. He threatened to “expose her” unless she followed his directions.
The girl gave Mason an undisclosed amount of money on several different occasions to prevent him from publishing or sharing the images, according to authorities.
“The victim says, ‘I already paid you. Please stop’,” Williams told the court on Friday.
The Sheriff’s Office opened its investigation into Mason in May after receiving a complaint from the 18-year-old victim in the case, according Veal.
The woman told detectives Mason raped her at a Metairie parking garage in April and recorded the assault without her knowledge, Veal said. He later threatened to send the video to her family and friends unless she performed other sexual favours, Veal said.
No details were available about the allegations involving the second adult victim and the other juvenile.
While the Sheriff's Office has booked Mason with charges related to four victims, investigators have referred other identified victims to neighbouring law enforcement agencies because the alleged crimes occurred in those jurisdictions, Veal said.
Jefferson Parish Criminal Commissioner Patricia Joyce set Mason's total bail at US$757,500 (RM3.53mil). He was being held Friday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. – The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate/Tribune News Service
