A 25-year-old Baton Rouge man with a lengthy criminal history has been accused of raping a 4-year-old girl just weeks after being released from jail, police said.
Anthony James Jelks Jr. was arrested Monday after investigators said he sexually assaulted the child on August 1 and infected her with chlamydia, a sexually transmitted disease.
Prior Arrests
Baton Rouge Police Chief T.J. Morse said Jelks was “well known” to the department, with six arrests over the past six or seven years.
His record includes domestic abuse battery, firearms charges, child endangerment, and violating protective orders. He was most recently released on parole in June following convictions on weapons and domestic violence charges.
Anthony Jelks
“It is extremely frustrating to our detectives,” Morse said. “We are arresting the same people over and over again.”
Court documents reviewed by WAFB show Jelks had been arrested in 2020 for punching a woman in the face.
Police Chief T.J. Morse
In 2022, he was convicted of domestic abuse battery with serious bodily injury and sentenced to six months in prison.
In 2024, he was arrested on firearms charges and resisting arrest. He was released on parole on June 26, 2025.
Five weeks later, investigators said he raped the child.
Investigation
Police issued a warrant for Jelks after the child tested positive for an STD.
He turned himself in Monday morning and is being held on rape charges.
Officials said additional charges could follow as the investigation continues.
East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore said his office is reviewing “every available option,” including surgical castration and the possibility of pursuing the death penalty.
Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore
Louisiana became the first state in 2024 to authorize surgical castration in certain sex crime cases. The U.S. Supreme Court has barred the death penalty for child rape cases, but Moore said state law may provide a path to pursue it.
“I can’t think of anything worse than raping a child,” Moore said. “If the facts are there, the community will expect the harshest punishment possible.”
Community Reaction
Neighbors expressed outrage that Jelks had been released despite his history of violence.
“It’s terrifying to know someone like that was back on the street,” one resident told reporters.
Chief Morse said the case highlights the failures of low bond levels and lenient sentencing for repeat offenders.
