On September 8, 2025, Baton Rouge police arrested 25-year-old Anthony James Jelks Jr. for the first-degree rape of a 4-year-old girl, who was infected with chlamydia.
Recently released from prison after multiple arrests for violent crimes, including domestic abuse and firearms charges, Jelks was on supervised probation at the time.
Police said Jelks Jr., turned himself in to authorities at BRPD Headquarters on Monday morning. He was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a charge of first-degree rape.
According to an arrest warrant, officers with the Baton Rouge Police Department were called to an address in the 5400 block of Jackson Avenue on Aug. 7 about a report of sexual assault.
Two days before, BRPD officers responded to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital regarding a sexual assault report. Officers learned the victim was taken to the hospital after the complainant saw redness and irritation on the 4-year-old child’s body.
According to an affidavit, the child told the complainant that Jelks “pulled her pants down and got on top of her.” The complainant told investigators the victim was allowed to stay overnight at Jelks’ residence and dropped off on Aug. 1.
The child was taken to the hospital to be examined after the injuries were seen. According to police documents, the child tested positive for chlamydia.
While investigating Jelks, officers learned that he previously had an indecent behavior with juveniles charge in November 2022. He was accused of trying to solicit lewd videos and photos from a 9-year-old girl through Instagram.
The case has fueled public outrage and demands for harsher penalties, as people are calling for judges to face the consequences of their action, especially when repeat offenders go on to commit violent crimes
Republican Randall Fine in the case of Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska, murdered on Charlotte Train in North Carolina called for judges to face consequences if violent repeat offenders they released go on to commit new crimes.
Zarutska case took over the social Media, spiking concern as commentators criticized the judicial system that unleashed repeat violent offenders on the unsuspecting public like Decarlos Brown Jr., who fatally stabbing the 21-year-old Ukrainian refugee in a random attack on august 22.
This made Rep Fine Wrote on X: “I’m going to introduce legislation to hold judges accountable when violent repeat offenders they release commit new crimes.
“It’s easy to release criminals when you’re protected by an armed bailiff at all times. The rest of us aren’t so lucky.
“Those 12+ judges that released Decarlos Brown Jr. should have their day in court too.”
Along the same line Jelks Anthony’s case further aggravated people and has fueled heated argument against the judiciary system and its incapability to let violent offender remain in prison
social media activist and former music video director Robby Starbuck opines that the criminal are as good has the judges who let them out into the public.
In his words: “If you’ve been arrested for 6 violent crimes but a woke Democrat judge goes easy on you, I consider that judge an accomplice to the rape you then commit against a 4-year-old and the judge should be sentenced to the same consequence as the rapist. Woke sentences would end quickly!”
Elon Musk simply wrote: “this needs to stop”
Assistant News Director Florida VoiceNews Eric Daugherty says the continuous crime needs to stop being a news: “Previously arrested…released….” needs to STOP being a national headline. Our people are getting raped and murdered. The judges, District Attorneys and State Attorneys who allow this have blood on their hands.”
Matt Van Swol voted death penalty for the criminals: “Death penalty. End of story.”
—By: Adeoye Olorunseun Elizabeth