Shreveport, LA: McKnight Sentenced to Life Without Parole for Rape, Other Crimes

On March 5, 2024, a Caddo District Judge sentenced Christopher McKnight, a Baton Rouge man who was found guilty of rape last year, to spend the rest of his natural life in prison without the chance of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. Judge Ramona Emanuel’s ruling comes after McKnight’s conviction on September 13, 2023, stemming from a second-degree rape incident for which the defendant was arrested on May 13, 2022.

Extensive Criminal History

Before the sentencing, the state filed a fourth felony multiple offender bill of information showcasing McKnight’s expansive criminal history. The state primarily based the multiple billing on the last three convictions received by McKnight. These included simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling and two counts of simple burglary, all of which occurred in 2014. The 2023 rape conviction also factored into the bill.

Notably, a five-year period hadn’t elapsed between the expiry of the maximum sentence for each previous felony conviction and the commission of the subsequent felony crime.

The Legal Teams

Assistant District Attorneys Brittany Arvie and Senae Hall prosecuted the case against McKnight. In his defense were attorneys Royal Alexander and Katherine Ferguson. The case was documented under docket No. 393736.

Resources for the Crime Victims

Victims who need assistance can contact the Victim Assistance hotline at (318) 226-5904 or Child Support at (318) 226-6871. For instances of child abuse, the Child Abuse Hotline is 1-855-4LA-KIDS. To report a crime, you may call (318) 673-7373, or you can reach out to the NWLA Family Justice Center at (318) 584-7171.

For immediate protective orders at the District Court, you can call (318) 226-6776 or 1 (888) 411-1333. The Juvenile Court can be reached at (318) 226-6772 for similar matters. If the matter involves an ungovernable child, call (318) 425-1883.

The District Attorney’s Office can be reached at (318) 226-6826. It is located at 501 Texas St., 5th Floor, Shreveport, LA 71101.

For the Public

For any emergency or non-emergency matters, Shreveport PD can be reached at (318) 673-7300. The Sheriff’s office contact is (318) 681-0821. For any civil matters, the Clerk of Court can be contacted at (318) 226-6780. For juvenile-related issues, the Juvenile Court can be reached at (318) 226-6772 while the Juvenile District Attorney’s office is reachable at (318) 429-7647. The Caddo Coroner’s office can be reached at (318) 226-6881.