A Jefferson Parish judge on Friday (May 1) sentenced Holiver Figueroa to life plus 166 years in prison for his conviction of sexually abusing a child during a 6-year period. 

Figueroa, 38, was a Gretna resident when he abused the child, who was about 9 years old when he began grooming the victim with overtures of love.  

“This man was a father figure to that child for many, many years, until he was not,” Assistant District Attorney Joan Benge told jurors in opening statements on April 13. “He is a classic child predator.” 

The victim initially disclosed the abuse at Figueroa’s hands to a classmate but insisted that the classmate keep it a secret. The abuse finally came to light in March 2022. The victim, then aged 15, was visiting family in Hammond and began sleep-talking about being abused. 

Another teen at the sleepover used a mobile device to obtain an audio recording of the chatter, initially thinking it was humorous. Then the gravity of what was being said became apparent. 

Upon hearing it, the victim’s father brought the audio recording to the Gretna Police Department. Fearing other children could be in harm’s way, police immediately went to Figueroa’s home at 1 a.m., on March 22, 2022. Figueroa, who also used the name Oliver Domenguez, was arrested. 

The victim disclosed the abuse that began at age 9 or 10, with the last incident occurring just days before police were notified. Figueroa’s seminal DNA was recovered from the child’s bed sheets. 

Detectives also discovered hidden files in Figueroa’s cell phone, in which he stored as many as 1,500 nude images many involving the victim and a video of the defendant sexually abusing the child.   

In testimony at his trial, Figueroa accused the victim of lying and fabricating the rape assertions. 

On April 16, after hearing three days of testimony, jurors found Figueroa guilty as charged of first-degree rape, third-degree rape, sexual battery of a juvenile under age 13, indecent behavior with a juvenile under age 13, sexual battery and indecent behavior with a juvenile. 

During Friday’s sentencing hearing, 24th Judicial District Court Judge Donald “Chick” Foret denied a defense motion for a new trial and said he found the state’s witnesses to be “very credible.” Of Figueroa, Judge Foret said, “He had no tears for anybody until he got convicted.” 

Life in prison without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence is the mandatory punishment for first-degree rape under Louisiana law. Judge Foret also sentenced Figueroa to the maximum sentences for the other convictions: 

• 25 years for third-degree rape, for the abuse that occurred when the victim was between the ages of 13 and 15; 
• 99 years for sexual battery of a juvenile under age 13; 
• 25 years for indecent behavior with a juvenile under age 13; 
• 10 years for sexual battery of a juvenile for the abuse that occurred when the victim was between the ages of 13 and 15, and; 
• Seven years for indecent behavior with a juvenile, for the abuse that occurred when the victim was between the ages of 13 and 15. 

Judge Foret then ran the sentences consecutively, or back-to-back, for a total of 166 years on top of the life sentence. 

“If I could give you more years, I would give you more years,” Foret told Figueroa. 

Additionally, Figueroa must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life and is prohibited from contacting the victim forever. 

Assistant District Attorneys LaShanda Webb and Joan Benge prosecuted the case.