A Jefferson Parish judge on Wednesday (May 27) sentenced Michael Pampas to life in prison for his conviction of raping a 12-year-old he contacted using a social media app before eventually videorecording himself as he sexually abused the child.

Pampas, 31, of Harvey, was convicted last week of first-degree rape of a juvenile under age 13, indecent behavior with a juvenile under age 13 and production of pornography involving a child under age 13.

He met the child during a swimming party at an apartment complex in Kenner in 2024. Members of the child’s family notified police in August 2024 after learning of Pampas’ recording of an inappropriate sexual call through Snapchat.

As the investigation unfolded, detectives learned that Pampas used his cell phone to videorecord himself sexually abusing the child. He saved the video on Google Drive. These acts are the basis for the first-degree rape and pornography convictions.

He also recorded two video calls with the child that were sexual in nature, leading to the indecent behavior conviction.

The victim’s grandmother, in victim-impact testimony Wednesday, said the child faces “many years of therapy,” and must live with the memory of Pampas’ abuse for life. “It will never, ever, ever go away,” she said. “The experience, it will never go away. The thought of what happened will always be there.

“I want the book thrown at him,” she said in asking for the maximum sentences. “I want him to suffer every day. I don’t want him to ever see the light of day. I never want him to hurt anyone else.”

The punishment for first-degree rape in Louisiana is life in prison without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Judge Nancy Miller of the 24th Judicial District Court noted that she has no discretion in deviating from that punishment. “And if I did, I’m not sure I would exercise it,” she said.

“I must say, to be subjected to watch the video that you made was particularly disturbing for me,” Judge Miller told Pampas. “And unfortunately, I knew what was coming. I knew there was a video.

“Those 14 people that sat there, that had to watch that, they came to do their jury service,” Judge Miller said of the 12 jurors and two alternates who sat through the trial. “They came to do their civic duty because they are good citizens of this parish. And little did they know they would be watching an actual video-taped rape of a 12-year-old. They’re affected by your actions as well, and they will be forever changed as well.”

In addition to the life sentence for the rape, Judge Miller sentenced Pampas to 20 years for indecent behavior and 50 years for the child pornography conviction, both to be served without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. She ran the sentences concurrently.

Pampas also must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, the judge ordered.

Assistant District Attorneys Mallory Grefer and Erich Cathey prosecuted the case.