A Jefferson Parish jury on Tuesday evening (May 20) found Thomas Welty guilty of sexually abusing two teenage girls after giving them illegal narcotics.
Welty, 46, formerly of Metairie, was convicted as charged of second-degree rape and trafficking of children for sexual purposes involving one victim; and, of indecent behavior with a juvenile, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and sexual battery involving the other victim.
Both victims were aged 15 when Welty began abusing them between 2019 and 2021. Welty provided highly addictive methamphetamine to one of the victims and the “date rape” drug GHB to the other.
“He used narcotics as a mechanism for control,” Assistant District Attorney Erich Cathey told jurors in closing argument Tuesday. “He used methamphetamine and GHB to control his victims.”
Welty began abusing one of the victims during 2019 Carnival season, when he provided her with alcohol in the French Quarter, leading her to pass out. He brought her to his home in Metairie, where he injected her with methamphetamine – her first experience with the narcotic. After raping her, Welty allowed two drug-dealing associates to do the same in exchange for narcotics (they have never been identified).
The victim developed an addiction to methamphetamine, which he provided to her as he continued to rape her. The victim’s grandmother learned of Welty and notified the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in July 2020, when she was 16 years old. The victim also disclosed the abuse later that year to a school counselor, who in turn notified the school resource officer. The victim went into rehabilitation to beat the addiction.
Welty gave GHB to the other victim in July 2020. The victim passed out. When she regained consciousness, she was in the shower with Welty. She rebuffed his sexual advances and departed the following morning. She had been acquainted with Welty since January 2019.
“Welty was grooming her,” Assistant District Attorney LaShanda Webb told jurors Tuesday. Groomers, she said, “are strategically taking their time to study who they want to attack.”
In testimony Tuesday, Welty denied the charges, although he admitted to sexual activity with the first victim. But he accused her of lying about her age. With the second victim, he told jurors he found her in his bed, and she had vomited. He carried her to the bathroom and left her there. His attorney told jurors that there is no physical evidence. Welty has three convictions of possession of ketamine and possession with intent to distribute ketamine, jurors heard.
Jurors who were selected on Thursday deliberated for three hours before returning with their verdicts.
Judge Ellen Shirer Kovach of the 24th Judicial District Court set sentencing for June 12.
Assistant District Attorneys Erich Cathey and LaShanda Webb prosecuted the case.