Man charged with attempted rape strikes a deal with DA

Thu, Mar 14, 2013

Minutes before Jason Barras’ trial was about to begin on Wednesday, he reached a plea agreement with the state.

Barras was about to begin trial on the charge of attempted forcible rape of an Abbeville woman. The crime occurred May of last year in Abbeville at a home they were both at.

Had Barras been found guilty of the crime, he was looking up to 20-plus years in prison. He accepted a six-year at hard labor plea agreement with assistant district attorney Ted Ayo.

Barras will get credit for time already served (a year) before beginning his sentence.

Ayo said the victim and Barras did not know each other. They were both guests in the house where the attempted rape occurred.

Ayo said the reason many criminals accept the plea right before trial is because they see a jury had been picked and a trial is about to begin. Ayo said many do not want to take a chance and receive a longer sentence if found guilty after the trial.

Ayo said the victim was consulted before the plea agreement was reached.