Thomas Spicuzza

St. Bernard Sheriff’s deputy Thomas Spicuzza was arrested Wednesday, booked with simple rate. Spicuzza, 37, a 10-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office assigned to the Traffic Division, surrendered Wednesday to sheriff’s officials after being informed a judge had signed a warrant for his arrest, Sheriff Jack A. Stephens said. Bond hasn’t been set in the case.

The charges stem after an acquaintance of his filed charges. Both agree that she caught a ride home with the deputy after a March 5 Carnival party in New Orleans, where they had attended separately.

She said in the sheriff’s report she does not remember the ride back to St. Bernard, maintaining she lost consciousness, but said she remembers going to an unknown address in Poydras with Spicuzza. She also said she recalls waking up in a bed with him having sex with her. She then remembers Spicuzza bringing her back to her residence, according to the report.

Spicuzza maintained the actions were consensual. There were no allegations of use of force, Sheriff Stephens said.

Simple rape covers cases where someone allegedly takes advantage of another person who may be incapacitated or otherwise impaired to the point they would be unable to give consent to having sex.

Spicuzza was placed on administrative leave after the woman called the Sheriff’s Office March 12, and reported she had been raped, the sheriff said.

Spicuzza was terminated from the Sheriff’s office by the sheriff after his arrest.

The woman said she drank alcohol beverages at the party. Concurrently she uses prescription medicine for anxiety and depression, she told investigators.