A Republican facing two pending rape charges involving children is in line to become police chief of Elizabeth, Louisiana, after his only opponent announced his withdrawal from the election. Officials say the charges alone do not make Christopher Paul ineligible to hold office.
Paul was arrested in September over allegations involving two girls who were 13 at the time of the alleged offences in 2005 and 2006. He is out on bond. His opponent, Zachary LaCaze, said he was leaving the race because it conflicted with his federal employment, although receipt of the formal withdrawal notice had not been confirmed in the latest election-office update cited in local reporting.
