A Lake Charles man was indicted on second-degree murder charges Thursday in the death of his girlfriend.

A grand jury returned a true bill against Dwane Fox, 47, in the death of 48-year-old Mychele Cleaver.

Cleaver’s naked body was found at the corner of Corbina and Friesen roads in rural south Calcasieu Parish in January.

Authorities said Fox admitted killing Cleaver at his Harvard Street home then dumping the body.

Man pleads guilty to simple battery

A man accused of aggravated rape pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of simple battery Thursday in 14th Judicial District Court.

Fernando Zarraga Hernandez, 40, was sentenced to six months in jail, with credit for time served. He has been in jail since the October 2011 incident.

Prosecutors said the victim went to Hernandez’s Westlake apartment, where she said she was raped. Prosecutors said they agreed to the plea deal for two reasons:

• The victim’s statement has changed; she now maintains she initially consented to sex before changing her mind.

• An initial witness statement taken by authorities was not taken properly, and the witness is no longer available.

(mgnonline.com)

Dwane E. Fox