A former Lake Charles Charter Academy teacher accused of raping a 10-year-old student was arraigned on 17 felony counts Monday in state district court.

Deidre Rae Smith, 34, of Sulphur pleaded not guilty to eight counts of first-degree rape; seven counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile; and two counts of sexual battery of a victim under the age of 13.

Attorneys Todd S. Clemons and Adam Johnson are representing Smith.

Johnson told the court he had filed a motion asking for a bond reduction hearing for Smith, who currently has a bond of $1.3 million.

A pre-trial conference on her case has been scheduled for Dec. 10 in state district court. A bond reduction hearing will be set for a future date.

Kim Myers of the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office said Smith was first arrested in May for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with the victim.

Smith was booked into Calcasieu Correctional Center May 1 on charges of first-degree rape and felony indecent behavior with a juvenile. She was released on a $50,000 bond set by Judge Robert Wyatt.

After further investigation, Smith was re-arrested in June for additional incidents with the victim. At that time, Smith was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center on nine counts of first-degree rape, five counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, two counts of sexual battery and one count of oral sexual battery. Judge Guy Bradberry set Smith’s bond at $1.3 million.

Last week, Smith was re-arrested after an investigation revealed additional incidents that investigators said took place in Beauregard Parish.

Myers said Smith was taken from the Calcasieu Correctional Center to Beauregard Parish to face those charges and then brought back and re-booked into the Correctional Center.

Chief Deputy Joe Toler of the Beauregard Sheriff’s Office said investigators determined new charges were warranted after learning “some activities with the victim took place in Ragley.”

According to Myers, the original investigation began in April when the CPSO received a complaint from an administrator at Lake Charles Charter Academy.

Detectives said Smith had been having inappropriate contact with the victim since the end of 2018, Myers said, and that she allegedly had sexual intercourse with the victim.

Deidre R. Smith