FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2/25/2026
Contact: District Attorney Tony Clayton
225-687-5210
Washington found guilty in home invasion, attempted rape case
A West Baton Rouge Parish jury found Craig Washington of Opelousas guilty this afternoon of a home invasion, in which he was shot by the homeowner after he attempted to drag her into a bedroom to rape her.
Washington, 42, of 1251 Hwy. 749, Opelousas, was found guilty of both home invasion and attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. On September 30, 2022, Washington entered the home of the victim without authorization and began to push her through the house towards her bedroom, where she believed she was going to be raped.
The victim begged Washington to let her go and for him to leave, when he refused and had nearly made it to the bedroom, she warned him that she had a gun and would shoot him if he didn’t stop. Again, he refused and continued trying to force her towards the bedroom. The victim shot Washington in the abdomen and ran to a neighbor’s home for help, where 911 was called.
Deputies found the victim’s keys in Washington’s pocket. He had taken them from the kitchen counter without the victim’s knowledge during the home invasion. A firearm believed to have been brought into the home by Washington was also found next to him in the victim’s home. Washington was a convicted felon, having served five years in prison for attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine, and was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.
During the trial, prosecutors presented testimony that Washington previously was accused of a home invasion and battery on another victim in St. Landry Parish and, in another case, that Washington had forced yet another victim to perform oral sex in East Baton Rouge Parish.
District Judge Tonya Lurry set sentencing for May 14. District Attorney Tony Clayton commended the West Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office for its response and investigation of the case.
“Our home should be our sanctuary – a place of safety,” DA Clayton said. “While the victim still suffers the impact of this attack in her own home, it could have been much worse had she not defended herself. We will ask for the toughest sentence possible to keep this menace to society out of our community.”