by Malcolm Butler
The Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Ruston Police Department were two of more than 30 law enforcement agencies participating in the Louisiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force targeting registered sex offenders in violations of Louisiana Law.
“Operation Access Denied” was a coordinated effort between the Louisiana Attorney General Office’s state Bureau of Investigation and more than 30 agencies stretching across north Louisiana.
On Tuesday, Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill was joined by representatives from most of the participating agencies during a press conference held at the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office which announced the arrest of 67 previously convicted sex offenders during the month of November for additional crimes against children.
These registered offenders were engaging in unlawful online activity, and through coordinated efforts, arrest warrants were obtained for the individuals which eventually led to the discovery of additional crimes.
“We joined that task force about five years ago,” said LPSO Sheriff Stephen Williams. “We put two of our investigators on it. It has proven to be very productive for us. We have worked on several cases where the tips were passed along to us from the Attorney Generals Office, and we ended up arresting people for a multitude of crimes.
“We have been involved in more than two dozen cases in that five years stretch. It’s been a great partnership working with Liz Murrill’s office.”
During Thursday’s press conference, Murrill spoke with passion and conviction about the task force and all of the agencies that have played a crucial role in its success.
“This is one of the largest operations conducted in the State of Louisiana targeting registered sex offenders in violation of Louisiana law,” said Murrill. “This just goes to show that with our current partnerships in the Louisiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, there won’t be one place to hide across the State if you’re looking to harm our children. We will leave no stone unturned in doing everything we possibly can to protect the children of Louisiana.”
Some of the offenders were re-arrested for crimes like first degree rape, computer aided solicitation of a juvenile, indecent behavior with a juvenile, possession of child sexual abuse material, sexual abuse of an animal, and other similar disturbing charges.
“The importance of this task force cannot be overstated, particularly for a town like ours where resources may be limited but our resolve to protect our families is absolute,” said Ruston Police Chief Eric Watson. “These crimes do not respect city limits or county lines; they are a borderless threat that requires a united front.
“By working hand-in-hand with state and local agencies, we combine our deep community knowledge with the specialized forensic tools and investigative expertise needed to track down and root out these predators.”
When Attorney General Liz Murrill assumed office in January of 2024, there were only eight partner agencies across the state as part of our Louisiana ICAC Task Force. Today, there are more than 70 partner agencies on the Task Force, which now receive trainings and leads in their jurisdictions related to the exploitation of children in Louisiana.
According to a press release from Murrill’s office, the Louisiana ICAC Task Force received 26,896 Cybertips this year, and have made 516 arrests, 82 new child victims have been identified, and 64 child victims have been rescued from ongoing abuse.
Of the 67 arrests made in November, seven were by Lincoln Parish agencies, 12 by Ouachita Parish agencies and three by Union Parish agencies.
Partner agencies in this specific operation include the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office, Bossier Marshals Office, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Caddo Parish Sheriff’s Office, Caldwell Parish Sheriff’s Office, Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office, Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office, Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office, DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office, East Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office, Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office, Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office, Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office, LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, Madison Parish Sheriff’s Office, Morehouse Parish Sheriff’s Office, Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office, Oak Grove Police Department, Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office, Red River Parish Sheriff’s Office, Richland Parish Sheriff’s Office, Ruston Police Department, Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, Tensas Parish Sheriff’s Office, Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, West Carroll Parish Sheriff’s Office, West Monroe Police Department, Winn Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office.
*CLICK HERE for a list of everyone arrested as part of this operation, along with their charges and the specific arresting agency.
*CLICK HERE for the latest stats this year on the Louisiana ICAC Task Force.
