by Wesley Harris
Lincoln Parish deputies and Louisiana Bureau of Investigation arrested a man wanted for possession of child sexual abuse material and then discovered additional evidence against him after his arrest.
Kevin Dewayne Turpin, 50, of Hammond is facing 29 multiple counts of possession of child sexual abuse material.
The investigation began after LBI agents received a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children which initiated the investigation and ultimately led to Turpin’s arrest.
Turpin was arrested on May 28 for 13 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and warrants from Tangipahoa Parish where he is wanted on five counts of possession of child sexual abuse material under the age of 13.
This arrest was the result of a joint investigation with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Turpin was stopped on Interstate 20 as he was passing through Lincoln Parish. Lieutenant Matt Henderson of the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office said authorities knew Turpin, a truck driver, was coming through the area.
Following further investigation, including analysis of Turpin’s electronic devices, he was arrested by the Sheriff’s Office on an additional 11 counts. He will face charges in Lincoln and Tangipahoa Parishes.
Turpin’s bail on the Lincoln Parish charges is set at $555,000.
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who oversees LBI said, “We will continue working with all our law enforcement partners to identify offenders, protect children, and hold those who exploit Louisiana’s children accountable.”
The investigation into Turpin remains ongoing, and more charges could be coming.
Anyone with additional information regarding Turpin’s activities is encouraged to contact the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation at (225) 326-6100.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
