On August 18, 2026, the Ruston Police Department began an investigation into the reported sexual assault of a juvenile under the age of 13. During the investigation, officers also discovered that Irving had reportedly broken into the convenience store where he was employed and stole several items, including lottery tickets, before leaving the business.
Darnell Irving was identified as the suspect. Irving was located by patrol officers and taken into custody. Investigators also learned Irving had an active felony warrant out of Dallas, Texas.
Irving was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on the following charges:
- First-Degree Rape of a Victim Under 13 Years of Age
- Simple Burglary of an Immovable Structure
- Fugitive from another Jurisdiction
The Ruston Police Department takes crimes of sexual violence, especially those committed against children, extremely seriously. We will continue to aggressively investigate these cases, hold offenders accountable, and do everything within our authority to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.
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.
