A Mt. Hermon couple serving as foster parents were arrested this week for cruelty to juveniles, according to Chief Deputy Mike Haley of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Haley said that Stanley Billiot, 53, and Melinda Billiot, 51, residents of Highway 1055 in Mt. Hermon, were arrested Wednesday by Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives.

They were placed in the Washington Parish Jail, and each was charged with two counts of cruelty to juveniles. Both were released Thursday, after posting a $5,000 bond each.

The matter was handled by WPSO detectives, working in conjunction with the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services, Haley said. He noted that further details are being withheld to protect the privacy of the juveniles who were removed from the home.

“In such matters, we work closely with the Department of Children and Family Services,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “The protection of children is always a priority with the Sheriff’s Office.”