Earlier this month, Murry “Joey” Duncan Jr., 49, a resident of Lonnie Duncan Road in Mt. Hermon, was convicted in the 19th Judicial District Court in Baton Rouge of sexual battery of a child under the age of 13, according to Chief Deputy Mike Haley of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The sexual offense occurred while Duncan was supervising children on a trip to Baton Rouge, Haley said. Immediately upon conviction, Duncan was remanded to the custody of the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison where he will remain until he is sentenced in January of 2019. State law requires that Duncan’s sentencing range will be from a minimum of 25 years to a maximum of 99 years.

Duncan still must stand trial in Washington Parish for crimes committed here, Haley said, noting that he was initially arrested by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office in April of 2014 and charged with aggravated incest and pornography involving juveniles.

Haley said that his second Washington Parish arrest was in May of 2014 for two counts of video voyeurism, molestation of a juvenile and pornography involving juveniles. As the investigation continued, Duncan was arrested for a third time in June of 2014 for an additional charge of molestation of a juvenile, Haley said. Overall, Duncan is alleged to have committed sexual offenses against seven juveniles.

Haley said that Duncan had been released on bond and required to wear an electronic ankle bracelet, which would identify his location at all times. After his conviction in East Baton Rouge Parish, he was placed immediately in the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison to await sentencing.

Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal commented on the conviction.

“Justice may sometimes seem slow, but in this case it finally happened. For his sexual battery on a juvenile in East Baton Rouge Parish, Duncan will receive a significant prison sentence, which is certain to be lengthened once he is tried and convicted in Washington Parish,” Seal said. “This was a traumatic case for the Mt. Hermon community and I am happy for all victims and others affected by Duncan’s actions that he is finally receiving the justice he deserves.

“I congratulate our detectives as well as officials in East Baton Rouge Parish for their hard work in bringing Murry Duncan to justice. Our office looks forward to continuing to work with the 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s office in Franklinton to prepare for Duncan’s trial here.”