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Responding to allegations that a parish jail inmate might have committed a sex offense, Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office corrections deputies began an investigation, according to WPSO Chief Criminal Deputy Mike Haley.

After investigating the allegation and viewing surveillance video, corrections deputies obtained a warrant for the arrest of the inmate. Steve Hopkins Jr., 49, a resident of Highway 60 who has been in the Washington Parish Jail since September of 2020, was arrested again on Monday for the offense of oral sexual battery, Haley said.

Hopkins’ first arrest was in February of 2020 on charges of second-degree cruelty to juveniles, obstruction of justice, unlawful ownership of a vicious dog and failure to appear in court. His second arrest in September of the same year was for simple burglary, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and resisting an officer.

“Our corrections deputies do an outstanding job,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “They have the toughest job in the criminal justice system and handle their duties with professionalism and integrity.”