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On Monday, Gary Wayne Dyson, 48, of Bogalusa, pleaded guilty to sexual battery of a child under 13, molestation of a juvenile, sexual battery and oral sexual battery, according to information released by the office of District Attorney Warren Montgomery. District Judge Raymond Childress presided over the case.

On Sept. 23, 2019, the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office was called to the victim’s home. The mother of the victim had been alerted that the defendant, her boyfriend, had possibly sexually abused juvenile family members in the past. The juvenile victim in this case was asked if the defendant had molested her and she admitted that he’d been abusing her for several years, starting when the victim was approximately 9 years old.

During the police investigation, the defendant confessed to engaging in sexual acts with the victim but attempted to claim the victim had initiated them. Following publicity of the defendant’s crime, several other victims contacted police to disclose they, too, had been sexually abused by the defendant many years ago.

Dyson pleaded guilty just as jury selection was set to begin. He was sentenced to 40 years in prison without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. The victim and her mother were in support of the plea terms and were present for the plea. Both gave victim impact statements to the court.

Assistant District Attorneys Luke Lancaster and Ian Dover prosecuted the case. The case was investigated by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.