In May 2013, Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested Jerry Wayne Duncan, a 59-year-old parish resident. Duncan was charged with multiple counts of sexual offenses against juveniles. His bond was set at $225,000, and he has remained in the Washington Parish Jail since his arrest.

On Dec. 3, Duncan, now 61, was convicted of the charges against him. Sentencing is set for January 2015. After the conviction, one of his victims told Detective Capt. Tommie Sorrell that she was relieved and could finally close this chapter in her life.

“Our detective division did an excellent job investigating the allegations against Duncan and bringing him to justice,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “The criminal justice system has done its job, and Duncan should soon be inside prison where he belongs. After his arrest, I encouraged parish parents and grandparents to report any suspicion of sexual exploitation of children. We will respect your privacy, we will investigate, and we will do all within our authority to arrest predators and put them in jail. One of our primary responsibilities is to protect our children, and that is what we will do.”