On Tuesday, June 9, a St. Tammany Parish man was arrested following a cybertip that led to the discovery of Child Sexual Abuse Material within the 22nd Judicial District.
On May 13 the Office of the District Attorney for the 22nd Judicial District Special Victims Unit Task Force received a cybertip from the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office involving an individual suspected of possessing and sharing CSAM within the jurisdiction. Investigators immediately acted on the information, leading to the identification of David Dansereau, a 66-year-old male residing in Slidell, Louisiana.
Members of the Special Victims Unit Task Force, to include the Covington Police Department, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI), and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), executed an arrest warrant at Dansereau's residence. A forensic examination of his electronic devices revealed evidence of CSAM involving children under the age of 13. During a subsequent interview with investigators, Dansereau admitted to possessing the illegal material.
Dansereau was arrested and booked on the following charge:
- 500 counts: Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (Victims Under the Age of 13) (Felony)
- 50 counts: Sexual Abuse of an Animal (Felony)
If convicted, Dansereau faces a sentencing range of 10 to 40 years in prison per count.
District Attorney Collin Sims issued the following statement:
“The safety of our children is at the core of our mission, and we will deploy every resource available to protect them. The swift action by our Special Victims Unit Task Force prevented this individual from continuing to exploit children. This seamless collaboration among our local, state, and federal partners sends an unmistakable message: if you prey on children, whether in person or behind a digital screen, we will find you, and we will hold you fully accountable under the law.”
Chief Michael Ferrell of the Covington Police Department added:
“This arrest should serve as a warning to anyone who believes the internet offers them anonymity. It doesn’t. Behind every one of these images is a real child who was harmed, and that’s what drives our investigators every single day. I’m proud of the work our officers did alongside the District Attorney’s Office and our local/state and federal partners, and we won’t slow down.”
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges or arrests may be forthcoming.
