Sheriff’s Deputy And His Teacher Wife Charged With Child Rape And Producing Pornography

A Livingston Parish Sheriff’s deputy who led the department’s SWAT team and his teacher wife have been arrested and charged with dozens of counts of child rape and producing pornography.

Dennis Perkins, 44, and Cynthia Perkins, 34, a junior high school teacher, were arrested this week after a criminal investigation led by the Louisiana Attorney General’s office into the pair’s alleged activities, according to a statement from the sheriff’s office.

“It is a sad day for us, for all law enforcement officers, when you arrest one of your own,” Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard said of the arrests. “We at the LPSO work hard everyday to retain the trust placed in us by our citizens. I understand this was a veteran law enforcement officer, one who had dedicated a lot of time & effort into this community, but as I have said in the past - no one is above the law.”

Dennis and Cynthia Perkins are each facing 60 counts of production of pornography involving a juvenile under the age of 13 and two counts of first-degree rape.

Dennis Perkins is also charged with three counts of possession of pornography involving a juvenile under the age of 13, two counts of obscenity and two county of video voyeurism.

Some of the evidence seized allegedly included photos of the couple naked with a nude child, local station WAFB reports.

The joint investigation with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police and Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office reportedly began after authorities received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about possible possession and distribution of child pornography, the sheriff’s office said.

Cynthia and Dennis Perkins Photo: Livingston Parish Sheriff

“Protecting Louisiana children is one of my top priorities,” Attorney General Jeff Landry said. “So my office and I will continue to do all we can to find and arrest child predators.”

Dennis Perkins has been fired from the sheriff’s office. Cynthia Perkins resigned from her post as a teacher at Westside Junior High School in Walker on Wednesday.

"An employee of Livingston Parish Public Schools has resigned today as the result of an ongoing investigation by law enforcement,” a statement obtained by The Advocate said. “Livingston Parish Public School officials became aware of the investigation early this morning and met with the employee, at which time the resignation was [t]endered and accepted.”

Dennis was reportedly arrested Tuesday night in Sabine Parish while on a fishing trip. He is currently being held at the Livingston Parish Detention Center on a $1,675,000 bond.

Cynthia is being held on a $500,000 bond.