Former deputy sentenced to 100 years after pleading to sex crimes

Livingston Parish, Louisiana: On Tuesday, January 3, 2023, 47-year-old Dennis Perkins, a former Livingston Parish Sheriff's deputy and SWAT commander, pleaded guilty to seven charges as a part of a plea deal. As a result of the plea deal, the remaining 71 charges against him were dropped.

Circuit Judge Erika W. Sledge sentenced Perkins to 100 years in prison.

"No one has to worry about Dennis Perkins hurting anyone ever again," Assistant Attorney General Barry Milligan said.

Perkins' trial had been scheduled to begin on Monday, January 9.

According to The Advocate, his trial was delayed last year after his attorney was provided with between 700,000 and 800,000 digital files by the state during the discovery phase. His attorney had asked for more time to work on the case.

Attorney General Jeff Landy said of the plea agreement, Perkins "not only waived any right to appeal, probation, or parole and any attempt to avoid conviction, but Mr. Perkins also spared the victims from reliving his horrific crimes during trial."

The charges to which Perkins pleaded guilty were second-degree rape, two counts of sexual battery of a child under the age of 13, video voyeurism, two counts of production of child pornography and mingling of harmful substances.

The mingling charge stems from an accusation that he had provided his then wife, former teacher Cynthia Perkins, with semen that was mixed into cupcakes which were then provided to middle school students.

In February 2022, Cynthia accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. as a part of her plea deal, she would have been required to testify against her now ex-husband had his case gone to trial.

Perkins addressed the court before his sentencing on Tuesday saying, "I would like to say I'm sorry. ...I spent more than three years living in a box. It's not about me. I just want to make the statement. Jesus Christ has forgiven me. I'm grateful for that. I hope and pray that anybody that this has affected would also find forgiveness and healing through Jesus Christ."

The couple was arrested in October 2019 following a tip concerning child pornography that was sent in to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Following their arrest the investigation continued and ultimately resulted in them being charged with 150 felony counts.