LOUISIANA STATE POLICE
COURTESY LOYALTY SERVICE
Colonel Michael D. Edmonson, Superintendent
TROOP C- NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Date: October 8, 2010 Lafayette Man Arrested for Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor
Houma: On Thursday, October 7, 2010, LSP Region I Criminal Investigative Division served a search warrant at Bernard Escoyne (W/M, 43 of Lafayette, LA.). Escoyne is accused of committing crimes of computer aided solicitation with a minor and attempted production of child pornography by soliciting images of children.
LSP Region I Criminal Investigative Division, Houma office with the assistance of LSP Region I Criminal Investigative Division, Lafayette office executed an arrest warrant and search warrant at the residence of Escoyne, and seized two computers for forensic examination. During the executing of the search warrant, troopers located Bernard Escoyne’s son, Alex Escoyne (W/M, 21 of Lafayette, La.) who is a convicted sex offender. It was determine through further investigation that he was not in compliance with his sex offender status. Bernard and Alex Escoyne were arrested and booked at the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office. Bernard Escoyne’s bond is $50,000.00 and is awaiting extradition to Terrebonne Parish.
The search warrant and arrest stems from the program Operation Child Watch. In September of 2010, LSP Region I Criminal Investigative, Houma office conducted undercover operations targeting persons intending to contact children on the internet and engaging them in sexually explicit communication. During such operation, Bernard Escoyne engaged in sexually explicit conversation with undercover troopers posing as a 15 year old female. Bernard Escoyne exposed himself via a webcam, and solicited nude images from the posing 15 year old female. The investigation also revealed that Bernard Escoyne is a referee for children’s soccer and travels throughout Louisiana to various tournaments.
The Operation Child Watch was started under the leadership of Col. Mike Edmonson in October 2008. The mission of Operation Child Watch is to rescue children from the hands of abusers, to pro actively investigate cases involving the sexual abuse of children, and educate parents on the dangers of the internet.
For more information contact:
M/T Bryan Zeringue
Public Affairs Unit
Louisiana State Police – Troop C
Office: (985) 857-3683
Bryan.zeringue@dps.la.gov
www.LSP.org |