Former deputy charged with indecent behavior with juveniles now accused of rape
Published 1:28 pm Monday, April 1, 2024
A former Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputy arrested in March for indecent behavior with a juvenile has been booked on additional charges.
Detectives began an investigation on Deputy Brian Dugas, 57, of Lake Charles, on Feb. 27 after receiving a complaint in reference to indecent behavior with a juvenile.
On March 14, he was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with four counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile. He was terminated by Sheriff Mancuso the same day. Judge Clayton Davis had set his bond at $250,000.
Spokesperson Kayla Vincent said the investigation continued and on the evening of March 28, detectives issued an additional warrant charging Dugas — who remains incarcerated — with indecent behavior with a juvenile; malfeasance in office; third-degree rape; and four counts of possession of child pornography.
Judge David Ritchie set his bond for those charges at $1.2 million.
“I am deeply disturbed and angered by the actions of Dugas,” Chief Deputy Stitch Guillory said. “The safety and well-being of our community, especially our children, is always our top priority. His actions are despicable and intolerable and I am very sorry for these victims and their families, but I am proud of them for coming forward. We have multiple safety measures in place to ensure we hire quality deputies, and unfortunately in some instances, some choose to break the laws they are there to enforce. They will always be held accountable when they do so. I want to assure our community and our parents that we began working swiftly as soon as we received a complaint, and Dugas had no further interaction through our office with children once the investigation began. Detectives are investigating the claims thoroughly to ensure a complete and comprehensive investigation, just like we would in any other case.”
CPSO Special Victims Unit Detective Jeff Atkinson is the lead investigator on this case.