Special to the American Press

A Lake Charles man was arrested Thursday in Allen Parish for an alleged sexual battery on an underage female, according to authorities.

Detectives with the Allen Parish Sheriff’s Office were contacted Tuesday by the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office regarding an alleged incident that occurred in the Oberlin area.

Detectives launched an investigation and found that the suspect, Gregory Elbert Ballard, 81, allegedly went joyriding with the juvenile, who is under the age of 13, and allegedly had inappropriate contact with the juvenile.

Ballard turned himself in to authorities on Thursday and was booked into the parish jail on one count of sexual battery involving a juvenile.

He is currently awaiting a bond hearing.