Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced Thursday the arrest of 67 registered sex offenders in North Louisiana as part of a multiagency enforcement effort known as Operation Access Denied.
According to the attorney general’s office, the operation targeted registered sex offenders who were in violation of Louisiana law. Arrests were made between Nov. 1 and Dec. 1 following investigations conducted by the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation in coordination with more than 30 law enforcement agencies across North Louisiana.
The attorney general’s office said investigators used law enforcement databases and the state sex offender registry to identify offenders engaged in unlawful online activity. Arrest warrants were obtained, and investigators reported that additional crimes were discovered during the arrests.
The offenders were arrested on charges that include first-degree rape, computer-aided solicitation of a juvenile, indecent behavior with a juvenile, possession of child sexual abuse material, sexual abuse of an animal, and related offenses, according to the release.
Murrill said the operation was conducted through the Louisiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which has expanded since she took office in January 2024. At that time, the task force included eight partner agencies. The attorney general’s office said the task force now includes more than 70 partner agencies that receive training and investigative leads related to crimes against children.
The attorney general’s office reported that the Louisiana ICAC Task Force received 26,896 cyber tips this year, resulting in 516 arrests. Officials said 82 child victims were identified and 64 children were removed from ongoing abuse.
“This is one of the largest operations conducted in the state of Louisiana targeting registered sex offenders in violation of Louisiana law,” Murrill said in a statement. “With our current partnerships in the Louisiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, there won’t be one place to hide across the state if you’re looking to harm our children.”
Madison Parish Sheriff Chad Ezell said his office is proud to be a partner with the Attorney General’s ICAC Task Force and the other participating agencies.
“One of our most important aspects is the protection of our children,” Ezell said. “With the internet and social media, the job is harder, but with the attorney general’s leadership it makes that job a little easier.”
Agencies participating in Operation Access Denied included sheriff’s offices and police departments from Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Caldwell, Catahoula, Claiborne, Concordia, DeSoto, East Carroll, Franklin, Grant, Jackson, LaSalle, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Natchitoches, Ouachita, Red River, Richland, Sabine, Tensas, Webster, West Carroll, Winn and Union parishes, as well as the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, the Bossier Marshals Office, Oak Grove Police Department, Ruston Police Department and West Monroe Police Department.
The attorney general’s office said similar operations are planned in other regions of the state.
