A former St. James Parish Sheriff’s Deputy, previously arrested by Attorney General Liz Murrill’s Louisiana Bureau of Investigation in February, is now facing additional child exploitation charges as the investigation continues, according to a March 17 statement.
The case highlights ongoing efforts by law enforcement to address crimes involving children and underscores the seriousness with which such allegations are pursued. The Louisiana Department of Justice serves as the primary legal office for the state, operating under an independently elected attorney general, according to the official website.
Tykei Ari Simoneaux, age 23 and a resident of N. Pine Street in Gramercy, was re-arrested on March 17 while already in custody at the St. James Parish Jail. The new charges include one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile, one count of computer-aided solicitation of a minor, thirty-two counts related to production of child sexual abuse material, and one count of attempted human trafficking. Simoneaux still faces his initial charges from February, including malfeasance in office and obstruction of justice.
Simoneaux was first encountered during his employment as a deputy with the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office but was immediately terminated after allegations surfaced during his initial arrest. Special agents found evidence that Simoneaux solicited a juvenile to produce child sexual abuse material for monetary compensation and attempted to engage in sexual conduct in person.
Attorney General Liz Murrill said: “This arrest is not a reflection of the hardworking men and women of law enforcement across Louisiana, who dedicate their lives to keeping our communities safe. Rather, it’s a reminder that no one is above the law. If you harm our children, you will be arrested and prosecuted. I want to thank Sheriff Claude J. Louis Jr. and his deputies for their full cooperation and partnership in this investigation.”
The joint investigation involved the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation as lead agency along with support from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the St James Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Bond information for Simoneaux now totals $1,245,000 following both arrests.
The Louisiana Department of Justice works statewide to preserve culture and heritage through legal efforts while focusing on protecting constitutional rights and providing legal resources for citizens across Louisiana according to its official website (https://www.aglizmurrill.com/About). Liz Murrill leads these efforts as attorney general and has challenged federal overreach in more than 35 cases according to the same source.