Louisiana Social Media Crime Targets Minor Victim, Sheriff Has Warning

A Louisiana law enforcement official says they have completed an investigation of a social media crime where someone allegedly targeted a minor victim in our state. An out-of-state man targeted the victim.

According to Acadia Parish Sheriff K.P. Gibson, the investigation revolved around a 31-year-old man from Salem, Oregon, who was on social media exchanging nude photos with the minor.

Warrants have been issued for Roland Vann, who was arrested by law enforcement officials in the state of Oregon.

Vann was arrested on the following charges:

• Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile
• Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Juvenile

What Does Louisiana Law Say About These Charges?

A portion of the state law that covers Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile, RS 14:81 in Louisiana, is as follows:

§81. Indecent behavior with juveniles

A. Indecent behavior with juveniles is the commission of any of the following acts with the intention of arousing or gratifying the sexual desires of either person:

(1) Any lewd or lascivious act upon the person or in the presence of any child under the age of seventeen, where there is an age difference of greater than two years between the two persons. Lack of knowledge of the child's age shall not be a defense; or

(2) The transmission, delivery or utterance of any textual, visual, written, or oral communication depicting lewd or lascivious conduct, text, words, or images to any person reasonably believed to be under the age of seventeen and reasonably believed to be at least two years younger than the offender. It shall not be a defense that the person who actually receives the transmission is not under the age of seventeen.

A portion of the state law that covers Computer-Aided Solicitation of Juvenile, RS 14:81.3 in Louisiana, is as follows:

§81.3. Computer-aided solicitation of a minor

A.(1) Computer-aided solicitation of a minor is committed when a person seventeen years of age or older knowingly contacts or communicates, through the use of electronic textual communication, with a person who has not yet attained the age of seventeen where there is an age difference of greater than two years, or a person reasonably believed to have not yet attained the age of seventeen and reasonably believed to be at least two years younger, for the purpose of or with the intent to persuade, induce, entice, or coerce the person to engage or participate in sexual conduct or a crime of violence as defined in R.S. 14:2

(B), or with the intent to engage or participate in sexual conduct in the presence of the person who has not yet attained the age of seventeen, or person reasonably believed to have not yet attained the age of seventeen.

What Does Sheriff Gibson Hope Parents Will Do?

Sheriff Gibson is hoping that parents will talk to their children about the things that can happen via the internet and social media.

He says,

We also ask that parents periodically check their children’s accounts to see what activity may be occurring. Computer contact can lead to people trying to meet with a minor after a dialog has been established.

Extradition from Oregon to Louisiana is pending at this time.

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