A Bogalusa man identified by police as 38-year-old Cory Dillon was arrested Thursday after investigators say a cybertip flagged suspected child sexual abuse material. Dillon was booked on 50 counts of possession of child sexual abuse material involving victims under 13 and is set to be extradited to Washington Parish for booking, according to police.
How Investigators Say He Was Identified
According to the Covington Police Department, the 22nd Judicial District Attorney's Office Special Victims Unit task force received a cybertip from the Louisiana Attorney General's Office that led investigators to Dillon.
The department's post credits help from the Washington Parish Sheriff's Office, the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, the Bogalusa Police Department, the Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole, the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office and Homeland Security Investigations. Dillon was arrested as a fugitive from Washington Parish, the post notes.
Charges And Penalties
Police say Dillon was booked on 50 counts under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:81.1, the state law that criminalizes possession, production and distribution of child sexual abuse materials. That statute sets escalating sentencing ranges and enhanced mandatory terms when victims are under 13, and repeat or aggravated convictions can expose defendants to decades behind bars, per Justia.
What Officials Said
District Attorney J. Collin Sims told investigators, "the safety of our children is at the core of our mission, and we will use every resource available to protect them," according to the Covington Police Department.
Covington Police Chief Michael Ferrell added, "Protecting children is one of the most important responsibilities we carry as law enforcement officers," the department's post says.
How This Fits Into A Wider Crackdown
The arrest comes amid a broader run of cybertip-driven investigations across the Northshore and beyond. A Covington-led operation in early June resulted in 22 arrests, according to Covington cops nab 22. Local prosecutors and state investigators have repeatedly credited cybertip information from the attorney general and national partners with helping them identify suspected offenders.
Next Steps
Police said Dillon will be turned over to Washington Parish for booking and that the investigation remains ongoing while prosecutors decide what charges will be formally filed. Authorities asked anyone with information to contact the 22nd Judicial District Attorney's Office or submit reports to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's CyberTipline or through the state's LA-SAFE reporting portal.
