Ex-deputy indicted on sex charges
LIVINGSTON — A grand jury indicted a former Livingston Parish sheriff’s deputy on four counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor, Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell announced Friday.
Clarence “Jeremy” Brister, was fired upon his arrest in January, Sheriff Jason Ard said.
None of the alleged acts took place while Brister was on duty, the sheriff said Friday.
Sheriff’s detectives investigated the case, Ard said.
No Sheriff’s Office telephones were used in connection with the incidents, which had no relationship to Brister’s duties, Ard said.
The four counts involved a single victim, the sheriff said.
“The complaint was brought to us, and we investigated the evidence, arrested and terminated” the deputy, Ard said.
Brister had been a “quality deputy” other than the alleged incidents involving a 15-year-old girl, Ard said.
Brister had been a road deputy with the department for about 18 months when he was arrested and fired, Ard said.
District Attorney Scott Perrilloux of the 21st Judicial District said he turned the case over to the attorney general to avoid any issues that might arise from Brister being a witness for the District Attorney’s Office on other cases.
A grand jury in Livingston Parish indicted Brister, 37, of 8275 Vincent Road No. 611 in Denham Springs, Thursday on three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile and one count of molestation of a juvenile, according to an Attorney General’s Office news release.
Conviction on each count of indecent behavior with a juvenile carries a possible sentence of up to seven years in prison, and conviction of molestation of a juvenile can carry up to 10 years in prison, Caldwell said.
If convicted, Brister would have to register as a sex offender, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
Brister’s arraignment is set for Aug. 29.