Hessmer man charged with child pornography, molestation, sex trafficking of a minor

A 65-year-old Hessmer man has been arrested on various charges of sexual abuse of a minor.

The Avoyelles Parish Sheriff’s Office (APSO) said Jeffery Waggy was initially arrested on Jan. 13 for three counts of sexual battery on a child under 13 years of age and a count of obstruction of justice. He was released on $25,000 bond for those charges.

After further investigation revealed evidence of other offenses, Waggy was arrested on Feb. 1 on charges of pornography involving juveniles, three counts of molestation of a juvenile, a charge of molestating a child under the age of 13 and trafficking children for sexual purposes.

As of press time Waggy was still in APSO custody under $400,000 bond for those charges.

The investigation of Waggy began in December when APSO received a complaint from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) concerned an allegation of sexual abuse committed against an adolescent girl.

“I thank the team of dedicated professional law enforcement agents at the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office Cybercrime Unit, and the staff of the Rapides Children’s Advocacy Center that worked together with APSO in this investigation,” Sheriff David L. Dauzat said. “Thank you for helping us keep our
children and communities safe.”