Louisiana State Trooper Put On Leave Pending Sex Crime Accusations

Louisiana State Police have confirmed Wednesday Sept. 21, a Trooper from their department has been accused of sexual misconduct. Lt. Kirk Thibodeaux of Port Allen has been placed on administrative leave pending a criminal investigation where he stands accused of "hiring for sexual activity."

LSP announced the actions in question allegedly occurred while Thibodeaux was attending a work-related conference in South Dakota. According to the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, the incident reported around 3 am and allegedly took place at a hotel in Rapid City, SD, on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

The case has been handed over to Lara Rochelle Roetzel, the Pennington County State’s Attorney. Roetzel said Thibodeaux was arrested and charged of hiring for sexual activity. This particular charge is a class 1 misdemeanor in South Dakota and could carry a one-year imprisonment in a county jail or two thousand dollars fine, or both if Thibodeaux is convicted of the crime. According to S.D. State Attorney, the LSP Lieutenant was booked and then released on his “personal recognizance.”

Lt. Kirk Thibodeaux, has reportedly been employed with LSP since 2002. His current assignment was with the Transportation Safety Services/Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section. He will remain on leave pending the criminal and administrative investigation’s end. A court date has been set for October 5.