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LAFAYETTE – United States Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a Kaplan, Louisiana, man with a prior 2002 state conviction of carnal knowledge of a juvenile, was sentenced in federal court today for a child pornography offense.
Jessie C. Comeaux, 37, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Michael J. Juneau., to 87 months in federal prison for possession of child pornography. Following his imprisonment, Comeaux will be supervised by the United States Probation Office for eight years and will be required to register with the state sex offender registry in any state in which he lives or works. Comeaux pled guilty to this charge on March 12, 2020.
According to court records, the investigation began when the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reported a CyberTip to special agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigations (LBI) Cyber Crimes Unit indicating that an IP address associated with Comeaux’s address used an electronic device to access child pornography. Special agents with U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) obtained a federal court-authorized search warrant, and on April 1, 2019, law enforcement officers with HSI, LBI and Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office executed the search warrant at Comeaux’s
residence in Kaplan. A laptop previewed during the search revealed images of child pornography. Comeaux admitted to the officers that he was the primary user of the laptop and that he viewed images of child pornography on the internet involving females 10 and 12 years of age.
A subsequent forensic analysis of Comeaux’s laptop revealed 42 images of pre-pubescent and
post-pubescent children engaged in sexually explicit conduct, some as young as two years of age. Seven of the images had been downloaded by Comeaux from the internet.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, Louisiana Attorney General’s Office Cyber Crime Unit, and Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Danny Siefker prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. Led by the United States. Attorneys’ Offices and the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood combines federal, state and local resources to locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who sexually exploit children, and to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justivce.gov/psc. For more information about internet safety education, please visit www.usdoj.gov/psc and click on the “resources” tab.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) also encourage the public to report suspected child predators and any suspicious activity through its toll-free hotline at (866) 347-2423. Investigators are available at all hours to answer hotline calls. Tips or other information can also be submitted to ICE online by visiting their website at www.ice.gov/tipline or through the Operation Predator smartphone application www.ice.gov/predator/smartphone-app. Tips may be submitted anonymously.
Tips may also be submitted through your local law enforcement agency or through the following agencies:
· Leave a tip with the FBI at https://tips.fbi.gov. Tips may be submitted anonymously.

BATON ROUGE — Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that Louisiana will stay in Phase Two of reopening, as the number of COVID-19 cases and related hospitalizations have started to rise in several regions across the state. The Governor will extend his Phase Two order for another 28 days, keeping in place occupancy limits and other restrictions.
As of today, Louisiana ranks seventh out of 23 states across the country experiencing an increase in COVID-19 positive cases. Those include the neighboring states of Texas, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida and Georgia.
“Louisiana reached two sad milestones today as we surpassed 3,000 deaths and 50,000 positive tests in our state. Each of these Louisianans is someone’s child, sibling, parent or friend, and we mourn every one of these losses,” Gov. Edwards said. “It is clear that COVID is alive and well in Louisiana, and as we see more people testing positive and admitted to hospitals, we simply are not ready to move to the next phase, and ease restrictions further as businesses open widely. Many of you are doing the right thing and I thank you for it. It’s incredibly disappointing to hear that there are still some people who refuse to wear masks in public, which puts all of us at greater risk of becoming sick. I implore Louisianans to be good neighbors, to stay at home when they are experiencing symptoms, to avoid crowds, physically distance, and to wear a mask when not around their immediate household whether inside or outside. These are simple things we can do to protect ourselves and each other.”
“While we know that increasing testing means that we will see more positive cases, we are still troubled by the rising case counts across the state, especially since around 90 percent of these new cases are coming from the community and not from congregate settings like nursing homes,” Gov. Edwards said. “It is up to all of us to check our own behaviors and to take responsibility for slowing the spread of COVID. We do not want to have to go back to a time of increased restrictions where fewer businesses could operate. It is my hope that all of us – from government officials to business owners to students – will do the right thing.”
Louisianans should wear face masks whenever they are in public, practice social distancing, wash their hands frequently and avoid going out in public when they are experiencing any symptoms.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Business and faith leaders can visit OpenSafely.la.gov to receive guidance and updates from the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Louisiana Department of Health. Businesses that require approval of reopening plans will be notified by the State Fire Marshal’s Office or the Louisiana Department of Health.
For a guide listing businesses that can be open at any given time, visit gov.louisiana.gov/page/can-this-business-open.
Members of the public can continue to get information from the Governor’s Office by visiting Coronavirus.la.gov and by texting LACOVID to 67283.
Members of the public can continue to get information from the Department of Health by visiting ldh.la.gov/coronavirus.
People with general questions about COVID-19 in Louisiana can call 211.

On Thursday, there was a high school senior from Parkview Baptist High School in Baton Rouge, who verbally committed to play football for the United States Air Force Academy. Why would anyone from Vermilion Parish care? Because of his last name - Mula.
While there is probably only one Mula family who lives in Vermilion Parish, that one family has made its mark in the parish thanks to athletics.
J.Y. Mula and his wife Elaine migrated to Vermilion Parish when J.Y. got a teaching job in Vermilion Parish’s public school system. He had just spent his college days playing football and baseball for USL (now UL-Lafayette). He played quarterback for USL.
The Mulas remained in the parish and had five children, three sons and two daughters. The three sons were good athletes who played sports at Abbeville High School. Two signed athletic scholarships. Mitch signed a basketball scholarship with Northwestern State, while Jared signed a baseball scholarship with LSU.
Mitch eventually left Northwestern State and finished his degree at LSU. It was at LSU he met his future wife, Candace.
The two have been married close to 20 years and have two children while living in Baton Rouge. Their 17-year-old son, Roman, could be the best athlete from the Mula family, yet.
The 6-foot-1 Roman is about to enter his senior season at Parkview Baptist. He has started at quarterback for the last two seasons and is considered a three-star recruit. Last football season, Roman took to the challenge passing for an estimated stat line of 950 yards with 17 touchdowns and rushed for 500 more with 10 trips into the end zone.
Mitch admits his son, who has never seen video of his father playing quarterback for the Wildcats in the late 1980s, is a better athlete. Roman runs a 40-yard dash in 4.6 seconds. Mitch said Roman gets his speed from his wife’s side of the family.
“I never could run fast,” admitted Mitch.
On Thursday, Roman announced that he wants to serve his country by going to play quarterback for the Air Force Academy. Air Force finished last season ranked at No. 22 in the country.
Roman also had a scholarship offer from Southern University and was also looked at by La Tech, Florida Atlantic and Lamar.
He went with the Air Force Academy because of the future that lies ahead after playing football. The Air Force Academy trains young adults on how to be officers in the United States Air Force. After graduating, Roman will have to serve five more years in the Air Force Academy as an officer.
“I chose the Air Force Academy because of life after football, the benefits of graduating from a school like that are countless,” said Roman. “I also wanted to play football at the highest level I could, and considering that they were ranked number 22 in the nation last year, I would say that’s pretty elite.
“I also loved the coaching staff. Every coach on the staff has texted me or called me at one point in time and told me how I would fit in, and how they think I could lead the team to success. They were super excited about my commitment. They have been a big factor in my decision. The serving part of the offer, in my opinion, is a plus. Saying that you served your country in any way is a huge honor.”
The Air Force Academy is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which is 18 hours away from Baton Rouge. For the last eight years, the Mula family had to drive less than 30 minutes to watch Roman play football.
When Roman moves away, it is going to be Mitch who is going to go into withdrawal because he is losing a son, as well as a best friend.
“Daddy is going to have a tough time,” Mitch said about his son being 18 hours away. “It will be hard, but I know he will be a better man once he leaves. I am so proud of him.”
Mitch and Roman have a unique father-son bond. All three Mula boys were close to their father, J.Y., and that bond carried on to Mitch and Roman.
“My dad has been with me throughout all of this,” said Roman. “I will forever be grateful for the countless things he has brought me to, helped me with, and given me advice on. I’m thankful that we have such a great relationship and have shared so many memories throughout my football journey. None of this would have been possible without him.”

A Mass of Christian Burial for Caroline Claire Toups, 17, will be held Monday June 22, 2020 at 11:00 AM in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, with Father Andre Metrejean officiating. Burial will follow in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Cemetery.
A native and residence of Erath, Caroline was a member of the Erath High School Marching Band, and the Beta Club. She enjoyed painting, reading, playing with her cat, spending time with her family, and fishing with her best friend Gabe. But most of all she will be remembered as being a true down to earth person who enjoyed life to its fullest.
Visitation will be held Sunday June 21, 2020 from 10:00 AM until 9:00 PM with a Rosary recited at 7:00 PM and will continue Monday from 7:00 AM until time of services.
Caroline is survived by her parents Brent and Kim Reaux Toups; sister Sarah Toups; brother Gavin Toups; her maternal grandparents Kenneth and Laura Reaux; paternal grandparents Lorres and Barbara Toups; godfather Todd and his wife Joan Reaux, godmother Amy and her husband Ian Stal. Caroline is also survived by her aunts and uncles Allison and her husband Brian Broussard, Lisa and her husband Clay Broussard, Laura and her husband Clayton Rogers, Bryan Toups, and Kevin and his wife Lori Toups, her Godchild Sawyer Stal; and her very special friend Gabe Menard.
Serving as pallbearers will be Todd Reaux, Brent Toups, Bryan Toups, Gavin Toups, Kevin Toups, and Monty Rogers, Honorary pallbearer will be Gabe Menard.
Condolences may be sent to the Toups family at www.davidfuneralhome.org
David Funeral Home 209 E. Putnam St. Erath 7-337-937-0405 is in charge of arrangements.