Judge Perilloux trial delayed for the 6th time

Published 8:13 am Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

EDGARD – The indecent behavior trial of St. John the Baptist Parish Division B Judge E. Jeffrey Perilloux, slated to begin July 10 in Edgard, has now been delayed for a sixth time.

Ad hoc Judge Dennis Waldron pushed back the start of the trial Monday amid coronavirus concerns. Attorneys are looking at a new start date between September and November, depending on the availability of witnesses.

Perilloux has been on leave with pay since May 16, 2018 following published accounts of multiple criminal investigations into his behavior with underage females. In June 2018, a grand jury returned a four-count true bill indictment charging Perilloux with three felony counts of indecent behavior and one misdemeanor count of sexual battery.

Perilloux pleaded not guilty to the charges and has remained free on bond since 2018. Attorney General Jeff Landry’s Office is in charge of the prosecution.

The investigation dates back to July 2017, when authorities in Okaloosa County, Florida were notified of a criminal complaint against Perilloux. Louisiana State Police became involved in the case, which involved a female victim, 15 years old at the time, who alleged that Perilloux placed a hand under her T-shirt and slid his fingers inside her bathing suit bottom in a darkened room during a Florida vacation.

Other felony counts involved inappropriate contact with juveniles that allegedly occurred at a LaPlace home.

According to the Attorney General’s Office, the misdemeanor charge involves a December 2017 incident with an 18-year-old victim while she was at a sleepover with Perilloux’s daughter.

Perilloux was elected judge in December 2016 and began serving the following month following an election to fill the unexpired term of departing Judge Mary Hotard Becnel.