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EDGARD — The indecent behavior trial of St. John the Baptist Parish Division B Judge E. Jeffrey Perilloux began this week in the Edgard Courthouse, more than two years after Perilloux was arrested for alleged misconduct with underage females.

Jury selection began Tuesday and was ongoing as of press time. L’OBSERVATEUR will follow this case to provide updates online at lobservateur.com and in the next newspaper edition.

Perilloux pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of indecent behavior and one misdemeanor count of sexual battery. In an interview with L’OBSERVATEUR on July 24, 2020, Perilloux maintained his innocence on all charges and said he is just as ready to get this trial over with as anyone else.

“In all honestly, I can think of no worse experience, besides losing a child, than to go through the experience of being falsely accused of a crime you did not commit, especially one involving harming a child,” Perilloux said in July. “I expected this to be over a long time ago. I want to get back to doing the job that I was elected to do, and I’m absolutely confident —100 percent confident — that when this case goes to trial, I will be fully exonerated. I will be found innocent, and the people will finally get to see the facts involved in this case that they have been unable to see, unfortunately, for the last couple of years.”

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 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 an alleged December 2017 incident with an 18-year-old victim while she was at a sleepover with Perilloux’s daughter.

Perilloux is running for re-election to the Division B Seat in the 40th Judicial District Court. Local attorneys Leandre Millet and Nghana Lewis are running against him in the Nov. 3 election.