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Investigation leads to the arrests of two men on child exploitation charges

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Posted at 1:03 PM, Jan 28, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-28 14:03:52-05

Two Louisiana men were arrested on January 27 after state state police learned of their alleged involvement in child exploitation on a social media app.

Investigators from the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit – Baton Rouge Field Office worked in conjunction with the FBI, Homeland Security, Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office.

26-year-old Jaime Sousa of Ponchatoula and 47-year-old Dexter Schexnayder of Deridder were arrested for charges related to indecent behavior with a juvenile, computer aided solicitation of a minor, and attempted felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.

State Police say the initial investigation began on the evening of January 27 when investigators began an undercover child exploitation operation.

During the course of the investigation, investigators say that Sousa and Schexnayder were identified as having separate online conversations with an undercover FBI Agent posing as a juvenile. Troopers say Sousa and Schexnayder further solicited and agreed to meet the juvenile for sex.

Troopers along with the aforementioned assisting agencies took Sousa and Schexnayder into custody after they allegedly arrived at a meeting location where they agreed to meet the juvenile for the purpose of having sex.

Sousa and Schexnayder were arrested and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Jail for violating LRS 14:81 Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile, LRS 14:81.1 Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor, and LRS 14:80 Attempted Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile.

State Police say it was also learned during the course of the investigation that Sousa was arrested on January 24, 2020, by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office on 30 counts of Pornography Involving Juveniles. At the time of his arrest on Wednesday evening, Sousa was wearing an ankle monitoring bracelet and awaiting trial for his previous arrest.

This investigation remains active. No other information was available.

The LSP Special Victims Unit works to rescue and seek justice for the victims of crimes involving the exploitation of children and the trafficking of humans for sex or labor. The public plays an important role in identifying suspects accused of these crimes, and is urged to report criminal or suspicious activity. The Louisiana State Police online reporting system is available to the public through an anonymous reporting form that is submitted to the appropriate investigators.

The form can be found by visiting http://la-safe.org/ and clicking on the “Suspicious Activity” link. Troopers also encourage parents to monitor their children’s social media activity. Further guidance can be found by visiting the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at www.missingkids.org.

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