Livingston Parish woman connected to rape case with former LPSO deputy will get new trial

Tyler Eschette
·1 min read

BATON ROUGE, La. (BRPROUD) — The Louisiana Supreme Court denied an appeal by the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office on Tuesday, April 23.

The move will allow for a woman convicted of aggravated rape and video voyeurism in connection to the sex crimes against former Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Dennis Perkins to get a new trial.

“We just received the Supreme Court ruling on our writ application,” said Lester Duhe, spokesman for Attorney General Liz Murrill. “We are going to evaluate it and make a decision as to how we will proceed.”

In December 2021, Melanie Curtin was convicted of aggravated rape and video voyeurism and was sentenced to life in prison. Curtin successfully appealed the conviction, and the appellate court granted her a new trial after finding issues with evidence.

The state appealed that decision to the Supreme Court, which denied the request.

Louisiana Supreme Court disbars lawyer after he pleads to sex charges with two teens

Curtin is connected to the sex crimes case against Dennis Perkins and his wife Cynthia. Cynthia was indicted on 72 felony counts, and Dennis was indicted on 78 felony counts in December 2019.

Dennis Perkins pleaded guilty in January 2023 to charges in a sex crimes case, including Dennis pled second-degree rape, sexual battery of a child under the age of 13, video voyeurism, mingling harmful substances, production of child porn and production of child porn involving juveniles under the age of 13. He was sentenced to 100 years behind bars.

Cythia Perkins got 41 years in prison after accepting a plea deal in February 2022. She pleaded guilty to second-degree rape, production of child porn and conspiracy of mingling harmful substances.

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