THE INVESTIGATORS: Bond set for third person arrested in Dennis Perkins case

LIVINGSTON, La. (WAFB) - A judge has set a $350,000 bond for the third person who was arrested in part of the investigation into former Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy, Dennis Perkins.

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, which is the lead investigating agency in the Perkins case, says Melanie Barnett Curtin, 41, of Denham Springs, was arrested Saturday, Feb. 1 on charges of video voyeurism and first degree rape.

Curtin was booked into the Livingston Parish Detention Center Feb. 1. Judge Jeff Johnson set a bond of $250,000 for Curtin’s first degree rape charge and $100,000 for the video voyeurism charge on Feb. 3.

Curtin briefly worked for the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office starting in 2011. Her ex-husband is a former LPSO deputy.

She was arrested in New Orleans as she returned to the country from a cruise.

Investigators did not provide details about Curtin’s alleged crimes.

Livingston Parish Sheriff Jason Ard issued a statement about Curtin’s arrest, saying:

“Melanie Curtin has not been employed with the Sheriff’s office since August 13, 2012. She worked for the Sheriff’s Office for roughly 18 months in the tax department. She terminated her employment with this office on August 13, 2012. At the time of the alleged crime for which she was arrested she was not an employee of this office.”

Melanie Curtin, 41, of Denham Springs, La., was arrested by agents with the Attorney General... — Melanie Curtin, 41, of Denham Springs, La., was arrested by agents with the Attorney General Office's Louisiana Bureau of Investigation in New Orleans on Feb. 1, 2020.(Office of Louisiana Attorney General)

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In December of 2019, a Livingston Parish grand jury returned indictments on 78 felonies for fired deputy, Dennis Perkins, and 72 felonies for his school teacher wife, Cynthia.

Dennis and Cynthia Perkins — Dennis and Cynthia Perkins(WAFB)

The couple is accused of child rape, producing child pornography, and participating in feeding desserts laced with semen to school children. Dennis is also accused of sexual abuse of an animal. The couple pleaded not guilty to all the felonies.

The indictment returned by the grand jury stated that on Nov. 8, 2014, Dennis had sex with an adult victim. It went on to say that sex was “…with the assistance of a yet unidentified adult female perpetrator.” It is from this claim that the first degree rape charge stemmed.

Sources confirm to the 9News Investigators that “unidentified adult female perpetrator” was Curtin.

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