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A St. Tammany Parish jury found Ryan Pellegrin, 35, of Pearl River, guilty April 10 of attempted aggravated crime against nature involving a child under the age of thirteen, District Attorney Collin Sims reported.

Assistant District Attorneys Taylor Nicholson and Iain Dover prosecuted the four-day trial before Judge Scott Gardner. Lt. Jayson Germann of the Pearl River Police Department led the investigation.

According to trial testimony, a young girl was taken to a Bogalusa hospital in 2021 by her aunt and uncle after disclosing that Pellegrin had sexually assaulted her multiple times over several years. The hospital alerted Pearl River police, who arranged for forensic interviewer Karole Muller from the Children’s Advocacy Center’s Hope House in Covington to speak with the victim.

During the interview, the girl described repeated assaults by Pellegrin, who threatened her with a firearm to keep her silent. He also warned he would harm her best friend if she told anyone.

Both the victim and her friend testified during the trial. The friend said Pellegrin had attempted to touch her inappropriately once while seated together on a sofa. After she moved away, he made lewd comments. She did not report the incident until several years after seeing Pellegrin at a Waffle House in Slidell.

Pellegrin testified in his defense, accusing the victim of lying, though he could not offer a motive. He also claimed he had not paid attention to the details of the abuse described in her testimony.

Jurors deliberated for several hours before returning the guilty verdict. Pellegrin is scheduled to be sentenced on April 23 and faces up to 49½ years in prison.