Bond for accused teacher posted
Published 8:27 am Monday, August 18, 2014
Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Haley said bond for a former Mt. Hermon Junior High special education teacher arrested on various charges involving molestation of a juvenile in June was reduced by a judge but added that he is still behind bars in another parish.
Murry J. Duncan faces 127 criminal counts in Washington and East Baton Rouge parishes.
Judge Reginald Badeaux, of the 22nd District, reduced Duncan’s bond on the Washington Parish charges to $250,000. Haley said Duncan’s family put up a combination of property and cash to satisfy that bond. A condition of bond was that he must wear an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet.
Duncan still has a $50,000 bond in East Baton Rouge Parish where he continues to be held.
On April 16, Duncan was arrested by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office on a charge of pornography involving juveniles. The following day, aggravated incest was added to the list of charges.
When confronted with the allegations, Haley said Duncan confessed to improper behavior with juveniles and possession of child pornography.
Haley said Duncan told investigators, “I have been battling these demons for a long time.”
Haley said Duncan consented to a search of his residence, where child pornography was seized.
In addition to teaching and coaching at Mt. Hermon Junior High School, Duncan was involved in other activities at athletic, church and camp events that placed him in contact with juveniles.
While still incarcerated for the aforementioned charges, Duncan was arrested again on May 1 on two counts of molestation of a juvenile in East Baton Rouge Parish.
On May 18, Duncan was returned to Washington Parish, where he was arrested again on a count of molestation of a juvenile, two counts of video voyeurism and 116 counts of pornography involving juveniles. Bond for those charges was set at $60,000, which was in addition to his previous bonds of $50,000 and $350,000.
After his arrest and booking in Washington Parish, on May 19 Duncan was returned to East Baton Rouge Prison.
