In mid-July, St. Helena Parish Sheriff’s Office detectives notified the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office that a 15-year-old female from St. Helena had been brought to Washington Parish without her parents’ permission. The juvenile was returned to St. Helena the following day.

Washington Parish investigators pursued the matter and determined that the juvenile had been brought to Washington Parish by Alexander Winters Jr., 20, a resident of North Martin Road in Mt. Hermon. A warrant was issued for Winters. He was arrested and placed in the Washington Parish Jail charged with carnal knowledge of a juvenile, possession of stolen property and being a fugitive from another jurisdiction.

The investigation determined that Winters had targeted the young girl for a sexual relationship and that there are other potential victims in nearby Mississippi. The investigation is ongoing.

Winters remains in the Washington Parish Jail with bond set at $15,000.

After congratulating Washington Parish detectives on a job well done, Sheriff Randy Seal commented, “Any adult who targets juveniles as sexual prey deserves to be locked up and isolated from society. Others who think they, too, might exploit juveniles will have the opportunity to join Winters in jail. If you abuse or exploit children in Washington Parish, you can expect to see one of our officers knocking on your door. Such criminal behavior is totally unacceptable.”