Bond set at $2.5 million for Calcasieu deputy accused of first-degree rape and sexual battery of juveniles

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - Bond has been set at $2.5 million for a Calcasieu corrections officer who was booked Wednesday night on seven counts of first-degree rape and 30 counts of sexual battery of juveniles.

David Monceaux, 33, of Iowa, was booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center around 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5. Sheriff Tony Mancuso says Monceaux worked in the Sheriff’s Prison as a corrections officer for the last two years before he was terminated due to the investigation.

Sheriff Mancuso says the investigation unfolded Wednesday after a complaint that Monceaux had inappropriate contact with juveniles.

“We got a complaint about inappropriate behavior with a juvenile," Mancuso said. “We started our investigation, first of all getting the children to the Child Advocacy Center and doing interviews there. Then, we brought him in late this afternoon and he did admit to all of the allegations.”

Monceaux is accused of sexually abusing three girls since 2017, when they were ranging in ages of 6 to 9.

The sheriff says they expect to obtain search warrants to determine if additional charges should be pursued. Sheriff Mancuso says there’s no indication of other victims at this point. However, if anyone has more information or knows of other possible victims, he encourages them to come forward.

He also hopes those with children take this an opportunity to speak to them about such crimes and keep an open channel of communication.

“It’s not pleasant for any of us to talk about, we don’t want to talk about it," Mancuso said. “I think it disgusts all of us. But if you don’t talk to them about it then they may be ashamed and not tell anybody.”

He says his office has seen a rise in sex crimes compared to other offenses, which he attributes to education and more people stepping forward to identify their abusers.

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