KEY POINTS

  • St. John Parish judge accused of inappropriate behavior with juvenile friends of his daughters
  • Judge was suspended for years pending trail
  • Attorney general said his insistence of no wrong-doing made matters worse for the victims

Sex offenses against children are the most serious of offenses, the Louisiana attorney general said in response to a 14-year prison sentence for a state judge.

Former St. John Parish Judge Elzey “Jeff” Perilloux was charged with four sex crimes related to girls aged 14-17.

"Sex offenses against children are the most serious of crimes which cause permanent psychological harm," Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry said in a statement Tuesday.

A six-member jury found the 53-year-old former judge guilty on multiple counts of felony indecent behavior with minors. One of the victims testified that Perilloux touched her breast. Among the victims was the 15-year-old best friend of one of his daughters.

Perilloux maintained his innocence during the trial, suggesting the actions were either accidental or part of a general misunderstanding. He maintained that all of the victims were like daughters to him.

Landry added that Perilloux’s “continued refusal” to take responsibility for his actions made the trauma only worse.

Perilloux has been suspended from the bench for more than two years because of the criminal case, though he was running for reelection for the court in St. John Parish.

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