Police officer accused of fathering a child
with a teenager
A former police officer with Baldwin Police has
been arrested after troopers say he fathered a child with a 14-year-old.
Troopers say in October of 2013, at the request
of the Baldwin Police Department, they were asked to investigate allegations of
a Baldwin Police Officer distributing illegal narcotics. The now former officer
was identified as 39-year-old Joseph Brent. He left the force while still under
investigation by State Police.
Detectives say they were ultimately unable to
prove the narcotics allegation, but they did find out about a pregnant
14-year-old living with Brent and his wife. After the child gave birth in July
of 2014, troopers say DNA evidence was collected and submitted to the Louisiana
State Police Crime Lab for analysis.
As a result, on the morning of July 24, 2014,
Louisiana State Police Detectives located Brent at his place of employment and
arrested him on charges of Molestation of a Juvenile, Malfeasance in Office,
Sexual battery, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Juvenile.