District Attorney Collin Sims reports that on Monday, March 2, 2026, an investigation into a cyber tip led to the arrest of a Bogalusa man for possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) and felony sexual abuse of an animal.
The investigation began when the 22nd JDC District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit (SVU) Task Force received a cyber tip from the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office. The tip identified an individual suspected of possessing and distributing CSAM within the jurisdiction.
Investigators quickly identified the suspect as Joshua Ard, 26, of Bogalusa, Louisiana. Members of the Covington Police Department, Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI), Bogalusa Police Department, and U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed an arrest warrant. During the investigation, Ard admitted to the possession and sharing of the illegal files.
Ard was booked on the following charges:
- Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material (Victims under 13)
- Sexual Abuse of an Animal (Felony)
If convicted, Ard faces a sentencing range of 10 to 40 years at hard labor.
“This case is the result of rapid information sharing and real partnership across local, state, and federal law enforcement,” District Attorney Collin Sims said. “When a cyber tip comes in, we treat it with absolute urgency. We know that individuals who seek out and trade this material can escalate from viewing to direct, hands-on abuse. Our goal is to identify them early and intervene before another child is harmed. Our office will continue working aggressively to hold these offenders fully accountable.”
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming.