FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 13, 2016
COVINGTON—Raymond F. Reno, 45, of Madisonville, pleaded guilty Monday (Sept. 12) to sexual battery of a victim under 13 and 56 counts of child pornography of victims under age 13. District Judge Peter Garcia sentenced Reno to 25 years in prison on the sexual battery charge and 10 years on the child pornography charges with the sentences to run concurrently.
The crime was discovered in August 2014, when a mother read in her then 6-year-old daughter’s diary that Reno had touched the child’s private parts with his hands. The mother questioned the girl and learned that Reno had touched the child inappropriately numerous times. The mother called the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, which brought in the Children’s Advocacy Center. The victim revealed in those interviews that Reno had touched her on top of her clothes and on her skin and that he also may have taken a picture of her private parts.
During Reno’s arrest, Sheriff’s deputies used a search warrant to seize a variety of undeveloped film, SD cards, and a camera computer, all of which led to the 56 pornography charges.
The victim’s mother, who attended Reno’s hearing Monday, told the court that she thought the sentences were a good outcome. Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Authement handled the case.