Published: 02-09-2026 | Category: Troop L
St. Tammany Parish – In January, 2026, the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit (LSP/SVU), working in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Covington Police Department concluded a multi-week investigation into child exploitation in St. Tammany Parish. The operation concluded with the arrest of one individual on charges related to child sexual exploitation.
The investigation resulted in the arrest of 42-year-old Joshua W. Dugger of Slidell. Throughout the investigation, Dugger sent sexually explicit conversations with whom he believed to be a 15-year-old minor.
On February 6, 2026, Dugger was arrested at his residence and charged with Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor, Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile, and Child Grooming. Dugger was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center. This case remain under investigation.
This investigation highlights the continued collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in combating sexual crimes that threaten the safety of Louisiana children.
The Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit works to rescue and seek justice for victims of child exploitation and human trafficking through partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as public education. The public plays a crucial role in identifying suspects and reporting criminal or suspicious activity. An anonymous reporting form is available online at http://la-safe.org/ by clicking the “Suspicious Activity” link. Your vigilance helps protect vulnerable members of our communities and supports the fight against exploitation and trafficking.
Contact Information:
Trooper Marc Gremillion
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section – Troop L
Phone: (985) 302-9272
[email protected]