LAKE CHARLES, La. (KLFY) — A man convicted of molesting a child has been granted a new trial due to misconduct by a Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, authorities said.

Joshua Boyd, 42, of Lake Charles, was found guilty Feb. 21 of molestation and sexual battery of a victim under thirteen after the investigation by Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit detectives in 2021. 

According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, an unspecified incident occurred during jury deliberations involving CPSO Captain Todd Ory, who was working on-duty as courtroom security. That led to the judge granting a new trial, according to Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory.

“I strongly disagree with the actions of Captain Ory,” Guillory said. “He has been placed on leave and we have launched an internal investigation to determine if any policies were violated.” 

Guillory said he regrets that the situation has caused additional distress to the victim and their family.

“This is an ongoing internal investigation and we are limited in what we can say and the details we can release at this time,” he said. “But I want to assure the community we, as a department, remain committed to upholding high standards of accountability and transparency.”

Guillory also expressed confidence in the result of the new trial.

“I want to be clear that I stand behind the investigation conducted by our CPSO SVU detectives, where physical evidence was collected and presented,” Guillory said. “I also feel strongly about the unanimous guilty verdict that was handed down by the jury and the hard work the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office put into prosecuting this case.”

The date for the new trial was not released.

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