Man sentenced to 45 years in prison for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old in St. Tammany Parish

St. TAMMANY PARISH, La. (WGNO) — A Pearl River man was sentenced to 45 years in prison for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl Wednesday, June 18.

According to the District Attorney’s Office, 36-year-old Ryan Pellegrin was found guilty by a St. Tammany Parish jury of attempted aggravated crime against nature involving a child under the age of 13.

According to the DA’s Office, an 11-year-old girl was taken to a hospital in Bogalusa in 2021 by her aunt and uncle after she said she had been sexually assaulted. The hospital then notified the Pearl River Police Department.

The DA’s Office said during an interview at the Children’s Advocacy Center’s Hope House in Covington, the child described how Pellegrin sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions over the course of several years.

She said Pellegrin had threatened her with a firearm if she didn’t keep the abuse a secret. He also told her he would do the same things to her best friend if she told anyone.

The DA’s Office said during the trial, the victim’s friend said Pellegrin had once attempted to touch her inappropriately, but she got up and moved away from him. He then made lewd remarks to her.

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