Topline: He was convicted for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl over 15 years ago. Now he is guilty of inappropriately touching an 8-year-old.
Published: April 1, 2025 7:00 am ET
Must Read
Lawrence Burt (via Office of District Attorney of the 22nd Judicial District)
PEARL RIVER, LA — A Louisiana man was convicted for sexually abusing his girlfriend’s 8-year-old daughter.
Lawrence Burt, 48, was found guilty by jury of indecent behavior with a juvenile under the age of thirteen on Friday, March 28, District Attorney Collin Sims announced.
According to testimony during the four-day trial, deputies with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office were dispatched in March 2022, to a Pearl River, Louisiana, residence in reference to a sexual abuse complaint. Deputies spoke to a woman who said her 8-year-old daughter had been touched inappropriately by her boyfriend, Lawrence Burt.
The child was interviewed by forensic interviewer, during which the child said Burt would sneak into her bedroom during the night on multiple occasions and touch her inappropriately.
The child said she tried to lock her bedroom door at night but Burt would “fuss” at her. She said she had been afraid to tell her mother what Burt was doing because she feared it would make him angry and he would kill her family.
The girl’s mother was interviewed and she said Burt frequently stayed up during the night playing video games and watching pornography. She said he had tampered with the lock on her daughter’s bedroom door.
An arrest warrant was issued and detectives made repeated attempts to locate Burt. They discovered Burt abandoned his residence and abruptly quit his job.
After intensive efforts and assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Burt was located at an apartment complex in Slidell, Louisiana, and arrested. When questioned about the accusations against him, Burt said the victim was lying. He said anyone could make false allegations against him and he would be taken to jail because he is a convicted sex offender.
When asked why he ran if he was innocent, he said he wasn’t running, he was just helping a friend move.
Burt then admitted he saw the police at his residence when his friend drove him back to his house. He said they did not stop and that he knew there was a warrant for his arrest.
Sentencing for Burt is set in May 2025.
He faces up to 25 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, Burt has a prior conviction for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl when he was 31 years old. He also has a conviction for theft and two convictions for failing to register as a convicted sex offender.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Previously Convicted Sex Offender Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing Girlfriend’s 8-Year-Old Daughter
He was convicted for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl over 15 years ago. Now he is guilty of inappropriately touching an 8-year-old.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 1, 2025 7:00 am ET
Lawrence Burt (via Office of District Attorney of the 22nd Judicial District)
PEARL RIVER, LA — A Louisiana man was convicted for sexually abusing his girlfriend’s 8-year-old daughter.
Lawrence Burt, 48, was found guilty by jury of indecent behavior with a juvenile under the age of thirteen on Friday, March 28, District Attorney Collin Sims announced.
According to testimony during the four-day trial, deputies with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office were dispatched in March 2022, to a Pearl River, Louisiana, residence in reference to a sexual abuse complaint. Deputies spoke to a woman who said her 8-year-old daughter had been touched inappropriately by her boyfriend, Lawrence Burt.
The child was interviewed by forensic interviewer, during which the child said Burt would sneak into her bedroom during the night on multiple occasions and touch her inappropriately.
The child said she tried to lock her bedroom door at night but Burt would “fuss” at her. She said she had been afraid to tell her mother what Burt was doing because she feared it would make him angry and he would kill her family.
The girl’s mother was interviewed and she said Burt frequently stayed up during the night playing video games and watching pornography. She said he had tampered with the lock on her daughter’s bedroom door.
An arrest warrant was issued and detectives made repeated attempts to locate Burt. They discovered Burt abandoned his residence and abruptly quit his job.
After intensive efforts and assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Burt was located at an apartment complex in Slidell, Louisiana, and arrested. When questioned about the accusations against him, Burt said the victim was lying. He said anyone could make false allegations against him and he would be taken to jail because he is a convicted sex offender.
When asked why he ran if he was innocent, he said he wasn’t running, he was just helping a friend move.
Burt then admitted he saw the police at his residence when his friend drove him back to his house. He said they did not stop and that he knew there was a warrant for his arrest.
Sentencing for Burt is set in May 2025.
He faces up to 25 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, Burt has a prior conviction for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl when he was 31 years old. He also has a conviction for theft and two convictions for failing to register as a convicted sex offender.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Previously Convicted Sex Offender Found Guilty of Sexually Abusing Girlfriend’s 8-Year-Old Daughter
He was convicted for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl over 15 years ago. Now he is guilty of inappropriately touching an 8-year-old.
By Jacob Charles
Published: April 1, 2025 7:00 am ET
Lawrence Burt (via Office of District Attorney of the 22nd Judicial District)
PEARL RIVER, LA — A Louisiana man was convicted for sexually abusing his girlfriend’s 8-year-old daughter.
Lawrence Burt, 48, was found guilty by jury of indecent behavior with a juvenile under the age of thirteen on Friday, March 28, District Attorney Collin Sims announced.
According to testimony during the four-day trial, deputies with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office were dispatched in March 2022, to a Pearl River, Louisiana, residence in reference to a sexual abuse complaint. Deputies spoke to a woman who said her 8-year-old daughter had been touched inappropriately by her boyfriend, Lawrence Burt.
The child was interviewed by forensic interviewer, during which the child said Burt would sneak into her bedroom during the night on multiple occasions and touch her inappropriately.
The child said she tried to lock her bedroom door at night but Burt would “fuss” at her. She said she had been afraid to tell her mother what Burt was doing because she feared it would make him angry and he would kill her family.
The girl’s mother was interviewed and she said Burt frequently stayed up during the night playing video games and watching pornography. She said he had tampered with the lock on her daughter’s bedroom door.
An arrest warrant was issued and detectives made repeated attempts to locate Burt. They discovered Burt abandoned his residence and abruptly quit his job.
After intensive efforts and assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service, Burt was located at an apartment complex in Slidell, Louisiana, and arrested. When questioned about the accusations against him, Burt said the victim was lying. He said anyone could make false allegations against him and he would be taken to jail because he is a convicted sex offender.
When asked why he ran if he was innocent, he said he wasn’t running, he was just helping a friend move.
Burt then admitted he saw the police at his residence when his friend drove him back to his house. He said they did not stop and that he knew there was a warrant for his arrest.
Sentencing for Burt is set in May 2025.
He faces up to 25 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, Burt has a prior conviction for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl when he was 31 years old. He also has a conviction for theft and two convictions for failing to register as a convicted sex offender.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
