On June 17, 2019, Joseph Babin of 13091 Shee Lee Place Gonzales, LA., age 33, pled guilty to 2nd Degree Cruelty to Juveniles. Babin was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joni Buquoi, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Jessie LeBlanc. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following a complaint of child neglect.

          On December 11, 2015, detectives with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office received a report of extreme child neglect. Detectives learned that a juvenile in the care of Joseph Babin had sustained burns to the body after the child was playing with a lighter and caught his shirt on fire. The child was treated at an area hospital and released. After Babin failed to bring the child to follow-up appointments, medical staff expressed their concerns. Approximately 3 months later, the child was brought in for a follow-up visit by another relative. Doctors told detectives it appeared as if the child had not been cared for since initially treated. The child had on what appeared to be the same bandages put on by doctors, and the wounds were infected making it hard for the child to move his extremities. Detectives obtained a warrant of arrest for Babin who was subsequently located and transported to the Ascension Parish Detention Center where he was booked accordingly.

          Upon entering a guilty plea to the above mentioned charge, pursuant to the plea agreement with prosecutors, Babin was sentenced to 20 year with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.