Teacher sentenced in Louisiana child abuse case

Cynthia Perkins, a former teacher in Livingston Parish, Louisiana, pleaded guilty in February 2022 to multiple charges related to child sexual abuse and tampering with food given to students, according to court records.

Authorities stated that Perkins assisted her former husband, former sheriff’s deputy Dennis Perkins, in committing offenses involving a minor and admitted to contaminating cupcakes with biological material before serving them to students.

Perkins was sentenced to 40 years of hard labor without the possibility of parole or probation as part of a plea agreement that requires her to testify against Dennis Perkins, who faces separate charges related to child sex crimes.

Both Cynthia and Dennis Perkins were arrested in October 2019 and charged with more than 150 counts, including sexual abuse of a minor and production of illicit material, according to prosecutors.

Following her arrest, Cynthia Perkins resigned from her teaching position. Authorities stated the plea deal was intended to support ongoing prosecution efforts against her ex-husband.

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office oversaw the case and confirmed that the investigation and sentencing were conducted in coordination with local law enforcement.

Dennis Perkins, Cynthia Perkins’ former husband, is a former sheriff’s deputy in Livingston Parish, Louisiana. He was charged with multiple counts related to child sexual abuse, including offenses connected to the same incidents involving his ex-wife, and his prosecution is ongoing. Authorities stated that Cynthia Perkins’ plea deal included her agreement to testify against him in court.