Former DA Investigator From Bogalusa Pleads Guilty in Federal Court

MICHAEL J. COTTON (68) of Bogalusa and former Investigator for the District Attorney's office, has pleaded guilty to the one count Bill of Information charging him with soliciting sexual favors from a woman in exchange for obtaining a bond reduction for her boyfriend.
Between December 28, 2013, and July 10, 2015, COTTON offered to intervene in legal proceedings and obtain favorable legal outcomes for three females charged with crimes, their friends, family, and significant others who were charged with crimes in exchange for sexual favors.
In July 2015, COTTON demanded sexual favors from a 23-year-old female in exchange for seeking a bond reduction from $25,000 to a $30 signature bond for her boyfriend, a defendant in the Washington Parish jail.
Between December 2013 and March 2014, COTTON requested sexual favors from a 28-year-old female in exchange for arranging for her to retain custody of her minor children and eliminating a drug testing condition she had as the result of prior legal issues.
In January 2014, COTTON used his position to obtain a significant bond reduction for an incarcerated 23-year-old female with whom he had a relationship that involved sexual activity. 
COTTON faces a maximum term of imprisonment of ten years, followed by up to a lifetime of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. U.S. District Judge Ivan L.R. Lemelle set sentencing March 14, 2018.
“Mike Cotton was a profoundly corrupt member of the law enforcement community who victimized some of the most vulnerable women in Washington Parish,” stated Special Agent in Charge Eric J. Rommal of the Federal Bureau of Investigation New Orleans Field Office. “His guilty plea is an important first step toward holding him accountable for his abuses of power.”