Five Arrested in St. Tammany on Child Exploitation Charges

Updated February 2, 2026 with information from Covington Police Department and St. Tammany Parish Sheriffs Office as to identities and images of those arrested.

On Friday (January 30, 2025), the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit (LSP/SVU), working in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Covington Police Department, concluded a multi-day investigation into child exploitation that resulted in the arrest of five individuals on charges related to child sexual exploitation. 

Arrested by LSP SVU detectives were 26-year-old Kevin M. Pierre of Folsom and 44-year-old Mayfield J. Lee of Metairie. Each was charged with Indecent Behavior with Juveniles, Computer-aided Solicitation of a Minor, and Attempted Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile. Both were booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center. 

Arrested by Covington Police were 20-year-old Emmanuel Carl Hill of Covington, 38-year-old Waylon Scott Byers of Madisonville, and 47-year-old Lewis David Peacock of Baton Rouge. Each was booked on the charges of Indecent Behavior With Juveniles and Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor. Byers was additionally charged with Attempted Production/Possession of Pornography Involving Juveniles. Peacock was additionally charged with Child Grooming. All were booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center. 

***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***

This investigation highlights the continued collaboration among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies in combating sexual crimes that threaten the safety of Louisiana children. 

The Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit works to rescue and seek justice for victims of child exploitation and human trafficking through partnerships with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as public education. The public plays a crucial role in identifying suspects and reporting criminal or suspicious activity. An anonymous reporting form is available online at http://la-safe.org/ by clicking the “Suspicious Activity” link. Your vigilance helps protect vulnerable members of our communities and supports the fight against exploitation and trafficking.