A Louisiana man has been convicted of repeatedly inappropriately touching his girlfriend’s 8-year-old daughter.

Lawrence Burt, aged 48 and residing in Pearl River, was convicted on Friday for inappropriate conduct with a minor under the age of 13, as reported by J. Collin Sims, the District Attorney for the 22nd Judicial District.

In March 2022, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to a home following a report from a mother who alleged that her boyfriend had been inappropriately touching her young daughter. The child was subsequently taken to the Children’s Advocacy Center’s Hope House in Covington for assessment and an interview.

During a forensic interview led by Cally Huggins, the young girl disclosed that Burt had frequently entered her room and touched her in undesirable ways. She mentioned attempting to lock him out, but he would become angry with her when she did. Out of fear, the child was unable to confide in her mother, worried that Burt might retaliate against her family if she spoke out.

The child’s mother informed investigators that Burt often stayed up late watching pornography and playing video games. She also noticed that it appeared Burt had tampered with the lock on her daughter’s bedroom door.

Initially, law enforcement struggled to arrest Burt, as he had quit his job and left his residence. However, they later found him in an apartment complex in Slidell.

Despite Burt’s claims that the victim was lying, the jury found him guilty. He faces a potential sentence of two to twenty-five years in prison.

Burt has a history of sexual offenses, including previous convictions for abusing a 13-year-old girl, theft, and two counts of failing to register as a convicted sex offender, according to the DA’s release. He is scheduled to be sentenced in May.

[Feature Photo: DA Handout]