St. Tammany Parish man guilty of molesting girlfriend's 8-year-old daughter

A St. Tammany Parish jury has found Lawrence Burt guilty of indecent behavior with a juvenile under the age of 13. The 48-year-old man was convicted after a four-day trial, following accusations that he entered his girlfriend's 8-year-old daughter's room at night and touched her inappropriately. The prosecution's case highlighted several instances of abuse, raising alarm about Burt's behavior.

Testimony from Burt's girlfriend revealed that he often stayed up late watching pornography or playing video games. The young victim described to a Children's Advocacy Center interviewer how Burt would scold her if she locked her bedroom door, instilling fear and preventing her from disclosing the abuse to her mother. She expressed concerns for her family's safety, fearing Burt would retaliate.

The girl’s mother became aware of the situation when she noticed Burt had tampered with her daughter's bedroom door lock. After hearing her daughter's account, she reported the abuse to the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office in March 2022. Burt fled, abandoning his home and job, prompting authorities to issue a warrant for his arrest.

Burt was eventually located by U.S. Marshals and St. Tammany Parish deputies at an apartment in Slidell, where he denied the allegations and accused the victim of lying. His criminal history includes prior offenses of theft and sexual abuse of a 13-year-old, along with failing to register as a convicted sex offender.

With the verdict delivered, Burt now faces a sentencing range of two to 25 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for May. The case highlights serious concerns regarding child safety, the impact of abuse, and the importance of reporting such crimes to protect vulnerable individuals.