Sheriffs deputy booked, fired

By Matthew Penix
St. Tammany News
Published on Wednesday, June 4, 2008 9:48 AM CDT

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A rookie St. Tammany Parish deputy was booked into the same jail where he was hired to work Monday after allegedly having sex with a 16-year-old.

Theron Jolly, 19, 209 Oakmont Drive in Slidell, was arrested and booked with carnal knowledge of a juvenile, a felony that carries up to 10 years in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Jolly, hired on April 24, was still completing his jail training. He was fired immediately, Sheriff Jack Strain said.

Jolly was arrested when Sheriff’s Office deputies received a complaint from the girl’s parents who believed an illegal sexual encounter occurred early that evening.

An investigation followed, and Jolly admitted he had sex with the girl but thought she was 17, George Bonnett, Sheriff’s Office spokesman, said.

Carnal knowledge with a juvenile is defined as a person 19 years old or older who has sex with a 13- to 17-year-old with their “consent,” according to Louisiana law. Ignorance of age is no legal defense, according to the statute.

The nature of the relationship between the two was unclear Tuesday morning. They did know each other before the incident, Bonnett said.

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