Morgan City, LA (2/22/2023) – Morgan City Police Department (MCPD) reported on Monday, February 20, 2023, officers were assigned along the Hera Parade Route in the area of Seventh and Marguerite St.
MCPD Officers observed a vendor that was selling novelty items and candy. Contact was made with the subject to ensure that proper permits were obtained, and it was learned the subject did not have a permit. The subject initially provided officers with a false name. He was eventually identified as Thomas E. Devaul.
Upon conducting verification checks on Devaul, it was learned that he was a convicted sex offender out of the State of New York. Louisiana Law Prohibits him from distributing anything to children during holidays or events such as Mardi Gras.
Officers contacted the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Division because Devaul stated he was staying in their jurisdiction in Patterson, LA.
Investigators did verify the information that Devaul was a Tier 3 Sexually Violent Offender out of New York. Devaul failed to register with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office as required by law once he established residency in Patterson.
Warrants were prepared by the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office for Failure to Register as a Sex Offender and Unlawful Presence of a Sex Offender.
Devaul was arrested and transported to the Morgan City Jail, where he was booked and processed.
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A law enforcement-related agency has provided this information as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal “Allen persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.” or arrested and charged with a crime have not been convicted of any criminal offense. They are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
