A 23 year old man was arrested in Covington on November 7, 2026, after investigators alleged he attempted to meet a 15 year old for sexual purposes, according to the Covington Police Department.
Police identified the man as Justin Gomez Laura and said he was booked into the St. Tammany Parish Jail on one count of indecent behavior with a juvenile and one count of computer aided solicitation of a minor. The department identified both offenses as felonies.
Covington’s Criminal Investigations Division and Special Response Team participated in the investigation alongside local and federal law enforcement agencies. The police announcement identified the case as an Internet Crimes Against Children unit arrest.
The department credited the 22nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit, U.S. Marshals Service, Homeland Security Investigations, United States Secret Service, Franklinton Police Department and Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office with assisting.
Police Chief Kevin Collins said the arrest resulted from investigators’ efforts to identify people who use the internet to target children. He also urged parents to remain involved in their children’s online activities and pay attention to whom they communicate with.
District Attorney J. Collin Sims praised the agencies’ coordination and said protecting children remains a priority for his office.
The announcement did not provide a bond amount or court date. It also did not describe the communications leading to the arrest or clarify whether investigators were communicating with the suspect during the alleged attempt to arrange a meeting.
The charges are allegations. Laura is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
