Former Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office employee charged in 40-count indictment with child rape, child pornography

A Jefferson Parish grand jury handed up a 40-count indictment Thursday, charging a Harvey man with sexually abusing four young girls, and of taking pictures or video of the nude children. Half of those charges allege that John Cerniglia, 53, a former Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Officeemployee, also possessed child pornography.

Cerniglia, of 647 MacArthur Ave., is held in the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna in lieu of a $4.55 million bond set Thursday by Judge Ross LaDart of the 24th Judicial District Court. Court records do not indicate that he has an attorney.

In all, Cerniglia is charged with seven counts of aggravated rape, nine counts of sexual battery, three counts of indecent behavior with juveniles and 21 counts related to child pornography, Assistant District Attorney Sunny Funk said.

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