All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Arrests follow parish investigation into alleged abuse at church
Two people were arrested in connection with an investigation into alleged child abuse in Terrebonne Parish, officials with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office (TPSO) announced Wednesday. Investigators with the TPSO Special Victims Unit arrested 57-year-old Thomas J. Tucker III and 47-year-old Sharotta L. Lewis on a series of felony and misdemeanor counts related to allegations reported to the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS).
According to the TPSO, detectives began probing abuse claims after DCFS notified authorities. During the inquiry, investigators identified allegations of both physical and sexually motivated abuse, and Tucker was named as the alleged perpetrator. The probe also uncovered information suggesting Lewis witnessed some of the alleged acts but did not report them, the sheriff’s office said.
- Location linked: Some allegations were reported to have occurred at Outcast of Society Ministries in Thibodaux, where Tucker served as a self-identified pastor.
- Detention: Both defendants were arrested when interviews were attempted and are being held at the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex.
- Bond: Each is held on a $602,000 bond.
Charges detailed by sheriff's investigators
The TPSO released lists of charges for each person. The arrest report identifies a combination of counts that include cruelty to juveniles, sexual battery and indecent behaviour with juveniles, as well as simple battery in both files.
| Defendant | Charges listed by TPSO |
|---|---|
| Thomas J. Tucker III | One count of cruelty to juveniles; one count of simple battery; one felony count of sexual battery; two counts of indecent behaviour with juveniles; one count of sexual battery. |
| Sharotta L. Lewis | One count of cruelty to juveniles; one felony count of principal to sexual battery; two counts of principal to indecent behaviour with juveniles; one count of principal to sexual battery; one count of simple battery. |
"All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty."
The TPSO statement said detectives attempted interviews with the pair; both denied the allegations and were arrested on warrants related to the case. The sheriff’s office also indicated additional allegations tied to the Outcast of Society Ministries arose during the investigation.
Beyond the arrest report and bond amounts, the TPSO release did not provide further detail on the number or ages of alleged victims, or on any pending court dates. The agency described the investigation as handled by its Special Victims Unit, the unit typically assigned to cases involving children and sexual offences.
For residents, the arrests underscore the role of DCFS in reporting suspected abuse to law enforcement and the TPSO’s investigative response when such reports involve possible criminal conduct. As this matter moves through the justice system, court records and subsequent sheriff’s office releases will be the primary sources for updates on charges, evidence and scheduling.
Anyone with information related to the investigation is typically asked to contact the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office; the TPSO release did not include a specific tip line in its initial bulletin.
