A Sulphur man has been charged with trafficking after a child younger than 16 reported he was sexually abusing her.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Kayla Vincent said the victim was able to provide detectives with details of the abuse, which were corroborated during the execution of a search warrant on 55-year-old Derek F. Thibodeaux Jr.

Vincent said further investigation revealed Thibodeaux was in possession of a large number of roosters tethered to individual shelters as well as cockfighting paraphernalia. A dog was also located at his residence, suffering from injuries to its neck, likely from being tethered for a long period of time.

The dog was seized by Calcasieu Parish Animal Services and received veterinary care.

Thibodeaux was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center on Wednesday and charged with trafficking of children for sexual purposes; aggravated cruelty to animals; and cockfighting.

Judge Clayton Davis set his bond at $1,215,000.

Animal Wellness Action president Wayne Pacelle helped lead the fight to outlaw cockfighting in Louisiana, with many leading public officials, including then Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy.  That measure took effect in 2008, and Louisiana became the 50^th state to outlaw the practice.

“We applaud the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office for apprehending an individual allegedly involved in child trafficking, cockfighting, and other unspeakable crimes. It has long been known that animal cruelty is often bound together with forms of human exploitation and violence, and we see that vividly in this developing case,” Pacelle said.