According to Chief Deputy Bobby Webre of the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, detectives arrested a Prairieville couple for second-degree cruelty to a juvenile.

On Thursday, February 8, detectives’ received information from a local hospital regarding a two-year-old male brought to the emergency room with severe bruising to his body and is currently listed in critical condition.

Detectives arrested the father, 27-year-old Lee Jude Barrient, and his current girlfriend, 19-year-old Rikki Dyson, both of 18543 Little Prairie Road, Prairieville.

Through investigation, detectives learned that Barrient has a four-year-old child who also had similar bruising to the body.

“Both children are now in the custody of Department of Children and Family Services,” added Chief Deputy Webre.

They were both charged with second-degree cruelty to juveniles and cruelty to juveniles and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail where no bond has been set yet.