Lockport man resentenced on sex crimes

Paul Dufrene, 58, will return to prison for an additional 35 years after being convicted of sexual battery in July.

Dufrene, who was on parole, was found guilty of sexual battery July 31 before District Judge Jerome J. Barbera III.

The sex offense allegedly involved a seven-year old female in early 2007. When the incident occurred, Dufrene was on parole after his 1994 conviction on six counts of molestation of juveniles. The Lockport man served half of a 20-year sentence before he was paroled.

Assistant Lafourche Parish District Attorney Jennifer Richard, who prosecuted the case, said the verdict will help provide the victim and her family with closure.

“For the sake of the young victim, who was very brave throughout this whole ordeal, it was important that the defendant receive a significant sentence,” Richard said. “But it’s just as important that this man be removed from society so he can’t hurt other young girls anymore.”

Dufrene was also charged with violating a special provision of the sexual battery law, which provides a mandatory minimum sentence of 25 years in prison without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence when the victim is under age 13 and the offender is older than 17.

In addition to the 35 years as a result of the conviction, Dufrene must serve an additional 10 years for violating his parole on the previous offenses.

“Prison is the only place for Mr. Dufrene,” Lafourche Parish District Attorney Cam Morvant said. “We’re satisfied whenever we can take a sexual predator like him off the streets.”