Somerset Police suspect arrested in Louisiana on child enticement charges following month-long investigation

SOMERSET — Chief Todd Costa reports that a suspect in a month-long Somerset Police investigation has been arrested by Louisiana State Investigators on an outstanding warrant issued by Somerset Police.

33-year-old Carlos Normand, of Scott, Louisiana, was arrested on an outstanding warrant issued by Somerset Police on the charges of Enticing a Child Under the Age of 16, Distributing Obscene Matter to a Minor, and Accosting/Annoying Another Person.

The warrant for Normand alleges that he utilized social media to pose as an 11-year-old and 9-year-old child. Normand allegedly interacted with Somerset Police Detective Donald Cormier, whom he believed to be a 10-year-old boy, and made attempts to solicit content of a sexual nature. Normand also allegedly sent sexually explicit images to Detective Cormier using a social media application.

The month-long investigation, which was initiated and led by Detective Cormier, began in early October after Somerset Police received a report stating that a Somerset juvenile had received concerning messages on their social media accounts from a person who was unknown to them.

Detective Cormier recognized this behavior to be consistent with “grooming,” or the actions by which a sexual predator builds a relationship, trust and emotional connection with a child or young person so they can manipulate, exploit and abuse them. During the ensuing investigation, which was conducted with help from agencies in Louisiana and Texas, Detective Cormier identified Normand as the suspect. Somerset Police were then granted an arrest warrant for Normand by Fall River District Court.

At the time of Normand’s arrest on Wednesday, Louisiana investigators also executed a search warrant, and Normand may face charges in that state prior to his extradition to Massachusetts.

“I would like to commend Detective Cormier for his exhaustive work bringing this investigation to a successful conclusion,” Chief Costa said. “I’d also like to extend the department’s gratitude to the investigators from the Calcasieu Parish Louisiana Combined Anti-Drug Task Force, Louisiana State Police, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Louisiana Attorney General’s Office (Louisiana Bureau of Investigation), as well as the Houston Texas Metro Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force for their assistance and commitment to preventing the sexual victimization of children.”