LIVINGSTON, La. — A Livingston Parish jury found Melanie Curtin not guilty Tuesday night on charges of simple rape and video voyeurism, acquitting the Denham Springs woman in her second trial on allegations stemming from a 2014 incident involving former Livingston Parish Sheriff's Office Deputy Dennis Perkins.
Jurors deliberated for roughly two hours before returning the verdict. Judge Brian Abels presided over the week-long proceeding.
At the center of the trial was an 18-minute video prosecutors argued showed an assault involving Curtin, Perkins, and a woman they contended was unable to consent. The courtroom was cleared each time the video was shown. Curtin did not testify.
The woman shown in the video testified she has no memory of the night and only learned what happened after investigators showed her the footage years later.
Curtin's attorney, Jeanna Wheat, said after the verdict that the jury "finally recognized Melanie as one of Dennis Perkins' many victims." Curtin told reporters outside the courthouse she was "looking forward to freedom."
Curtin was originally convicted of first-degree rape in 2021 and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. A court of appeals overturned that conviction in 2023, ruling the trial court had improperly admitted evidence that unfairly prejudiced the defendant. She was retried on a reduced charge.
Attorney General Liz Murrill, whose office prosecuted the case, said the outcome was a "grave understatement" of disappointment and raised concerns about court rulings she said weakened rape shield law protections.
Curtin's case arose from the 2019 investigation into Perkins and his then-wife, Cynthia Perkins. Both Dennis and Cynthia Perkins later pleaded guilty to charges involving children and avoided trial. Curtin's charges did not involve children.
