A former Louisiana teacher has been sentenced to 41 years in prison after admitting she fed students cupcakes laced with her husband’s semen.
Cynthia Perkins, 36, pleaded guilty to second-degree rape, production of child pornography, and conspiracy of mingling harmful substances.
She will not be eligible for parole for 40 years.
Perkins originally faced 72 charges, but 68 were dropped as part of her plea deal. She also agreed to testify against her ex-husband, Dennis Perkins.
He is a former sheriff’s deputy facing 150 criminal charges. Many of those are sex crimes.
Cupcakes, Abuse, and Hidden Camera Footage
The couple were arrested in 2019 after investigators received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Authorities discovered nude photos of both Cynthia and Dennis with a minor.
A lawsuit claims Cynthia filmed Dennis providing semen for cupcakes, which she later served to children at Westside Junior High School.
The indictment also alleges that the semen was mixed into desserts and energy drinks before being given to students.
Investigators believe the pair also sexually abused a child together.
Victims Wanted the Plea Deal
Assistant Louisiana Attorney General Barry Milligan said the charges included in the plea deal represented the worst of Cynthia’s crimes.
“These three [charges] we thought [were] representative of what she had done and by agreeing to the facts as we put them out on the record, she prepared herself to testify against Dennis Perkins,” he said.
Assistant Attorney General Erica McLellan said they spoke with victims before making the deal.
“They feel that this serves justice and better protects their children,” she said.
Cynthia resigned from Westside Junior High School the day after her arrest. Dennis was fired from the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Cynthia Says Her Husband Was “The Real Monster”
Cynthia filed for divorce after the arrests and claimed Dennis had manipulated her into committing the crimes.
Her attorney, Paul “Woody” Scott, said she is ready to testify against him.
“He is the real monster. That’s what she wants to make clear,” Scott said.
“It’s not about shifting blame, she took responsibility today. I mean, that’s what she did, but, she looks forward going after the real monster.”
Dennis remains behind bars and is expected to go to trial in May.
Featured image credit: Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office
