Case against FBI agent could stretch beyond Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - The investigation into a New Orleans-based FBI agent accused of multiple sex crimes, including rape and offenses involving children, could stretch beyond the state of Louisiana, a source familiar with the probe said Friday.

Authorities in both Texas and Florida are looking into allegations he committed crimes in those two states, the source said.

“Someone that’s sworn to uphold the law, it’s disheartening. But, you know we have a job to do. And have to treat him like we treat anyone else, he’s presumed innocent, like anyone else. And we’ll just take it one step at a time,” said EBR District Attorney Hillar Moore.

WAFB-TV has learned the arrested agent was most recently assigned to head up a regional division of the FBI that investigates online crimes against children, including child pornography.

The investigation currently involves allegations from as far back as 2016, but could eventually stretch back much further to a time when the agent was in the United States military, sources said.

Authorities arrested agent David Harris, 51, of Prairieville, Louisiana on Thursday, June 24 on charges of aggravated crimes against nature and indecent behavior with children under the age of 13, records show.

The alleged victims include both adults and juveniles, authorities said.

However, the details of the alleged crimes remain a secret as the entire arrest record was ordered to be sealed. Harris is currently booked into the Ascension Parish jail awaiting an arraignment. His arraignment is currently set for next week.

Authorities in both East Baton Rouge and Orleans parishes say they also plan to charge Harris with crimes. He is slated to first be transferred to East Baton Rouge parish if he is released on bond in Ascension parish.

In East Baton Rouge Parish, he is set to be charged with aggravated crimes against nature, indecent behavior with juveniles, obscenity, and witness intimidation. In Orleans Parish, he faces charges of sexual battery and attempted third-degree rape.

“And to understanding, both in Texas and in Florida. So to my understanding, it’s been a wide ranging investigation, over some period of time. And, I think it’s at the point of a fairly complete investigation, and I’m really pleased with the work that Louisiana did,” said Hillar Moore.

Moore will meet with the District Attorney’s in Ascension and Orleans next week, to discuss the cases against Harris. And that could include discussions with folks in Texas and Florida.

“I believe that we’ve captured majority of any crimes that were out there. So, I think we really have a good understanding of what’s going on. Although anyone that has any information one way or another, we would truly like to receive that information,” said Moore.

An FBI spokesperson Friday declined to confirm whether Harris is still employed by that agency. However, in a statement she still referred to him as a current agent.

“The FBI is aware of the recent charges brought by the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations Special Victims Unit and the United States Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General against an FBI Special Agent, and we are fully cooperating on this matter, " said FBI Public Affairs Specialist Lori Grice.

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