Denham Springs Softball Umpire Sentenced to Over 11 Years in Federal Prison for Receiving Child Pornography
LAKE CHARLES / Friday, September 25, 2026 – On September 24, 2026, United States District Judge James D. Cain, Jr., sentenced Leeroy Sidney Hymel, III, 40, of Denham Springs, to 135 months in federal prison for Receipt of Child Pornography after his June 30, 2026, guilty plea.
“Mr. Hymel’s sentencing is yet another reminder to parents that predators can unfortunately turn up anywhere, including even our softball fields,” said U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller. “No prison term can undo the harm Mr. Hymel has caused, but this investigation, prosecution, and resulting sentence send a clear message to those who would prey upon our children: we will find you, we will charge you, and you will be looking at a lengthy prison sentence.”
According to court documents, Hymel was a softball umpire for a tournament for players 16 and under. Beginning around May 20, 2024, Hymel began to send lewd and lascivious pictures and videos of himself engaging in sexual acts to a minor female player. Records show Hymel enticed the victim to reciprocate and send similar explicit pictures and videos of herself through social media applications.
U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.
Homeland Security Investigations and Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office investigated this case. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Casey Richmond Stelly with assistance from Legal Assistant Kimberly Blanchard.
This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Learn more at https://www.justice.gov/psc/about-project-safe-childhood.
You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.
Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer, under Case Number 25-CR-00102.
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CONTACT:
Public Affairs: Cara.Alexander@usdoj.gov
United States Attorney’s Office: www.justice.gov/usao-wdla
X: @USAO_WDLA
Facebook: USAO_WDLA
(337) 262-6704
Source: U.S. Attorney's Office, Western District of Louisiana
