Officials say the 45-year-old met the girl through a surrogacy and donor matching app and twice took her to hotels.
NEW ORLEANS, LA — A New Orleans City Park Police officer was fired and arrested after state investigators said he traveled to St. Landry Parish to meet a minor he contacted on a “surrogacy” app and allegedly tried to impregnate her. He was booked in Orleans Parish and is awaiting extradition to St. Landry Parish on felony counts.
Law enforcement officials identified the officer as Clarence Lee Evans, 45, of New Orleans. The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office said Evans is accused of two instances of indecent behavior with a juvenile and a separate count of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles. The case has moved quickly: the arrest occurred Nov. 12, the park conservancy said Evans has since been terminated, and prosecutors in St. Landry Parish are reviewing the file. The allegations center on digital communications made through an app that connects people seeking sperm donors or surrogates, and on two meetings at hotels outside New Orleans.
According to the Attorney General’s Office, investigators believe Evans connected with the girl on an app called Just a Baby and arranged meetings in St. Landry Parish, more than two hours from New Orleans. Authorities said Evans took the girl to a hotel on two occasions and attempted a manual form of insemination rather than intercourse. The Attorney General, Liz Murrill, called the case disturbing and said it underscores that “no one is above the law,” noting that her state Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force assisted in the arrest. In a brief statement, the City Park Conservancy said the employee had been terminated and that the organization would assist authorities. Officials did not release the child’s name. WDSU reported the girl was 12. Evans could not be reached for comment, and records did not immediately list an attorney.
The arrest record shows Evans was booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center after his detention in New Orleans, and that he is being held for transfer to St. Landry Parish, where the alleged crimes occurred. The Attorney General’s Office said the counts include two charges of indecent behavior with juveniles and one charge of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles. Each is a felony under Louisiana law. Investigators said the communications between Evans and the minor began on the app and included arrangements to meet at hotels. The Attorney General said there is no indication of intercourse but alleged attempts “for the purpose of conceiving a child.” Officials declined to detail the dates of each hotel visit, citing the ongoing investigation. No other potential victims have been publicly identified.
Evans had worked for City Park Police for about a decade, according to the park conservancy. City Park Police officers patrol the 1,300-acre New Orleans City Park campus, which includes playgrounds, athletic fields, trails and venues that draw millions of visits annually. The alleged meetings happened in St. Landry Parish, which includes Opelousas and Eunice along U.S. 190 and I-49, far from the officer’s normal patrol. The app referenced in the case, Just a Baby, promotes matching for sperm and egg donation and surrogacy; its user base and vetting practices were not addressed by authorities. The conservancy’s statement emphasized the conduct was off duty and said the park would assist investigators but would not comment further while the case is active.
The Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force has expanded partnerships with local agencies over the past year, and state officials have pointed to a rise in tips and arrests tied to online exploitation. In this case, the Attorney General’s cyber and criminal divisions coordinated with parish authorities to obtain warrants and book Evans in Orleans Parish ahead of transfer. Booking records show the arrest date as Nov. 12, with extradition to St. Landry Parish pending standard transport scheduling and court availability. Prosecutors have not announced whether they will bring additional counts based on digital evidence or hotel surveillance, and investigators have not publicly described what was recovered from devices.
The legal process now shifts to St. Landry Parish, where a prosecutor will decide on formal charges and a judge will set initial appearances. Evans faces two counts of indecent behavior with juveniles and one count of contributing to the delinquency of juveniles; bond conditions typically restrict contact with minors and impose limits on travel. Extradition from Orleans Parish to St. Landry Parish is expected to occur after coordination between sheriffs’ offices. If prosecutors file a bill of information or seek a grand jury indictment, the first court setting could be scheduled within weeks. The Attorney General’s Office said its Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force will “leave no stone unturned,” and the park conservancy said it would provide records related to Evans’s employment upon lawful request.
At City Park on Friday, families pushed strollers past the Great Lawn while joggers cut across Palm Drive, trading glances as word spread about the arrest. “It’s awful. It makes you sick,” said Leah Morgan, who brings her preschooler to the playground. “Someone in uniform should know better,” said Marcus LeBlanc, a park regular who lives nearby. In St. Landry Parish, residents described the allegations as shocking but said they were relieved the girl was safe. “I just hope the system protects her now,” said Debra Johnson of Opelousas. Park officials added no new details about Evans’s tenure or prior discipline but said he no longer has access to park property or systems.
As of Wednesday, Evans remained in custody in Orleans Parish awaiting transfer to St. Landry Parish. Prosecutors there are reviewing the investigative file and will determine the next court date once he appears before a local judge. Authorities have not released additional information about the timeline of the hotel visits or the app communications. Further updates are expected after extradition and an initial hearing in St. Landry Parish.
Author note: Last updated November 19, 2025.