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LSMSA's Statement regarding Lacaze arrest
LSMSA's Statement regarding Lacaze arrest.
September 15, 2026
The LSMSA Board of Directors is aware of the recent arrest of former LSMSA employee Anthony “Thorn” Lacaze by the Louisiana State Police on charges including three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, production of child sexual abuse material, and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. This arrest has caused hurt and raised questions for our Eagle family. Although we do not know whether Mr. Lacaze’s recent arrest is related to his employment at LSMSA, which ended in 2020, we are deeply disturbed by the charges and want to be transparent in informing our stakeholders about LSMSA’s reporting of sexual harassment allegations against him in the summer of 2020.
- Upon receipt of reports of sexual harassment by Thorn Lacaze, LSMSA immediately opened investigations of the allegations.
- On June 24, 2020, Dr. Steve Horton notified the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the receipt of complaints of sexual harassment against Thorn Lacaze. The Board of Directors unanimously passed a motion that authorized and instructed Dr. Steve Horton and Board Chair Mrs. Sharon Gahagan to contact the Natchitoches Parish District Attorney and, furthermore, to instruct Dr. Horton to contact the Louisiana Office of Risk Management regarding said matter.
- On June 25, 2020, Dr. Horton and Mrs. Gahagan formally reported the allegations of sexual harassment made against Thorn Lacaze to Natchitoches Parish District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington and Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
- On September 15, 2020, Dr. Horton provided comprehensive files related to each investigation to District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington and Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
- The District Attorney and Natchitoches Parish Sheriff then forwarded those files to the Louisiana State Police.
LSMSA will continue to cooperate fully with all law enforcement agencies regarding this matter. LSMSA has a zero-tolerance policy towards any form of sexual abuse or criminal sexual acts against any members of our campus community. We want to assure all stakeholders that matters involving said behavior are not taken lightly, and we shall be diligent in the investigative process in accordance with applicable law.
We understand that moments of concern can create uncertainty for students, alumni, parents, faculty, staff, and supporters who care deeply about LSMSA and its future. As the governing body of the school, the Board recognizes its responsibility to provide oversight, ensure accountability, and support decisions that advance the best interests of the institution and the students it serves.
The Board of Directors and LSMSA administration stand firmly with our students, past, present, and future, and wishes to reiterate our unwavering commitment to the mission, integrity, and long-term strength of LSMSA.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jason Anderson
Executive Director
Louisiana School for Math, Science and the Arts
Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) is the preeminent state-supported residential high school with competitive admissions for Louisiana's high-achieving, highly-motivated sophomores, juniors, and seniors. As a public school, there is no tuition to attend, and assistance from the LSMSA Foundation ensures the program is available to all qualifying students regardless of family financial need.
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