Tech choral director charged with indecent behavior with juvenile

Update: Information on second case added Oct. 21

Louisiana Tech University’s interim director of choral music was arrested Wednesday on a single charge of indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Monte Alan Garrett, 53, was arrested by Lincoln Parish sheriff’s deputies after an investigation that began last week, LPSO spokesman Sgt. Matt Henderson said.

Garrett, who joined the university faculty in September, was allegedly texting with someone he thought was under age 14. The conversation turned sexual in nature, Henderson said.

“We became aware of that by the FBI,” Henderson said.

At that point the LPSO and the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, an investigative arm of the Louisiana State Police, began looking into the incident. Henderson declined to release further details and said the incident remains under investigation.

Garrett was arrested at his home on Cooktown Road. Louisiana Tech’s website lists Garrett as visiting assistant professor of choral music education as well as interim director of choral music.

A spokesperson for Louisiana Tech said the university could not comment on ongoing investigations or human resource matters. Garrett’s classes have been reassigned, Tonya Oaks Smith, executive director of university communications and marketing, said.

In addition to conducting Louisiana Tech’s Chamber Singers and University Choir, Garrett also taught elementary, intermediate, and choral conducting, according to the university's website.

Garrett was booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on $100,000 bond.

Garrett's arrest was one of two made Thursday for alleged illicit activity involving juveniles. The cases are not related, Henderson said.

Ralph A. Richards, 61, also of Ruston, was arrested at 3 p.m. Wednesday by an LBI agent and charged with a single count of possession of pornography involving juveniles.

His arrest also followed a joint investigation by the LPSO and LBI.

Henderson said the probe started after the LPSO received a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children involving child pornography.

Investigators believe Richards was uploading child sexual abuse material, Henderson said. That investigation is also ongoing.

Richards was arrested at his home on Goodwin Road and booked into the Lincoln Parish Detention Center on $75,000 bond.