Gary J. Byrd, former child psychiatrist convicted of child porn in 90s, indicted again on porn charges

November 2, 2012

LAFAYETTE, Louisiana — A former Opelousas child psychiatrist, who was convicted in a 1990s child pornography case that included allegations of inappropriate contact with boys, has been indicted again on federal pornography charges.

Gary Jefferson Byrd, 70, was indicted this week on federal charges of possessing and receiving child pornography.

The indictment reveals few details about the case, other than that the allegations cover a period that stretches from 2008 until this year.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna has ordered Byrd detained pending trial.

A federal jury convicted Byrd in 1992 on child pornography charges, and he was sentenced in 1993 to 10 years in federal prison and ordered to pay a $65,000 fine.

Testimony in the trial included allegations that Byrd had inappropriate sexual contact with children in his care and took nude photographs of children he spanked, according to news reports at the time.

Byrd, whose medical license was revoked, also had been indicted by a state grand jury in 1987 on two counts of sexual battery in St. Landry Parish for allegedly molesting two boys.

Those charges were dropped in a 1991 agreement that called on Byrd never to see children as clients again if he regained his medical license.

Prosecutors said at the time that the deal was made because of difficulties in finding witnesses or evidence to corroborate the statements from the two young boys.

Byrd’s attorney in the recent federal case, Randal McCann, could not be reached for comment Friday.

Authorities arrested Byrd in September on a federal complaint that at the time was sealed.

Source: Richard Burgess, "Man indicted on porn charges: Former child psychiatrist jailed in ’90s," The Advocate, October 23, 2012.