By JIM BUTLER

Two Rapides Parish men have been charged with a staggering number of counts of pornography involving juveniles.

Authorities have not indicated whether the arrests are related.

The arrests of Lane D. Ashmore, 53, of Glenmora and David Duck Lee Roberts, 27, of Deville were the result of combined work by parish and state cyber sleuths.

Ashmore was arrested June 2. He is charged with 500 counts of pornography involving juveniles, intentionally possessing. His bond was set at $50,000.

Three days later, June 5, Roberts was booked on 506 counts of pornography involving juveniles, victims under 13, offender over 17. Bond was set at $70,400.

Officials said Roberts formerly worked for the Sheriff’s Office and for the Ball Police Dept.

He resigned from the Ball post, they said, on Monday prior to his arrest. Circumstances of that timing were not included in the prepared statement.

According to Louisiana Revised Statutes, the penalty for conviction on such charges is a minimum of 5 years’ imprisonment and maximum of 20 with no parole, probation or suspension of sentence.

A second or subsequent conviction requires a minimum 10-year sentence, with a 40-year maximum.