On July 17, 2025, a complaint was filed in St. Mary Parish in reference to criminal sexual conduct allegations involving a juvenile (s). The initial report identified Daniel Lewis McElwee, 37, as the suspect. According to the initial report, McElwee allegedly was accused of inappropriate touching of two juveniles. The St. Mary Sheriff’s Office immediately scheduled forensic interviews for the juvenile victims and during the investigation, it was learned the alleged incidents occurred in Rapides Parish. RPSO was contacted and the investigation was turned over to the Criminal Investigations Division.
As the investigation continued, Sheriff’s Detectives determined that McElwee was allegedly responsible for sexually assaulting two juveniles and physically assaulting another juvenile for several years.
After the investigation was complete, Sheriff’s Detectives obtained an arrest warrant on McElwee for two counts Cruelty to Juveniles (Felony) and two counts Molestation of Juveniles (Felony). The warrant was signed and returned to be served on December 8, 2025.
While attempting to locate McElwee and effect the arrest, detectives learned that McElwee fled Rapides Parish to relocate somewhere Arkansas. Several attempts were made by law enforcement to locate McElwee, but he was unable to be found.
On August 19, 2026, Detectives with the Ashley County Arkansas Sheriff’s Office obtained an arrest warrant on McElwee for Sexual Solicitation of a Child in their jurisdiction. Through their investigation, Ashley County detectives learned of the outstanding warrants through Rapides Parish.
By this time, McElwee had fled back to Rapides Parish and Deputies and RPSO Task Force Officers with the United States Marshals Service Violent Offenders Task Force were contacted and asked for assistance in locating McElwee.
The USMS Violent Offenders Task Force, in conjunction with the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit and the original Detectives assigned to the initial investigation, located and apprehended McElwee on September 16, 2026. McElwee was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center for the active warrants through RPSO and the Ashley County Arkansas Sheriff’s Office.
McElwee remains in jail at the time of this release being held on an $800,000.00 bond as well as a detainer pending extradition to Ashley County in Arkansas.
Sheriff’s Detectives would like to thank the USMS Violent Offenders Task Force for their assistance in this apprehension as well as the Ashley County Arkansas Sheriff’s Office.
Arrestee: Daniel Lewis McElwee, 37
132 Holdman Drive, Pineville, LA
Charges: two Counts Cruelty to Juveniles (Felony), two Counts Molestation of Juveniles (Felony), LA Fugitive (Felony NCIC, Arkansas)