Attorney General Liz Murrill's Louisiana Bureau of Investigation arrested a Breaux Bridge woman as part of an ongoing joint investigation with the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office after a former fifth-grade teacher in the parish was arrested for first degree rape and other crimes against children.

37-year-old Cortney Burleigh, of Breaux Bridge, was arrested on April 16, for the following charges:

• 1 Count of 14:93 -- CRUELTY TO JUVENILES -- (Felony)
• 1 Count of 14:81/14:25 -- INDECENT BEHAVIOR WITH JUVENILES/ACCESSORYAFTER THE FACT -- (Felony)
• 1 Count of 14:130.1 -- OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE -- (Felony)

The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation (LBI) was assisting the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office in the investigation of the former fifth-grade teacher at Teche Elementary School, Marisa Noel.

During the course of the continued investigation, additional crimes were discovered which led to the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office rearresting Noel on additional charges. That's when the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation arrested Burleigh on these charges for her involvement in the crime. Burleigh was not a teacher at the school.

Burleigh’s arrest is the result of an ongoing joint investigation between the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office and Homeland Security Investigations involving the sexual abuse a child under the age of thirteen years old.   

Cortney Burleigh was booked into the St. Martin Parish Jail. 

"We will continue to support our partners across the State and bring to justice anyone who exploits or sexually abuses the children of Louisiana," said Attorney General Liz Murrill.

This joint investigation by the St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office and our office is still very ongoing.

*All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty