SHREVEPORT — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Defending Childhood), published as received.

SHREVEPORT – On October 8, 2026, a federal grand jury returned an indictment charging Lennard Holden, 50, of Shreveport, with Production of Visual Depictions Involving the Sexual Exploitation of Minors and Possession of Child Pornography. Holden faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years and up to 30 years in federal prison if convicted of all charges. Holden was arrested on October 20, 2026. 

According to court documents, the indictment alleges that Holden, a former Southwood High School Band Director, asked a minor victim to engage in sexually explicit conduct and produce a video of the activity. It is further alleged that Holden knowingly possessed child pornography.  

The Federal Bureau of Investigation - New Orleans Field Office (FBI)  is seeking to identify additional potential victims of former band director, Lennard Holden. The FBI believes he primarily targeted children who were members of the band at Southwood High School in Shreveport between the time frame of 2011 - 2026.  If you and /or your minor dependents were victimized by Holden or have information relevant to this investigation, please follow the link below and complete a short form. Further, if you know of someone else who has been victimized by Holden, please encourage that person to complete and submit the form below as well.

https://forms.fbi.gov/victims/seeking-victim-information-in-lennard-holden-investigation/view

U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Keller for the Western District of Louisiana made the announcement.

The FBI investigated this case. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cheyenne Y. Wilson with assistance from Legal Assistant Amanda Morgan.

An indictment is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

This case was prosecuted as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Led by the U.S. Attorneys' Offices and the Criminal Division's Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS), Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. Learn more  at  https://www.justice.gov/psc/about-project-safe-childhood.

You may find a copy of this press release (and any updates) on the website of the United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana at www.justice.gov/usao-wdla.

Related court documents and information may be found on the website of the District Court for the Western District of Louisiana at www.lawd.uscourts.gov or at https://www.lawd.uscourts.gov/cmecf-pacer. The case number for this matter is currently pending assignment.

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CONTACT:
Public Affairs
(337) 262-6704
Cara.Alexander@usdoj.gov
www.justice.gov/usao-wdla