Tyler Ford Sr. guilty of sex crime against pre-teen

A Shreveport man accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with a 12-year-old girl was convicted Wednesday, December 3, 2025, of sexual battery of a juvenile under age 13 by a unanimous Caddo Parish jury.

The five-woman, seven-man jury in District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.'s court deliberated less than two hours before returning its verdict against Tyler I. Ford Sr., 29. 

On September 21, 2023,  Ford's girlfriend found a suspicious note on his phone, which referenced meeting in the bathroom to “do it” and also referenced giving someone shoes or money. When confronted about the note, Ford claimed it had previously been sent to a former girlfriend.  Based on the content of the note, his girlfriend suspected the note had been sent to the 12-year-old victim. When the child’s mother questioned the girl, she disclosed that Ford had been sexually abusing her for several years.

The girl was interviewed at the Gingerbread House and that recorded interview, along with the note, was introduced into evidence at trial. Six witnesses, including the child, her mother and the adult sister, testified that Ford committed the crime of sexual battery of a juvenile under the age of 13.

When Ford returns to court for sentencing December 16, he faces at least 25 years and up to 99 years in prison at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence and upon release must register as a sex offender.

Assistant District Attorneys Jason Waltman and Ashlin Thomas prosecuted the case. The Caddo Parish Indigent Defenders office represented Ford.

The case was Docket No. 399851.