Last week, Matthew Corkern III of 8252 Brittany Rd. Sorrento, LA, age 36, pled guilty to Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material and Simple Burglary. Corkern was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Blake Sheets, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Cody Martin. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors in connection with two Ascension Parish arrests. 

          In December of 2024, the Louisiana State Police Special Victim’s Unit received a Cybertip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children regarding the possible manufacturing, distribution, and/or possession of Pornography Involving Juveniles. During this investigation, detectives obtained search warrants for the residence of Matthew Corkern III along with various social media accounts and electronic devices. During the execution of these search warrants, detectives located a multitude of images and videos containing child sexual abuse material which were directly linked to Matthew Corkern III. Corkern was arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail. 

          During this same time frame, Matthew Corkern III was arrested and charged with Simple Burglary as a result of an unrelated criminal investigation in Ascension Parish. 

       Upon entering a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charges, pursuant to the plea agreement with prosecutors, Corkern was sentenced to 25 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served on the charge of Possession of Child Sexual Abuse Material. On the charge of Simple Burglary, Corkern was sentenced to 5 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. The said sentences are to run concurrent with one another. Corkern will be required to register and notify as a sex offender or child predator.