Who Is Esaw Owens III? Rapides Parish Coach Arrest

Esaw Owens III is a 37-year-old Alexandria, Louisiana, man who works for the Rapides Parish School Board as a coach and school bus driver. Owens was arrested on August 21, 2026, following an undercover operation involving Louisiana State Police, the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and the FBI. Authorities accuse Owens of communicating with undercover officers about paying for sexual activity involving children. He faces charges involving child sex trafficking and the purchase of commercial sexual activity.

Esaw Owens III Arrest And Allegations

Owens Arrested Following Undercover Child Sex Trafficking Operation. The Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit conducted an undercover chat operation in Alexandria and surrounding areas on August 21 with assistance from the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and FBI. The operation resulted in Owens being taken into custody. [Louisiana State Police]

Undercover Officers Communicated With Owens About Sexual Acts In Exchange For Money. State police said undercover law-enforcement officers communicated directly with Owens regarding sexual activity in exchange for payment. Investigators said information obtained through those communications provided the basis for his arrest. [KNOE]

Owens Accused Of Child Sex Trafficking And Purchasing Commercial Sexual Activity. Louisiana State Police described Owens as being arrested for human trafficking of children for sexual purposes and purchase of commercial sexual activity. Local reporting citing the Rapides Parish inmate system lists the trafficking accusation as attempted human trafficking of children for sexual purposes. The charges remain allegations. [KALB]

Owens Held On $100,000 Bond. Owens was transported to the Rapides Parish Correctional Facility following his arrest. The Rapides Parish Inmate Inquiry listed his bond at $100,000. [KSLA]

Esaw Owens III School Employment

Owens Worked As Rapides Parish School Bus Driver And Coach. The Rapides Parish School Board confirmed that Owens was employed as a bus operator and CECP coach and said he served as a driver and coach in the Ward 10 community. [WAFB]

School Board Suspended Owens Pending Investigation. Following news of the arrest, the Rapides Parish School Board announced that Owens would be suspended while the criminal investigation proceeds. The district said it was cooperating with law enforcement and would follow school-board policy and Louisiana law in handling the case. [WAFB]

District Says It Has No Evidence Owens Targeted Students Through His Job. The school board said that, as of August 22, it had not been informed of evidence indicating Owens engaged in unlawful activity while operating a school bus, while working as a district employee or with any district students. [WAFB]

Esaw Owens III Investigation

State Police Say Investigation Remains Active And Ongoing. Louisiana State Police said the Special Victims Unit investigation was continuing and that no additional information was available immediately following Owens’ arrest. Authorities have not publicly disclosed further details about the alleged intended victims or the conversations with undercover investigators. [Louisiana State Police]