ABBEVILLE, La. (KLFY) -- A senior police dispatcher for the Abbeville Police Department is on paid administrative leave after being charged with felony sexual battery and simple battery. Her attorney says she's innocent.

Attorney William L. Goode, who represents 52-year-old Shawna Miguez, said he is confident his client is innocent of the alleged crimes.

“She, of course, has no criminal record whatsoever and she is innocent of this,” Goode said.

Miguez was indicted in July on those charges and was placed on paid administrative leave the following month.

The charges allegedly stem from an incident that occurred in November 2023.

“She’s innocent because, number one, she's not the kind of person who would do this sort of thing. She’s been in law enforcement for almost 20 years and worked with police officers day in and day out,” Goode said. “Secondly, this is just not something she would do and the evidence does not support the charges.” 

Goode said the alleged victim “filed a claim, as he told a witness, that he was upset with her because she'd filed a complaint against him with the chief of police. And the day that he received a letter of reprimand from the chief on that complaint, as well as two other complaints, he told somebody that he was going to be filing a complaint against her. And he did so the very next day.”

Goode said being put on administrative leave is just standard procedure for anybody charged with a felony offense. However, it is upsetting and difficult for Miguez and her family. 

“She's handling it fine. She knows she’s not guilty of anything,” he said. “She's innocent. She's a lovely lady. She's a law enforcement person. She's a pillar of the community and she loves working for the Abbeville Police Department.”

Migeuz has five children, the youngest is a teenager. Also, she has five grandchildren. 

The Abbeville police chief gave no comments due to the pending investigation. The pre-trial is scheduled for Oct. 25. 

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