CRIME BLOTTER: Reported offenses in the Tri-parishes

Bank robber remains at large

As of Monday, Houma Police had not yet made an arrest in the mid-afternoon robbery of Chase Bank on Halloween.

A black male suspect entered the bank, demanded money from the teller and left the area in a black full-size, single-cab truck with tinted windows, HPD Chief Todd Duplantis said. No injuries were reported, but an undetermined amount of money was taken.

The robbery occurred around 2:30 p.m. at Chase Bank on Grand Caillou Road, Duplantis said.

Police have since released a picture of the suspect and the suspected get-away vehicle.

14-year-old dies in ATV crash

A 14-year-old Houma boy died Saturday after being ejected from a Polaris all-terrain vehicle that crashed on Buena Vista Boulevard.

John Kole Farmer, of Paris Lane, was one of five occupants in the ATV, which was in compliance with laws regulating street-legal vehicles, Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis said.

None of the occupants were wearing seat belts or helmets, Duplantis said. Two other riders were ejected; one occupant was treated for moderate head injuries.

The 13-year-old driver of the all-terrain vehicle has been charged under negligent homicide, negligent injury, reckless operation, drivers must be licensed and operating an unsafe vehicle laws. He was transported to juvenile detention.

The ATV’s owner, Robin Reynolds, 45, of Tulip Drive, was issued a summons for contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and allowing a minor to drive.

Prior to the crash, the ATV was traveling at “an extreme rate of speed,” Duplantis said. The driver attempted to make a left turn onto Sherman Street before the ATV flipped.

HPD will increase patrols regarding people driving off-road vehicles, including go-carts and golf carts, along city streets, Duplantis said.

3rd arrest made in Thibodaux double homicide

Thibodaux Police have now jailed three suspects in connection with the Sept. 25 double homicide on Iris Street.

Lynes Jones, 21, of 478 Frederick Drive, Thibodaux, was charged with accessory after the fact to second-degree murder. Jones was located and arrested in the 200 block of Sanders Street on Oct. 28.

Jones is being held at the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in lieu of a $100,000 bond, TPD spokesman David Melancon said.

Previously arrested were Brian Jones, 18, of 275 Sanders St., Thibodaux, and Alfred Starks, 19, 311 Pelican Drive, Thibodaux.

The two victims were meeting Starks and Jones to sell the suspects illegal narcotics, according to police. Narcotics were recovered from the scene.

Starks is accused of second-degree murder in the deaths of two Thibodaux men. He is jailed in lieu of a $5 million bond

Jones is charged with two counts of principal to second-degree murder and accessary after the fact. He is being held in lieu of a $1 million bond.

Pedestrian killed on Highway 657

A 55-year-old Larose woman was killed on Halloween night after she walked into the path of a truck, Louisiana State Trooper Evan Harrell said.

Joann Preston was wearing dark clothing when she was struck by a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Jace Griffin. The vehicle was traveling east on La. Highway 657 in Galliano near the intersection of La. Highway 1.

“A pedestrian walked out into the path of the vehicle. The Silverado was unable to avoid the pedestrian in time,” Harrell said.

Griffin, 26, of Galliano, submitted to a breathalyzer test and has been cleared of impairment, Harrell said.

Toxicology tests on Preston are pending, and the investigation is ongoing.

Separate guilty pleas net 15-year sentences

Two men each received 15-year prison sentences after pleading guilty to separate crimes, Lafourche District Attorney Cam Morvant II said.

Bosco Tran, 26, of Marrero, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana. He was arrested April 4 and found to possess 453 grams of marijuana. The maximum sentence was 30 years.

Keith Henry, 53, of Gray, pleaded guilty to fourth-offense DWI, which also carries a maximum sentence of 30 years. Because Henry had previously been convicted of a fourth-offense DWI, he was ineligible to have his sentence suspended.

Assistant District Attorney Steven Miller prosecuted both cases.

3 charged with DWI on Halloween in Lafourche

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office charged three suspects with driving while intoxicated on Halloween.

Ricki Burnham, 33, of 113 E. 177th St., Golden Meadow, and Dayne Andras, 26, of 2264 Laurel Valley Road, Thibodaux, were each charged with second-offense DWI. Sloan Breaux, 26, of 423 La. Highway 20, Thibodaux, was cited for her first offense.

Burnham was arrested around 8:30 p.m. near Cut Off after deputies reportedly spotted his vehicle cross the centerline multiple times. Burnham performed poorly on a field-sobriety test, and an open container was found in his vehicle, LPSO spokesman Brennan Matherne said.

Burnham submitted to a breathalyzer test, which showed him to have a blood-alcohol level of 0.142g percent, Matherne said. He was also charged with public intimidation, possession of alcoholic beverages in motor vehicles and improper lane usage. He was booked at the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in lieu of a $4,350 bond.

Breaux and Andras were arrested in a separate incident.

Earlier that evening deputies found a car parked in a travel lane along Laurel Valley Road. Andras was found about 100 yards away from the vehicle and told deputies he had stopped to catch a bullfrog, Matherne said.

While deputies were speaking to Andras, Breaux moved from the passenger’s seat of the car to the driver’s seat and drove to the location were Andras and the deputies were speaking, Matherne said.

Both suspects appeared intoxicated, so deputies conducted field-sobriety and breathalyzer tests. Andras’ blood-alcohol level was recorded at 0.240g percent, about three-times the legal limit, and Breaux’s BAC was allegedly at 0.124g percent, according to Matherne.

The sheriff’s office had ramped up its patrol efforts as part of “Blue Light Special” on Halloween.

5 football coaches issued summons for Destrehan situation

Six people were issued criminal summons this week after Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office authorities said the suspects admitted to using password-protected portions of South Lafourche High School’s HUDL account.

LPSO spokesman deputy Brennan Matherne said that authorities were alerted on Tuesday to begin an investigation into the matter.

During that time, authorities said they questioned Wildcats’ assistant coaches Wayne Sentilles, 32, of Montz; Daniel Laquet, 30, of Luling; Greg Boyne, 41, of Hahnville; Lance Ledet, 40, of Madisonville; and Ryan Fournier, 29, of Larose.

During questioning, Matherne said all five coaches admitted to accessing the Tarpons’ HUDL account without permission of the South Lafourche coaches.

The five also allegedly admitted to using the practice tape to game plan for the South Lafourche football team before the game between the schools.

All five coaches are charged with offenses against intellectual property.

A sixth person, Fournier’s girlfriend, Emily Guidry, 29, of Larose, is also charged.

Authorities said Fournier got the password from a former South Lafourche football player that had quit the team.

He then shared it with his co-workers.

Matherne said penalties for the first offense of the crime include a fine of not more than $500 or imprisonment for not more than six months – or both.