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October 22, 2013
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October 22, 2013Man gets 30 years for cocaine distribution
A 35-year-old Raceland man was sentenced to 30 years in prison weeks after a Lafourche Parish jury convicted him of distributing cocaine to a confidential informant, Lafourche Parish District Attorney Cam Morvant II said.
Morvant said the state would next pursue a habitual-offender conviction against Toronzo Thompkins.
“We felt that on this charge, the defendant deserved the maximum sentence,” Morvant said in a printed release. “We will be filing a bill charging Mr. Thompkins as a habitual offender as soon as possible.”
Habitual-offender bills require prosecutors to prove that a suspect has been convicted of multiple felony offenses. It would extend the duration of Thompkins’ most recent sentence.
The confidential information was working with the Lafourche Parish Drug Task Force.
Thompkins also faces the revocation of his parole stemming from prior distribution of cocaine in 2005.
Man sought in Lafourche Parish tree-trimming scam
Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s deputies are searching for Howard James Sevin on allegations that he scammed several parish residents out of hundreds of dollars in a tree-trimming scam, Sheriff Craig Webre said last week.
Sevin, 33, last resided at 134 Morris Porche Lane in Gray.
Sevin offered to trim residents’ trees on four separate Lafourche Parish properties – two in Thibodaux, one in Raceland and one in Larose – LPSO spokesman Deputy Brennan Matherne said. He allegedly collected money prior to finishing the job on all four properties and told the properties’ owners he had to retrieve additional equipment but never returned.
Sevin is wanted for two counts of theft of assets of an aged person, two counts of theft and contempt of court. His bond is set at $23,000.
The sheriff’s office is soliciting tips through Crime Stoppers. Tipsters may remain anyonymous and could be eligible for up to $1,000 in a cash reward if information leads to an arrest. Tips can be submitted by phone at (800) 743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org.
Drug-related arrest suspect also accused of purse snatching
A Galliano woman arrested earlier this month in possession of suspected drug paraphernalia has subsequently been accused as the culprit behind a series of attempts to snatch purses and wallets.
Deana Melancon, 46, of 110 Peach St., Apt. E, was arrested at roughly 3 a.m., Oct. 10, after Lafourche Parish deputies found her in possession of a “pipe commonly used to smoke crack cocaine,” according to sheriff’s office spokesman Deputy Brennan Matherne. Melancon had been pulled over after driving 76 mph in a 45-mph zone with one headlight out.
At the time, LPSO detectives were investigating four separate cases of purse snatching or attempted theft. In two cases, purses were stolen from shoppers – one of them elderly – in the south Lafourche area, Matherne said. In the other two cases, a suspect allegedly attempted to take a purse and a wallet, but was caught and confronted by the victims.
Detectives have connected Melancon to descriptions given by victims witnesses. The purple 2003 Chevrolet Impala she was driving before her initial arrest was also cited by victims and witnesses, Matherne said.
At the time of her arrest, Melancon’s children were left unattended in her apartment unit, Matherne said. They were later released to their father’s custody.
Melancon has been charged with two counts of purse snatching, two counts of attempted theft, two counts of unauthorized use of an access card and theft of the assets of an aged person. She was also charged with two counts of child desertion, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting an officer, speeding and driving without headlights. Bond was set at $9,600.
Man arrested in month-old, Patterson-based fuel theft
A 30-year-old Erath man was arrested last week in Iberia Parish in connection with a month-old theft of several hundred gallons of fuel from a Patterson business.
Christopher Dyson, of 12617 Tupelo Circle, was transferred to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. He is also a suspect in a vehicle burglary.
The crime remains under investigation.
Information sought on video-captured burglary suspect
The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office last week released surveillance footage of a suspect wanted in connection with several vehicular burglaries in Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.
Deputies in Lafourche and Terrebonne have investigated a string of vehicle burglaries in Gray, specifically on Blue Ridge Drive and Aselane Street in Lafourche. The male suspect in the footage is connected to the burglaries, LPSO deputy Brennan Matherne said.
The sheriff’s office is seeking information to identify the suspect and on the alleged burglaries. The public can submit tips through Crime Stoppers at (800) 743-7433 or www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.
Five arrested in busy St. Mary Parish day
The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s office stayed on its toes this past Thursday, responding to 39 complaints throughout the day.
Of those complaints, authorities reported the following noteworthy arrests.
– Brandon Barrilleaux, 29, of 22 Mars Road, Bayou Vista, and charged with simple criminal damage to property and theft. Authorities said the suspect was arrested at the Walmart in Bayou Vista after witnesses observed the suspect taking several items of merchandise from the store without paying for them. In the process, authorities said Barrilleaux broke some security containers. While at the jail, Barrilleaux said he was found to have several pills in his possession. Because of that, he is now charged with introduction of contraband into a jail.
– Kenneth Francis, 37, of 102 Bernard St., Patterson, was arrested at the St. Mary Parish Jail after being transported from Texas on charges of failure to appear in court for trail on the original charge of possession with intent to distribute apprazolam and possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to return verification of address as a registered sex offender. Francis was taken to the parish jail for processing and incarceration. Bond has been set at $15,000.
– Rushard Fleming, 30, of 58 Joe Nerstine Road, Hammond, was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana. Authorities said they observed a vehicle driving erratically – almost causing a traffic crash on La. Highway 70 and Ninth Street. The vehicle was stopped near the Best Western Hotel, during which the driver was identified as Delshone Maryland, 38, of 47367 Brittany Court, Hammond. After questioning and consent was given to search the vehicle, authorities location marijuana in the vehicle and in some of the persons within the automobile.
Maryland is charged with possession of marijuana, careless operation of a vehicle and suspended driver’s license and no proof of insurance in a vehicle.
Another passenger, Annabel Garza, 19, of 505 Egle St., Morgan City, is charged with possession of marijuana.
– Angelo Roy Walker, 51, of 778 Verdunville Road, Franklin, was arrested on charges of simple battery. Deputies responded to a call regarding a disturbance at 774 Verdunville Road when they learned that Walker had allegedly hit and pushed down another subject, which has resulted in scratches. Angelo was taken into custody on the above charges.
Suspect nabbed for aggravated rape
A 17-year-old Dulac native is in custody of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office after authorities claim that he had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. on Oct. 14, the mother of the child went to the sheriff’s office to file a report regarding aggravated rape.
Detectives then arrived at the sheriff’s office in order to further investigate the matter. During this investigation, detectives learned that the alleged relationship had occurred over a two-year period of time.
On Oct. 16, the person accused, Maurin Guidry Jr., 17, of 151 Rose St., Dulac, arrived at the sheriff’s office and contacted detectives. The detectives questioned Guidry concerning the sexual relationship with the underage female and authorities said that he admitted to the relationship, but did not know the girl’s age.
Guidry is charged with aggravated rape.
He was taken to the Terrebonne Parish Jail where he remains in lieu of a $50,000 bond.
