CRIME BLOTTER: Reported offenses in the Tri-parishes

Work release inmate back in custody

A St. Mary Parish work release inmate has been arrested after authorities said he walked off the job.

Last Wednesday at approximately 9:30 a.m., the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office received a tip that an inmate may be planning to leave his job.

Deputies responded to the complaint and went to the inmate’s place of employment on Degravelle Road in Amelia.

Once there, authorities said they learned that Cletis Viet Vu, 31, of 2401 Lake Palourde Road, Amelia, had walked off his job and fled the area.

The sheriff’s office immediately began to search the area and started to interview Viet Vu’s known contacts.

Louisiana State Police assisted in the search efforts, and collectively, the entities learned that the suspect was at a casino in the downtown New Orleans area.

Detectives traveled to the casino and located Vu and took him into custody without incident.

He is charged on a warrant for simple escape.

During the investigation, authorities learned that the suspect had help in the escape.

Authorities arrested Michele Peters, 48, of 134 Mia Drive, Gray, and charged her with a warrant for assisting escape.

During investigation, authorities said that Peters admitted to picking up the suspect in Amelia and transporting him to New Orleans.

Thibodaux Police foils kidnapping

Thibodaux Police Chief Scott Silverii said officers quickly nabbed a 25-year-old this week that was accused of kidnapping a small child.

At around 4:40 p.m. last Tuesday, authorities said they were called because Trent Harris, 25, of 357 Little Choupic Road, Thibodaux, allegedly took a young child from its home on the 800 block of Narrow Street.

Authorities quickly responded to the area upon the call, which caused Harris to abandon the child and flee the area on foot.

Harris was caught shortly after by police and taken into custody on charges of aggravated kidnapping of a child and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.

He is being held on a $60,000 bond.

The child was returned safely to its family.

Morgan City Police nab multiple suspects

The Morgan City Police Department was busy this week, reporting the following arrests for various offenses throughout the week:

Joseph Lloyd Williams, 30, of Morgan City, was arrested last Thursday at 8:07 p.m. for failure to use turn signal and driving under suspension. Authorities on patrol observed a vehicle making a turn without using a turn signal. Once a stop was initiated, authorities learned that Williams was driving under suspension. He was taken into custody and booked.

Floyd D. Womack, 56, of Fifth Street, Morgan City, was arrested last Wednesday on a charge of careless operation of a motor vehicle. Authorities said that an officer working radar in the school zone area near Morgan City Junior High School stopped a vehicle speeding that was driven by Womack. Upon the stop, authorities observed that Womack was wanted on an outstanding warrant by the MCPD. He was arrested without incident and booked.

Terrence J. Scadlock, 22, of Billiot Lane, Bayou Vista, was arrested last Wednesday on a charge of computer-aided solicitation for sexual purposes. Detectives of the MCPD said they started an investigation regarding the online solicitation of a juvenile for sexual purposes. Through investigation, Scadlock was identified as a suspect. Authorities learned that he solicited sex from a 14-year-old female juvenile. Based on the evidence recovered, Scadlock was arrested by detectives and taken into custody with no bond set.

Morris V. Garrison, 19, of Egle Street, Morgan City, was arrested last Wednesday at approximately 3:13 p.m., on a charge of theft. MCPD officers were summoned to Morgan City High School in reference to a complaint regarding something having been stolen. Based on statements and evidence, authorities proceeded to arrest the suspect and take him to the Morgan City Police Department where he was booked and released after posting bond.

Robert Gussman III, 19, of Bush Street, Morgan City; Kathryn Guarisco, 19, of Bush Street, Morgan City; and John Aucoin, 32, of Crenshaw Drive, Berwick, were all arrested this week on drug-related charges. MCPD detectives started an investigation regarding the importation of synthetic marijuana in the area for distribution. Following the initial investigation, authorities were led to a Bush Street residence, where they identified the above suspects as being involved. During investigation, authorities obtained a search warrant, which they later executed at the residence. During the search, authorities said they located several bags of synthetic marijuana which detectives learned was destined for sales in the community. The suspects were all charged with charges relating to the incident.

Phong Huy Nguyen, 40, of Roderick Street, Morgan City, was arrested last Wednesday at approximately 10:34 p.m. and charged with a DWI and improper lane usage. Authorities with the MCPD said that authorities observed a vehicle driving recklessly near Victor II Boulevard and Amber Street. Upon being pulled over, authorities identified Nguyen as the driver. Police said that the officers on patrol suspected impairment and conducted a field sobriety test on Nguyen, which police said he failed. The suspect was taken to the Morgan City Police Department where he then refused to submit to a breath test. At that point, he was taken into custody on the above-mentioned charges.

Raceland man given more than 12 years for child porn

A 66-year-old Raceland man was sentenced to more than a decade in prison after being found guilty of distributing child pornography.

Ronald Breaux, 66, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown to 151 months behind bars for his crimes, which authorities said include the sexual exploitation of children. The judge also ordered Breaux to pay $1,750 to one of the victims he viewed.

Following his imprisonment, the judge said, Breaux will be placed on supervised release for 5 years.

According to court documents, Breaux used peer-to-peer file sharing programs on his computer to search for, download and share videos of images of children – some as young as 18 months – engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

On Sept. 25, 2012, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Breaux’s residence and seized two computers and five electronic devices. Through investigation of those devices, authorities were able to catalogue the pictures and videos in computer folders, which authorities said were sorted in folders with specific names like “young”, “crime” and “incest”. In total, authorities said Breaux downloaded, viewed and saved at least 1,485 images and 479 videos of children being victimized.

Deputy killed in crash

A 23-year-old member of the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office was killed this week after his motorcycle slid into a vehicle that pulled out in front of the officer, who was off-duty at the time of the wreck.

According to the Louisiana State Police, a 2013 Harley Davidson motorcycle was traveling east on Bayou Garden Boulevard near the Southland Mall.

The motorcycle was being driven by deputy Taylor Segura, of Houma

As the motorcycle was traveling on Bayou Gardens Boulevard, authorities said a 2005 Chevy Aveo failed to yield and pulled out of the mall parking lot and into the path of the motorcycle. That automobile was driven by a 16-year-old Raceland woman.

Authorities said Segura attempted to avoid the collision by steering to the left and applying the rear brakes on his motorcycle. Because of that steering motion, the motorcycle went down on its left side and slid into the driver’s side door of the Chevy.

Shortly after the impact, both vehicles became engulfed in flames. All of the occupants of the Chevy escaped injury. Segura, who was wearing a U.S. D.O.T. helmet, died due to his injuries in the crash.

Alcohol impairment is not suspected to be a factor in the crash.

The driver of the Chevrolet submitted to a breath test and was cleared of any alcohol impairment.

The crash remains under investigation and authorities said charges are pending.