Crime Blotter: Reported offenses in the Tri-parishes

Houma teen gets 10 years in wreck death

A Houma teen, who pleaded guilty to driving drunk when he wrecked his car, killing his girlfriend, was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

State police say Stephen Murphy was driving with Amanda Doyle, of Houma, on Dec. 11 when he lost control, hit a mailbox and flipped into a water-filled ditch.

Police say Murphy, who was 18 at the time, was driving 81 mph in a 45-mph zone and had more than two times the amount of alcohol in his system allowed by law for a person under 21.

Murphy, who was sentenced Thursday, pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, which carries up to 30 years in prison. Murphy will serve his first five years in prison without parole, according to his attorney Gregg Graffagnino.

 

‘Warrant roundup’ nets arrests

Four Houma residents were arrested Thursday on outstanding warrants for misdemeanor offenses as part of a “warrant roundup,” the Houma Police Department announced.

Jamil Washington, 21, of Banks Street; Joseph J. Johnson, 31, of Prevost Drive; Jamar Williams, 24, of Memory Lane; and Dixie Lynn Galliano, 31, of Harding Drive were arrested for contempt of court.

Fourteen HPD officers were split into two-person teams for the roundup, which began at 4 a.m. The department worked in conjunction with the city marshal’s office and made prior arrangements to have marshals operating Houma City Court at 5 a.m. Those arrested were dropped off at the courthouse and brought before Judge Jude Fanguy.

Other individuals with outstanding warrants were likely to find door hangers if they weren’t arrested last week. The hangers requested that the wanted suspects contact City Court.

HPD officials said they would continue roundup operations. Anyone with an outstanding warrant can contact the courthouse at (985) 873-6332 and make arrangements to settle the warrant.

 

Houma man arrested for diesel theft

Fuel prices are on the way down locally, according to authorities.

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office said that wasn’t enough for a 62-year-old Houma man.

TPSO spokesman Maj. Malcolm Wolfe said that Anthony Theriot, of 500 Angelle Drive, was issued a summons for theft of diesel.

Authorities say the enforcement was a result of a month-long investigation that determined that the suspect had allegedly been stealing diesel from his employer, Offshore Specialties.

Wolfe said during the investigation, it was discovered that Theriot was taking the fuel from the company’s work yard in Dularge and using it for personal gain.

Investigators said they were able to observe the suspect removing the diesel from a work truck and transferring it into his personal truck .

Initial contact was made with Theriot on May 8, during which a summons was issued for the suspect to appear in court on June 15. During that court date, Theriot’s charge was amended to a felony. He was booked for his violations and has since posted a $1,000 bond.

 

2 arrested for residential burglary

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Vernon Bourgeois announced last Tuesday that two Houma men have been arrested for their alleged role in a residential burglary on the 3600 block of Friendswood Drive in Houma.

TPSO spokesman Maj. Malcolm Wolfe said authorities responded to that location and found an open window in the rear of the residence on the property.

The caller informed TPSO communications that the suspects entered the residence and had not yet exited.

Wolfe said deputies then entered the home and searched the interior of the residence and located two suspects inside.

Wolfe said authorities located Omar Asante Austin, 18, of 46 Killarney Loop, and Randy James Wallace, 17, of 3746 Thomas Drive, and took them into custody for questioning.

Following questioning each man was charged with simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling.

Both men remain in jail in lieu of a $20,000 bond as of press time.

 

Houma man charged in home burglary

Trey Wesley Billiot, 18, of 114 Gustav Court, Houma, was charged with simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling in connection with an incident on April 18, authorities said.

Terrebonne sheriff’s deputies were called to the 9400 block of Main Street in Houma in April where guns, jewelry, binoculars and money had been stolen. Fingerprints collected at the scene led detectives to Billiot. Tips from the public later confirmed Billiot’s involvement in the crime, according to sheriff’s office spokesman Maj. Malcolm Wolfe.

Billiot was arrested last week. His bond is set at $25,000, and his arraignment date is July 26.

Anyone with information regarding the case is asked to call the TPSO detective bureau at (985) 876-2500.

Wolfe said the case remains under investigation and more arrests are expected.

Raceland fugitive arrested after 3 years on the run

It took nearly 900 days, but the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office finally got their man – an alleged criminal they believe is a major player on the local drug scene.

Lafourche Sheriff Craig Webre announced last Tuesday that Andrew Washington, 26, of 2049 La. Highway 182, Raceland, had turned himself into authorities for a slew of drug-related charges.

Washington had been on the run since Sept. 2009 when he failed to appear in court for sentencing for his charges, which include possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of Boldenone Undecylenate and possession of Stanozolol.

Eight months after fleeing the court date, LPSO spokesman Brennan Matherne said, authorities located the suspect driving along La. Highway 182 in Raceland.

After a pursuit that exceeded speeds of 100 mph, Matherne said Washington eventually eluded officers on foot.

Because of that chase, the charges of aggravated flight from an officer and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle were added to his charges, as well as two counts of resisting an officer.

Matherne said patrol deputies made contact with Washington last Tuesday and arrested him without incident.

He has been booked on all of the above charges and remains in jail in lieu of a $187,000 bond.

 

3rd person arrested in May drive-by shooting

Lafourche sheriff’s detectives arrested Dominque Beamon, 23, of 1604 Ledet St., Thibodaux, in connection with the May 15 drive-by shooting on Primrose Drive, authorities said.

Sheriff’s office spokesman Brennan Matherne said Beamon is believed to have been the shooter that night.

Charged earlier this month for the role in the shooting were Jessie Andre, 20, of 2467 Pineridge St., and Daymin Benoit, 17, of 106 St. Peter St. Both women were released from jail after posting $50,000 bond, which was set by District Judge F. Hugh Larose.

Authorities said the trio traveled to Primrose Street after they decided to “shoot up” Benoit’s ex-boyfriend’s house. Beamon allegedly fired to rounds into the side of the home, according to spokesman Matherne. The rounds penetrated the exterior walls, but only one bullet actually reached the interior of the dwelling. Matherne said no one was hurt in the shooting.

Beamon was arrested without incident. He is charged with assault by drive-by shooting and aggravated criminal damage to property. Judge Larose set his bond at $100,000.

 

Deceased man had meth in his system, autopsy shows

A 41-year-old man who died at east Houma’s Walmart earlier this month while being detained by Houma Police officers had an undetermined amount of methamphetamine in his system, according to an autopsy, investigators said.

Randolph Bonvillian Jr., 8518 Main St., Houma, was pronounced dead at the scene after three police officers “were able to subdue” an allegedly belligerent Bonvillian.

The cause of death has not yet been released, according to authorities with the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, which is conducting the investigation.

A forensic pathologist with the Jefferson Parish Forensic Center performed the autopsy last Monday, authorities reported.

Three HPD officers were placed on administrative leave pending the investigation’s outcome, per the department’s policy, HPD Chief Todd Duplantis announced.

One of the officers was working extra-duty detail at Walmart on June 9 and was alerted to Bonvillian screaming while inside the store at about 11:53 p.m., Duplantis said. The officer approached the subject, who “then became belligerent and began fighting with the officer,” Duplantis said.

The officer called for assistance via his police radio, the chief said.

Backup officers arrived and subdued Bonvillian, who became unresponsive, according to HPD. Officers administered CPR and Acadian Ambulance was called, the chief said.

Three officers were injured in the scuffle, and two remain under doctors’ care, Terrebonne Sheriff Vernon Bourgeois said.

Authorities have yet to release the quantity of methamphetamine found in Bonvillian’s system.

The investigation is expected to continue through this week, Bourgeois said, and the sheriff’s office has consulted with the Terrebonne Parish District Attorney’s Office.

Bonvillian had an outstanding warrant for his arrest through district court for “harassing phone calls,” Duplantis said.

Anyone with information is asked to call TPSO at (985) 876-2500 or Bayou Region Crime Stoppers at 1-800-743-7433.