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• Man found guilty in deaths of mother, son

  May 23, 2012 9:00 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Baton Rouge man has been convicted of manslaughter in the AK-47 assault rifle shooting deaths of a mother and her son outside their Baton Rouge home in 2009. The Advocate reports an East Baton Rouge Parish jury of nine women and three men deliberated... more »

• Man found guilty in wife's death

  May 18, 2012 9:09 AM

  ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) - A Rapides Parish jury has convicted a Tioga man of second-degree murder of his wife, who was shot to death in May 2010. The Town Talk reports the jury of nine women and three men deliberated 50 minutes before finding Joseph Anton Chehardy Jr. guilty. Authorities... more »

• Man guilty of negligent homicide in son's death

  May 16, 2012 9:09 AM

  MONROE, La. (AP) - A West Monroe man has been convicted of negligent homicide in the death of his 2-month-old son, who was killed in June 2009. After about five hours of deliberation on Tuesday, The News-Star reports the jury came back with the guilty verdict that could put Chase... more »

• Couple pleads guilty in toddler's death

  May 11, 2012 9:08 AM

  PORT ALLEN, La. (AP) - A couple scheduled to stand trial in the 2007 fatal beating of the woman's 16-month-old daughter have pleaded guilty to lesser charges. A West Baton Rouge Parish grand jury indicted Jeremy Jordan and Shaelsie Jason in November 2010 on counts of principal to second-degree murder... more »

• La. man pleads guilty to odometer tampering

  May 4, 2012 8:16 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Baton Rouge man has pleaded guilty to tampering with the odometers of high-mileage vehicles he purchased online and from wholesale automobile auctions in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Beau Michael Guidry, owner of Affordable Imports in Denham Springs, pleaded guilty Thursday to three counts of... more »

• Miss. woman pleads guilty to using bogus checks

  May 3, 2012 5:59 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Mississippi woman has pleaded guilty in New Orleans to using counterfeit bank checks to purchase vehicles from several dealerships in southeast Louisiana. Twenty-six-year-old Gina Seawright, of Bay St. Louis, Miss., faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine following her... more »

• Ex-postal worker pleads guilty to theft

  May 2, 2012 8:04 AM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A former U.S. Postal Service worker has pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing money from the Jefferson Street Post Office in Lafayette. Between July 2009 and February 2010, court documents say Natalie Thomas stole between $1,000 and $17,662 while working at a retail service window.... more »

• Man found guilty of federal drug counts

  April 26, 2012 9:00 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A man facing murder charges in Baton Rouge state court has been found guilty in federal court on charges that he illegally possessed drugs and pistols in a home that also contained $19,000 in cash. The Advocate reports Reginald G. Youngblood remains in custody after... more »

• Guilty plea in Thibodaux tire slashing case

  April 19, 2012 9:31 AM

  THIBODAUX, La. (AP) - One of the men accused of slashing the tires of Thibodaux Police vehicles parked outside the department last year has pleaded guilty. The Daily Comet reports that Jonathan Watkins pleaded guilty to 11 counts of property damage and will serve two years in jail. The plea... more »

• 4 plead guilty in plot to defraud company

  April 11, 2012 7:20 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Four men have pleaded guilty in New Orleans in a plot to fraudulently bill an oil industry service company. Three of the defendants - Larry Collins, of Golden Meadow, Richard Autin, of Houma, and Kevin Larousse, of Hattiesburg, Miss. - face prison terms of up to... more »

• Woman pleads guilty to vehicular homicide

  April 10, 2012 9:48 AM

  ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) - A 39-year-old Pineville woman has pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide in the October 2011 death of a prison inmate on work detail. The Town Talk reports Kellie Geisel also pleaded guilty to vehicular negligent injury on Monday. She will be sentenced April 27 by state district... more »

• Rig manager pleads guilty to lying about tests

  April 6, 2012 10:43 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Mississippi man who worked as manager on a drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico has pleaded guilty to lying about testing on a key safety device. Forty-nine-year-old Donald Hudson, of Walnut Grove, Miss., faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison following his... more »

• Man found guilty in death

  April 2, 2012 8:35 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Jurors deliberated less than an hour before unanimously finding Franklin Meredith Jr. guilty in the 2010 rape and murder of a 29-year-old Zachary woman whose body was found in Monte Sano Bayou. The Advocate reports an East Baton Rouge Parish jury of five women and... more »

• La. company pleads guilty in pollution probe

  March 29, 2012 9:44 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Houma company has pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Water Act in a pollution case investigated by state and federal authorities. CTCO Shipyard of Louisiana LLC faces a maximum fine of $500,000 and up to five years of probation following its guilty plea Tuesday. Its... more »

• Jury finds man guilty of manslaughter

  March 23, 2012 9:51 AM

  LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) - A Calcasieu Parish jury has found David A. Nelson guilty of manslaughter, a lesser offense than the one he was charged with. The American Press reports Nelson, originally charged with second-degree murder, threw the punch that fatally injured 19-year-old Chad Heath on March 28, 2009,... more »

• Man pleads guilty to theft from naval base store

  March 23, 2012 6:25 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Covington man has pleaded guilty to a charge he embezzled roughly $50,000 from a store on the Naval Support Activity base in New Orleans. Forty-year-old Gary Massie faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine following his guilty plea Thursday... more »

• Developer pleads guilty to bank fraud conspiracy

  March 16, 2012 8:56 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Federal prosecutors say a Covington developer has admitted conspiring to get mortgages for bad loan risks. They say the plot was uncovered during investigation of the federal bank bailout program. U.S. Attorney Jim Letten says 43-year-old Troy Fouquet pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of conspiracy... more »

• Biodiesel maker pleads guilty to illegal dumping

  March 14, 2012 10:21 AM

  PLAQUEMINE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality says a 56-year-old man who made biodiesel at his home in Iberville Parish has pleaded guilty to illegally dumping pollutants into a canal behind his home. DEQ says Tommy M. Francise pleaded guilty in state court this week to dumping... more »

• N.O. woman pleads guilty in gun smuggling probe

  March 9, 2012 11:03 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A New Orleans woman has pleaded guilty to making false statements to firearms dealers in purchasing six guns. Twenty-eight-year-old Irna Lacayo faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for each of the four counts to which she pleaded guilty on... more »

• Ship operator pleads guilty in pollution probe

  March 9, 2012 11:01 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The operator of a cargo ship has pleaded guilty in New Orleans to violating federal pollution laws and obstruction of justice. A plea agreement entered Thursday calls for Athens, Greece-based Odysea Carriers to pay a $1.2 million criminal penalty. A community service organization in Louisiana would... more »

• Pineville man pleads guilty to burning US flags

  March 6, 2012 7:12 AM

  ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) - A 26-year-old Pineville man has pleaded guilty to three counts of simple arson for burning U.S. flags last year in Alexandria The Town Talk reports the defendant, Ahmed Cathy Khaled, told the judge that he shouldn't have listened to the voices in his head brought on... more »

• La. tax preparer pleads guilty to tax evasion

  February 10, 2012 9:12 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Louisiana tax preparer has pleaded guilty to preparing and filing false income tax returns for his customers. Sixty-year-old James W. Nelson, of LaPlace, also pleaded guilty Thursday to a charge he failed to pay more than $21,000 in taxes on his own income. Federal prosecutors... more »

• La. man pleads guilty to stealing $42K in benefits

  February 9, 2012 9:33 AM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - An Opelousas man has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining disability insurance benefits from the Social Security Administration. Forty-six-year-old Kevin V. Leday faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison following his guilty plea Wednesday in Lafayette to theft and fraud charges. Federal prosecutors say Leday... more »

• 2 women plead guilty in health care fraud case

  January 25, 2012 10:52 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Two Pineville women have pleaded guilty to federal charges of health care fraud. Forty-seven-year-old Carla Clark and 57-year-old Lillie Lavan enter that pleas Monday before Senior U.S. District Court Judge Frank J. Polozola. The women were accused of creating false and misleading medical records and... more »

• La. woman pleads guilty to stealing from employer

  January 25, 2012 9:16 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Baton Rouge woman who worked as a bookkeeper for a real estate development firm has pleaded guilty to a charge she embezzled nearly $300,000 from the firm and its owner. Susan Fonte faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison following her guilty plea... more »

• Lafayette man found guilty in slaying

  January 23, 2012 10:46 AM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A Lafayette Parish jury has found Jamal James Carmouche guilty of manslaughter in the September 2010 shooting death of Markus Despanie. The jury deliberated for about three hours Friday before returning an 11-1 verdict in favor of the reduced charge of manslaughter Prosecutor Pat Magee said... more »

• Peeping Tom pleads guilty to obscenity charge

  January 13, 2012 11:05 AM

  PORT ALLEN, La. (AP) - A 24-year-old Brusly man has pleaded guilty to one count of obscenity after authorities caught him on camera peeking into his 16-year-old neighbor's bedroom window. The Advocate reports Charles Kazmir entered his plea Thursday. Col. Richie Johnson, of the West Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office, says... more »

• Hammond man pleads guilty to gambling charge

  January 13, 2012 10:24 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Hammond, La., man has pleaded guilty to operating an illegal sports betting business and tax evasion. Federal prosecutors say 51-year-old Joseph A. Schillace IV has agreed as part of his guilty plea Thursday to pay more than $464,000 in restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.... more »

• Tax Preparer Pleads Guilty in Tax Fraud Case

  October 15, 2011 10:37 AM

  SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - A Dallas woman who owned a Shreveport tax preparing service has pleaded guilty to filing fraudulent claims for federal income tax refunds. Forty-one-year-old Letitia C. Scott faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine following her guilty plea Friday to one... more »

• Mississippi Man Pleads Guilty to Rape of Girl

  October 5, 2011 12:27 PM

  BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss (AP) - After she was kidnapped from her home in Slidell, La., driven across the state line into Mississippi, raped on the side of the road then left behind at a gas station, a stranded 11-year-old girl was approached by yet another man. Sean Robertson, 21,... more »

• Ex-politician guilty in federal corruption retrial

  July 26, 2011 6:33 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Federal jurors on Monday convicted a former New Orleans City Council member and state representative of conspiring with allies and family members of an ex-congressman to loot more than $1 million from charities run with taxpayer money. The conviction of 56-year-old Renee Gill Pratt closed a... more »

• Ohio man pleads guilty in slayings of 3

  April 14, 2011 10:35 AM

  BELLEFONTAINE, Ohio (AP) - An Ohio man has pleaded guilty in a plea deal to avoid the death penalty in the slayings of his girlfriend's adult daughter and an elderly couple. Samuel K. Littleton II pleaded guilty on Thursday to three counts of aggravated murder and three counts of abuse... more »

• Toussaint Guilty Verdict Play Video

  April 8, 2011 7:40 PM

  A jury in Evangeline Parish finds 34 year old Ordesto Toussaint guilty of 2nd degree murder. He was charged with three counts: 2nd degree murder, theft of a vehicle and simple arson. The charges were all in connection with the murder of 18 year old Elizabeth Fontenot. She was killed... more »

• Man pleads guilty to indecent behavior with kids

  March 31, 2011 10:54 AM

  LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) - A 41-year-old Sulphur man who allegedly had inappropriate sexual contact with children attending church-related functions at his home has been sentenced to prison. The American Press reports that Michael Anthony Thibodeaux pleaded guilty Wednesday to two counts of indecent behavior with juveniles. One of the... more »

• Man Pleads Guilty in Restaurant Killing

  March 27, 2011 11:32 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - In the midst of jury selection, a Baton Rouge man has pleaded guilty in a 2006 shooting death of a server at a restaurant. Tracy Young, 33, admitted Friday to fatally shooting Aaron Arnold, an Oliver Garden restaurant server. In exchange for pleading guilty, Young... more »

• Former corrections officer guilty of bribery

  March 24, 2011 5:46 AM

  ALEXANDRIA, La (AP) - A former corrections officer at the federal penitentiary in Pollock has pleaded guilty to bribery and providing prison contraband. Twenty-six-year-old Derrick Stevenson of Moreauville entered his plea on Wednesday. According to testimony at the hearing, Stevenson admitted providing tobacco to a prison inmate for $1,000. Stevenson... more »

• Ex-bookkeeper pleads guilty to stealing $1.7M

  March 24, 2011 5:40 AM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A former bookkeeper for two Louisiana companies has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than $1.7 million from her employers. Federal prosecutors said 32-year-old Danielle Bodin Guidroz, of Youngsville, used money she stole from Holloway Drilling Equipment Inc. and Holloway Rentals Inc. to open a "ladies boutique"... more »

• La. man pleads guilty to bribery plot

  February 18, 2011 9:25 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Baton Rouge man has pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe a former New Orleans city official in a kickback scheme involving contracts for the city's crime surveillance program. Prosecutors say 51-year-old Dwaine Hodges helped a businessman, Mark St. Pierre, funnel payoffs to Anthony Jones, who... more »

• Ball Mayor, Town Clerk Plead Guilty

  February 6, 2011 1:13 PM

  ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) - Two top officials of the Louisiana town of Ball, including the mayor, have pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the Federal Emergency Management Agency following Hurricane Gustav in 2008. Mayor Roy Hebron and town clerk Brenda Kimball entered the pleas Saturday in federal court in Alexandria.... more »

• Former Baton Rouge Worker Sentenced for Theft

  February 1, 2011 8:23 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A former Baton Rouge City Constable's Office employee has admitted to stealing nearly $30,000 that was paid to the office's garnishment department. 37-year-old Catina Hayman of Zachary pleaded guilty Monday to one count each of felony theft and malfeasance. State District Judge Lou Daniel gave... more »

• Man pleads guilty to fraud related to oil spill

  January 24, 2011 5:54 AM

  JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Federal authorities say a Jackson man has pleaded guilty to mail fraud related to a scheme to collect $90,000 in claims related to the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill. The U.S. attorney's office in Jackson said 39-year-old Dennis L. Moore pleaded guilty in federal court... more »

• La. man pleads guilty to selling fake Saints gear

  December 22, 2010 6:33 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Kenner man has pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit New Orleans Saints jerseys at his New Orleans store. Federal agents seized around 58 counterfeit Saints jerseys from 50-year-old Bakir Rajkotwala's store, Big Easy Gifts, on Oct. 27. Prosecutors said the jerseys were worth about $3,500. Rajkotwala... more »

• Details of Quadruple Slaying

  November 10, 2010 11:46 AM

  LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) - Lee Roy Williams, 51, pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder Tuesday, hours after a Calcasieu Parish grand jury indicted him on the charges. State District Judge Kent Savoie imposed four consecutive life sentences, a term agreed to by prosecutors and Williams' defense counsel.... more »

• Williams Pleads Guilty to Four Counts of Murder Play Video

  November 9, 2010 7:10 PM

  Major developments today in the Labor Day quadruple murder out of Lake Charles. Just two-and-a-half months after the brutal killings... the suspect pleads guilty and gets his sentence. This case moved quickly because the families and all parties involved agreed life in prison with no chance of parole was a... more »

• Former Vinton Police Officer Enters Guilty Plea

  November 9, 2010 12:03 PM

  LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) - A former Vinton assistant police chief has pleaded guilty to malfeasance. Chad Porterfield, 35, of Vinton, entered his plea Monday in Lake Charles. Porterfield's sentencing was set for July 6. He faces up to five years in prison. As part of a plea agreement, a... more »

• Former Avoyelles Parish sheriff, others acquitted

  November 3, 2010 9:42 PM

  ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) - Former Avoyelles Parish Sheriff Bill Belt, his wife and his sister have been acquitted of all counts in their federal conspiracy trial. Belt, his wife, Tracy and his sister, Julie Bernard, were found not guilty Wednesday afternoon of alleged crimes related to the operation of a... more »

• Man Pleads Guilty in Louisiana Police Shooting

  November 3, 2010 8:43 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A 20-year-old man has pleaded guilty in the shooting injury last November of a Baton Rouge police officer working a private security detail. State District Judge Lou Daniel sentenced John L. Butler Tuesday to two years in prison, to be followed by four years of... more »

• Ex-New Orleans tech chief pleads guilty

  November 1, 2010 9:30 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The former technology chief for the City of New Orleans pleaded guilty Monday in a fraud scheme that prosecutors said brought him more than $860,000 in bribes and kickbacks, paid by a businessman to whom he allegedly steered $4 million in city contracts. Greg Meffert, at... more »

• Louisiana Man Pleads not Guilty in Infant Son's Death

  October 28, 2010 8:44 AM

  MONROE, La. (AP) - A 38-year-old West Monroe man has pleaded not guilty in the Sept. 16 death of his infant son. James Edward "Juicy" Clampit, who was charged with one count of negligent homicide, entered his plea on Wednesday. Police say the 11-month-old boy's death was attributed to a... more »

• Man pleads guilty in human trafficking case

  October 20, 2010 10:03 PM

  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - A man from Uzbekistan who was accused of running a 14-state human trafficking ring in Kansas City has pleaded guilty to four charges under a plea agreement in which he will serve at least 10 years in federal prison. Abrorkhodja Askarkhodjaev, 31, was facing more... more »

• 3 men plead guilty to beating calf to death

  October 20, 2010 9:27 PM

  COVINGTON, La. (AP) - Three men have pleaded guilty to stealing a newborn calf and beating it to death after the New Orleans Saints lost to the Dallas Cowboys last year. According to Wednesday's Times-Picayune, Dwayne J. Jenkins, David J. LeBlanc Jr. and Carnie B. Smith stole the 3-day-old calf... more »

• Flight Attendant in Meltdown Pleads Guilty

  October 19, 2010 10:35 AM

  NEW YORK (AP) - The former flight attendant whose meltdown landed him in court in New York City has pleaded guilty to attempted criminal mischief and will undergo counseling. Steven Slater appeared in court Tuesday. He will undergo at least a year of counseling and substance-abuse treatment. He will get... more »

• La. doctor, company owner plead guilty to fraud

  October 4, 2010 10:03 PM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A New Orleans doctor and the owner of a medical equipment company have pleaded guilty to participating in a scheme to submit more than $775,000 in fraudulent Medicare claims. Dr. Dahlia Kirkpatrick and Emmanuel Komandu, owner of Baker-based Alpha Medical Solutions Inc., each face maximum... more »

• Man Pleads Guilty to 2009 Beating Death

  September 28, 2010 8:53 AM

  LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) - A 27-year-old Lake Charles man has pleaded guilty to beating another man to death in 2009. Phillips Cooks faces up to 40 years in prison on a charge of manslaughter. Judge Kent Savoie ordered the probation and parole office on Monday to prepare a presentencing... more »

• Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Chat with Teens

  September 28, 2010 8:00 AM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - Prosecutors say 21-year-old Daniel James Broussard has pleaded guilty in federal court to having used the Internet and his cell phone to have sexual chats with four teenage girls from the Lafayette area. As part of a plea deal, Broussard pleaded guilty Monday to two counts... more »

• Man Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Homicide

  September 23, 2010 7:08 AM

  VIDALIA, La. - The driver of a vehicle that struck and killed Concordia Parish sheriff's deputy has pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide. The Natchez Democrat reports 31-year-old Joseph Drummer entered his plea Wednesday and was sentenced to 10 years of hard labor. Drummer had previously pleaded not guilty to the... more »

• Teen accused of Killing His Parents Pleads Guilty by Reason of Insanity

  September 22, 2010 12:21 PM

  MONROE, La. (AP) - A 15-year-old West Ouachita High School student indicted in the deaths of his parents has pleaded of not guilty by reason of insanity. The News-Star reports the teenager entered his plea Wednesday before state District Judge Daniel Ellender in Monroe. The teen is accused of killing... more »

• Man pleads guilty in '90 rape, killing

  September 22, 2010 9:45 AM

  GONZALES, La. (AP) - A 43-year-old man arrested nearly four years ago after DNA tied him to the unsolved rape and slaying of a Dutchtown woman in 1990 has pleaded guilty and identified a second man as the person who killed the victim. Ascension Parish prosecutors say Herman Frazier pleaded... more »

• Tug co. in Mississippi River crash pleads guilty

  September 8, 2010 9:46 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A company whose towboat was involved in a crash with a tanker that caused a major oil spill on the Mississippi River two years ago pleaded guilty Wednesday to operating vessels with unqualified and overworked captains. DRD Towing Co., a company based a few miles upriver... more »

• Roger Clemens Pleads Not Guilty

  August 30, 2010 3:35 PM

  WASHINGTON (AP) - Seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens pleaded not guilty Monday to charges of lying to Congress about whether he used steroids or human growth hormone. When asked for a plea by U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton, the retired Major League Baseball pitcher said in a clear voice:... more »

• Louisiana man guilty in deaths of Texas family

  August 26, 2010 9:49 PM

  McKINNEY, Texas (AP) - A jury has convicted a Louisiana man on five counts of manslaughter in the 2008 deaths of a Texas family headed home from church. David Calhoun Jones of Metarie, La., was found guilty Thursday in the Dallas suburb of McKinney. He faces up to 20 years... more »

• Pineville Woman Pleads Guilty to Mail Fraud

  August 26, 2010 8:45 AM

  ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) - A Pineville woman has pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud in a case that involved using someone else's identity to steal money by opening accounts at various banks and credit card companies. The Town Talk reports that 36-year-old Lanetta Littleton faces... more »

• State worker pleads guilty in disaster food case

  August 19, 2010 9:33 PM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A 50-year-old woman accused of fraudulently obtaining and using disaster in a lot of trouble. Conand friends after hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike, has pleaded guilty to two counts of theft of government money. Teresa Hawkins, of Baldwin, is the former parish manager of the... more »

• New not guilty pleas in post-Katrina case

  August 19, 2010 9:24 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Five current and former New Orleans police officers have pleaded not guilty to a new indictment by a federal grand jury earlier this month. The Times-Picayune reports the officers entered their new pleas on Thursday. The new indictment altered only one charge against former officer David... more »

• Woman Found Guilty in Death of Boyfriend

  August 19, 2010 9:20 AM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A jury has found a 47-year-old Lafayette woman guilty of the April 2009 second-degree murder of her live-in boyfriend. Mary Henderson Trahan was found guilty Wednesday in the April 20 shooting death of 32-year-old George Barbu. Assistant District Attorney Daniel M. Landry III said Trahan shot... more »

• Man Pleads Guilty to ID Theft

  August 18, 2010 7:34 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A man alleged to have stolen $150,000 while using the credit information of at least 30 current or retired Baton Rouge police officers has pleaded guilty to aggravated identity theft. In a plea agreement with federal prosecutors, 48-year-old Alton K. Davis, of Baton Rouge, admitted... more »

• Slaying Suspect Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter

  August 18, 2010 7:02 AM

  ALEXANDRIA, La. (AP) - A 19-year-old man accused of killing another Alexandria resident last year has pleaded guilty to manslaughter before his trial was scheduled to begin. Launey Johnson of Alexandria was facing a second-degree murder charge and two counts of attempted second-degree murder before prosecutors accepted a plea on... more »

• 2 Enter Not Guilty Pleas in Sex Cases

  August 17, 2010 8:53 AM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - Two people recently indicted in unrelated federal child-sex cases have pleaded not guilty in Lafayette federal court. Gueydan Fire Chief Lindsey Troy LeBlanc pleaded innocent Monday to two counts of attempting to receive child pornography and one count of attempting to coerce a minor to engage... more »

• 4 Plead Guilty in Disaster Food Stamp Cases

  August 17, 2010 7:19 AM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) -Four former state employees have pleaded guilty in federal court to charges related to disaster food stamp fraud. U.S. District Judge Richard Haik accepted guilty pleas Monday from 46-year-old Angela Gray of New Iberia; 46-year-old Edie Harrison of New Iberia; 54-year-old Paula Bell of Baldwin; and 41-year-old... more »

• Rapper Juvenile pleads guilty in La. drug case

  August 13, 2010 9:55 PM

  CHALMETTE, La. (AP) - New Orleans rapper Juvenile has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge in Louisiana. The St. Bernard Parish sheriff's office says the 34-year-old, whose real name is Terius Gray, entered the plea Thursday. The rapper and an aquaintance were arrested Feb. 25. He received a... more »

• Juvenile has Pleaded Guilty to a Misdemeanor Marijuana Possession

  August 13, 2010 5:03 PM

  CHALMETTE, La. (AP) - Rap artist Juvenile has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor marijuana possession charge stemming from his February arrest in St. Bernard Parish. The parish sheriff's office said Friday that Juvenile, whose real name is Terius Gray, entered the plea Thursday before District Judge Manny Fernandez. The judge... more »

• Man Accused of Shooting at People Pleads Not Guilty

  August 12, 2010 5:21 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Mississippi man who federal prosecutors say fired a shotgun at three black men in a racially-motivated attack following Hurricane Katrina has pleaded not guilty to all five counts he faces. Roland Bourgeois Jr., a 47-year-old white man from Columbia, Miss., is accused of opening fire... more »

• LA Company Pleaded Guilty to Discharging Waste Oil

  July 30, 2010 4:25 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Justice Department says a Louisiana company has pleaded guilty to discharging waste oil from one of its vessels on the high seas. Offshore Vessels LLC entered the plea Friday in U.S. District Court in New Orleans. Federal prosecutors say the company admitted that crew members... more »

• White Castle Police Chief Pleads Not Guilty

  July 22, 2010 8:50 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - White Castle Police Chief Mario D. Brown has pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge to 11 criminal charges including racketeering, bribery and wire fraud. A federal indictment issued July 7 alleges that Brown provided political favors for businessmen promoting Cifer 5000,... more »

• Former AES Counselor Pleads Guilty by Reason of Insanity

  July 20, 2010 2:03 PM

  UPDATE-New information on the sex scandal at Ascension Episcopal School. DR. Allison Hargrave, former counselor, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Hargrave is charged with having sex with a 14-year old student she counseled . Court documents say Hargrave's attorney plans to introduce expert evidence that Hargrave has... more »

• 3 Officers Plead Not Guilty in Katrina Shootings

  July 14, 2010 8:08 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Three police officers charged in the killing of two unarmed residents on a New Orleans bridge after Hurricane Katrina and a cover-up that followed pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. Sgts. Robert Gisevius and Kenneth Bowen and Officer Anthony Villavaso stood before a federal magistrate in green... more »

• Officers Charged In Shooting Deaths On Danziger Bridge Pleaded Not Guilty

  July 14, 2010 1:19 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Three of the officers charged in the shooting deaths of two unarmed residents on the Danziger Bridge in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath have entered not guilty pleas. Sgts. Robert Gisevius and Kenneth Bowen and officer Anthony Villavaso made their initial court appearances in New Orleans on Wednesday.... more »

• "Barefoot Bandit" Pleads Guilty

  July 13, 2010 1:11 PM

  NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) - The teenage thief dubbed the "Barefoot Bandit" by police has pleaded guilty to a minor offense in the Bahamas and is expected to be deported soon to the United States. Colton Harris-Moore pleaded guilty to illegal landing in his first court appearance in Nassau on Tuesday.... more »

• Man Pleads Not Guilty In Elizabeth Fontenot Death

  July 8, 2010 6:44 PM

  In Evangeline Parish a man accused of murdering a Ville Platte teen says he's not guilty. 34-year old Ordesto Toussant was arraigned today for the murder of 18-year old Elizabeth Fontenot. The district attorney told us he confessed to the crime and his DNA was found on the... more »

• Larry Caillier II Pleads Guilty To Receipt of Child Ponography

  July 6, 2010 6:02 PM

  Larry Caillier, II, 32, of Opelousas, pled guilty today to a one count of receipt of child pornography, United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced today. He will be scheduled for sentencing at a later date. Caillier was indicted in March of this year on three-counts, production of child pornography,... more »

• Slidell Woman Pleads Guilty to Katrina Fraud

  July 2, 2010 6:32 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Slidell woman has pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining disaster aid from the American Red Cross in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath. Federal prosecutors said 27-year-old Sylvia Barnes submitted four applications for assistance and received $4,695 when the Red Cross limited awards to a one-time payment of up... more »

• Rapper Pleads Not Guilty to Murder Charge

  June 29, 2010 8:38 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Baton Rouge rapper Torrence "Lil Boosie" Hatch has pleaded not guilty to several charges including first-degree murder. Hatch appeared Monday before state District Judge Mike Erwin. Hatch's attorney, Marcus Allen, spoke after the hearing and said Hatch is "absolutely not guilty." Hatch is accused of... more »

• Man Charged With Bogus FEMA Claims Pleads Guilty

  June 28, 2010 8:15 PM

  ATLANTA (AP) - A Georgia man pleaded guilty Monday to charges that he bilked the government out of more than $30,000 by claiming he suffered through three devastating Gulf Coast hurricanes, a tornado in Indiana and flooding in New Hampshire - all while living in Atlanta. Prosecutors charged Desima James,... more »

• Woman Pleads Guilty to Red Cross Fraud

  May 27, 2010 7:51 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A 27-year-old Hammond woman has pleaded guilty in federal court to defrauding the American Red Cross. Keyona Dalton pleaded guilty to making fraudulent applications for financial assistance during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. According to court documents, the Red Cross made disaster assistance money of up... more »

• Phone Tampering Activist Pleads Guilty

  May 26, 2010 12:15 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Four conservative activists accused of trying to tamper with the phones in Sen. Mary Landrieu's office pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of entering federal property under false pretenses. James O'Keefe, 25, famous for wearing a pimp costume in a video that embarrassed the ACORN community organizing... more »

• Contractor Pleads Guilty to Fraud Charges

  May 20, 2010 9:51 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A 41-year-old New Orleans contractor charged with two counts of felony theft for work he didn't do for Hurricane Katrina victims pleaded guilty and has been sentenced to 10 years on each count. Kevin Meadows was also ordered to pay $90,000 in restitution during Wednesday's plea... more »

• Man Pleads Guilty in Burger King Murder

  May 17, 2010 5:16 PM

  UPDATE: Nine-teen year old Edward Zeno has pleaded guilty in the shooting death of a Burger King employee ..... It happened in November of 2008 when Zeno and some friends ordered food at the drive-thru window of a Burger King in a stolen vehicle.... Zeno and Burger King manager James... more »

• Franklin Man Guilty of Aggravated Second Degree Battery

  May 13, 2010 6:20 PM

  At 5:30 P.M. last night in Franklin, a jury returned a unanimous verdict finding Jacob Zirlott, (age 26 of Franklin) guilty as charged of Aggravated Second Degree Battery. On December 27, 2006, in Centerville, without provocation, Zirlott hit Stephen Charpentier in the face with a heavy object breaking bones in... more »

• Ex-state Worker Pleads Guilty

  May 12, 2010 10:43 AM

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A former state social service worker has pleaded guilty in connection with a federal food stamp fraud investigation that has resulted in charges against 13 people. Andrea Broussard admitted Wednesday in Lafayette to fraudulently obtaining $345 in federal disaster assistance in 2005 after hurricanes Katrina and... more »

• 10th Defendant Pleads Guilty in Bribe Case

  May 12, 2010 10:37 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A 61-year-old man has admitted to his role in a bribery scheme involving Baton Rouge City Court, bringing to 10 the number of people who have pleaded guilty in the case. Robert Stevens pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to a charge of conspiracy in... more »

• Death Threats to Obama

  May 12, 2010 7:27 AM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A 47-year-old New Orleans man has been sentenced for making death threats against President Obama. U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey on Tuesday sentenced John Turnpaugh to three years in prison for that charge and another five years for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute it... more »

• Man Pleads Guilty to Disposal of Hazardous Waste

  May 7, 2010 9:15 AM

  BATON ROUGE, La. - A 41-year-old man has pleaded guilty in state court to illegally disposing of hazardous waste. Authorities say Robert Beam, the former owner of Lake Charles-based Chrome Doctor and Chrome Technology, entered the plea to unlawful disposal of hazardous waste. more »

• UPDATE: Doug Lacassin Found Guilty

  April 22, 2010 3:51 PM

  UPDATE: Doug Lacassin was found guilty today for 1 count of indecent behavior with a juvenile. Lacassin is the husband of Krotz Springs Police Chief, Susie Lacassin. The 2 trial-day was held in Opelousas. Five women, all relatives of Lacassin testified against him in court yesterday. Sentencing will be held... more »

• 3rd Ex-Officer Pleads Guilty In Danziger Bridge Shootings

  April 7, 2010 4:59 PM

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A former New Orleans police officer has told authorities he saw a fellow officer shoot and kick unarmed, wounded civilians in a deadly incident on a bridge in Hurricane Katrina's aftermath. The former officer, Michael Hunter, pleaded guilty Wednesday to helping cover up the shootings on... more »

• Lafayette Man Pleads Guilty To Misapplication Of Bank Funds

  March 30, 2010 5:33 PM

  Christopher P. Smith, 30, of Lafayette, La., pleaded guilty to one count of misapplication of bank fund. Smith embezzled a total of $231,000.00 from Chase Bank Customers Smith was employed at JP Morgan Chase Bank as a personal banker at Chase Bank's Southpark Branch in Lafayette and was... more »