SERVING ASCENSION, ASSUMPTION & ST. JAMES PARISHES

During the week of October 23-October 27, 2017, the following defendants pled guilty to various charges and were sentenced in the 23rd Judicial District Court, Parishes of Ascension, Assumption, and St. James.

Ascension Parish: 

  1. Carl Bell, 35194 Julien Lane Donaldsonville, LA., age 54, pled guilty to Domestic Abuse Aggravated Assault and was sentenced to 5 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 3 years supervised probation.
  2. Philip Sanders, 1312 Willow St. Gonzales, LA., age 39, pled guilty to Possession or Introduction of Contraband into a Penal Institution (3 counts) and was sentenced to 5 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served on each count. The imposed sentences are to run concurrent with one another.
  3. Johnton Lee Harris, 38285 Evergreen St. Gonzales, LA., age 32, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Domestic Abuse Battery. On the charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, the defendant was sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. This sentence is to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. On the charge of Domestic Abuse Battery, the defendant was sentenced to 6 months in the parish jail with credit for time served. The said sentences are to run concurrent with one another.
  4. On October 25, 2016, Troy Jones, 38466 LA 42 Prairieville, LA., age 50, was found guilty of 2nd Degree Kidnapping and Aggravated Battery. On October 23, 2017, Jones was sentenced on the said charges. On the charge of 2nd Degree Kidnapping, the defendant was sentenced to 20 years at hard labor with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. It was ordered that 5 years of this sentence is to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. On the charge of Aggravated Battery, the defendant was sentenced to 5 years at hard labor with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. In addition, the defendant pled guilty to Possession or Introduction of Contraband into a Penal Institution and was sentenced to 5 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. It was ordered that the imposed sentences are to run consecutive to one another.
  5. Benjamin Kestner, 431 E Caldwell St. Gonzales, LA., age 27, pled guilty to False Imprisonment and Simple Battery. The defendant was sentenced to 120 days in the parish jail with credit for time served on each count. The imposed sentences are to run consecutive to one another.
  6. Robert Smith, 1070 Sunshine Dr. Baker, LA., age 44, pled guilty to Issuing Worthless Checks and was sentenced to 3 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.
  7. Richard Miller, 5267 Galaxy Blvd. Darrow, LA., age 62, pled guilty to DWI 4th or Subsequent Offense. Sentencing was deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation.
  8. Alton Vicknair, 42320 Black Bayou Rd. Gonzales, LA., age 49, pled guilty to 2nd Degree Battery and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 2 years supervised probation.  

The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Shawn Bush and Phil Maples. Presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Thomas Kliebert.

Assumption Parish:

  1. Brenda Landry, 103 Keith St. Pierre Part, LA., age 43, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance. The defendant was sentenced to 3 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served on each count, to be suspended, and placed on 3 years supervised probation.
  2. James LeBlanc, 39055 Venus Ave. Darrow, LA., age 39, pled guilty to 2nd Degree Battery and was sentenced to 3 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 18 months supervised probation.  

The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lana Chaney, and presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Alvin Turner Jr.

  1.  On August 30, 2017, Ramiro Bazaldua, 6060 St. Elizabeth St. Paincourtville, LA., age 29, pled guilty to DWI 4th Offense. Sentencing was deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. On October 25, 2017, Judge Verdigets sentenced Bazaldua to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. It was ordered that 3 years of the said sentence are to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. It was further ordered that the remaining 7 years are to be suspended, and upon release, the defendant is to be placed on 5 years supervised probation.
  2. On July 26, 2017, Randy Lee, 105 N Faith St. Morgan City, LA., age 32, pled guilty to Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile. Sentencing was deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. On October 25, 2017, Judge Verdigets sentenced the defendant to 7 years at hard labor with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. It was further ordered that upon release, Lee must register and notify as a sex offender or child predator for a period of 15 years.
  3. Tait Guidry, 167 Texas Gulf Rd. Bourg, LA., age 24, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Dangerous Substance. The defendant was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served on each count, to run concurrent with one another.

The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Thomas Daigle, and presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Jason Verdigets.

 St. James Parish: 

  1. Carlton Vallo, 14449 Black Locust St. Prairieville, LA., age 21, pled guilty to Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms and was sentenced to 3 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 3 years supervised probation.

The above case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Koenig, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Tess Stromberg.