Morgan City woman arrested on forgery, bank fraud charges
(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)
Assumption deputies booked a Morgan City woman who is accused of being one of three people who cashed forged checks at a Pierre Part business.
Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
–Rebecca Marie Freer, 40, Mallard Street, Morgan City, was booked Wednesday on charges of monetary instrument abuse, forgery, access device fraud, bank fraud and identity theft.
On Feb. 9, Assumption Parish Sheriff’s detectives initiated an investigation regarding forged checks cashed at a Pierre Part business.
Detectives learned that in November 2023, three individuals entered the business and cashed forged checks.
Detectives were able to identify the individuals who presented the forged instruments for cashing. One of these individuals was identified as Freer.
On March 16, Freer was arrested by the Morgan City Police Department on local charges there.
Freer was released to the custody of the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday. She was booked pending a bail hearing.
This investigation is ongoing.
Morgan City
Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 63 calls for service over the last 48-hour reporting period and made these arrests:
--Christopher Wayne Allen, 46, Arkansas Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:59 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, theft (under $1,000) and tampering with an electronic meter.
--Charles Joseph Ganaway, 35, Jupiter Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:37 p.m. Thursday on a charge of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).
--Deiondra Devon Joseph, 28, Assumption Street, Napoleonville, was arrested at 2:26 p.m. Wednesday on charges of bank fraud, monetary instrument abuse and attempted theft.
Berwick
Chief David S. Leonard reported this arrest:
--Kayla Bergeron, 35, Berwick was arrested at 11:25 p.m. Wednesday on St. Mary warrants alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to signal, improper lane usage, no seat belt, no driver's license, theft and no headlights.
About 11 p.m. Wednesday, during the course of a traffic stop, Bergeron was identified as a passenger. A warrants check showed that Bergeron had numerous active failure to appear warrants through the St. Mary Parish Sheriffs Office. Bergeron was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department.
St. Mary
Sheriff Gary Driskell reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 34 complaints and made this arrest:
--Jimmy R. Morgan, 31, Leesville, was arrested at 11:35 a.m. Wednesday on a charge of failure to register as a sex offender. Morgan was released on a $10,000 bond.
Franklin
Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to five complaints over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:
--Lance Panepinto Jr., 28, Spanish Oaks Drive, Harvey, was arrested at 2:23 p.m. Wednesday on charges of speeding and reckless operation. Panepinto was booked, processed and released on a $523.50 bond.
--Hamish Cunningham, 20, Prescott Boulevard, Youngsville, was arrested at 5 p.m. Wednesday on charges of speeding and reckless operation. Cunningham was booked, processed and released on a $523.00 bond.
--Travis Jones, 26, Felix Street, Jeanerette, was arrested at 9:49 p.m.Wednesday on a warrant for the Lafayette Police Department alleging illegal possession of stolen firearm. Jones was booked, processed and held with no bond set at the time of press release.