Amelia man booked in 2022 vehicle theft

(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 Parish authorities were at last able to book a Houma man nearly two years after he became a suspect in the theft of two utility vehicles from an Amelia business.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:

--Stephen Sheppard, 52, Country Estates, Houma, was booked Monday on charges of two counts of theft of a motor vehicle (valued at $26,000) and simple criminal damage to property, and on a detainer for Union Parish on charges of simple burglary, felony theft, simple criminal damage to property, criminal trespass and failure to appear.

The charges arise from an incident Dec. 9, 2022, near Amelia.

Deputies were dispatched to a business in the 100 block of East Service Road in Amelia in reference to the theft of two utility vehicles. Deputies made contact with the complainant, who advised that unknown suspects had cut the lock on a gated entrance and stolen the utility vehicles.

Detectives initiated an investigation and reviewed electronic surveillance footage, which led them to the Terrebonne Parish area. Detectives developed Sheppard and two other individuals as suspects.

On Jan. 4, 2023, detectives obtained arrest warrants for Sheppard and the two other suspects.

Sheppard was arrested in Lafourche Parish on March 13, 2023, on local charges there. Sheppard was transferred to the Terrebonne Parish Jail to face charges there on May 21, 2024.

Sheppard was transferred to the custody of the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office on Monday. Sheppard was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center and remains incarcerated with a bond set at $50,000.

Detectives recovered one of the stolen UTVs in Amelia.

The other two suspects, identified as Adam Carriere, 40, Bayou Blue Road, Houma, and Bryan Kelly Wright, 49, Ponderosa Cane, Gray, were previously arrested.

–Jason J. Matthews Sr., North Friendship Lane, Amelia, was booked Monday on a warrant alleging failure to appear in court in Assumption Parish on a charge of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I drug.

Matthews was previously arrested in Assumption Parish and as a result of that arrest was ordered to appear in court Nov. 6. Matthews failed to appear as ordered resulting in a warrant being issued for his arrest on Nov. 8.

Matthews was arrested by the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office on local charges there on Sept. 12. Matthews was released to the custody of the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office on Monday.

Matthews was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center and remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 94 calls over the last 48-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Reandra Wennddresse Taylor, 36, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:36 p.m. Monday on two counts of failure to appear to pay fines (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Lubis Maldonado-Buezo, 31, Ditch Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:59 p.m. Monday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense, reckless operation of a vehicle, possession of alcoholic beverage container in a motor vehicle and no driver’s license.

--Cheyenne Harley Aucoin, 30, Main Street, Franklin, was arrested at 9:56 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Marquise Craft, 22, Apple Street. Morgan City, was arrested on at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting).

--Christopher Sylvester Jr., 28, Short Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:45 pm. Tuesday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting).

--Randy Lee Hatcher, 45, Aucoin Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:12 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of disturbing the peace (language).

--Melvin Rene Gonalez-Euceda, 36, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested 5:34 p.m. Tuesday on charges of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and disturbing the peace (drunkenness).

St. Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported these arrests:

--John Serrano Garcia, 34, Franklin, was arrested at 1:14 a.m. Tuesday on charges of disturbing the peace (intoxicated) and criminal trespass.

Garcia also held a warrant for failure to appear for the charges of no vehicle registration, operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked, or canceled, and failure to maintain automobile liability insurance.

Bail was set at $6,000.

--Kaleb Shane Calloway, 27, Sealy, Texas, was arrested at 12:23 p.m. Tuesday on a parole violation. Calloway is being held for another agency.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to six complaints over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Keenze Howard, 59, Ninth Street, Franklin, was arrested at 7:32 a.m. Tuesday the charges of one way roadways and flight from an officer. Howard was booked, processed and released on a $1,750 bond.

--Hunter Boudreaux, 23, Bigler Street, Franklin, s arrested at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday on warrants for 6th Ward Morgan City Court alleging failure to appear on charges of speeding and contempt of court. Boudreaux was booked, processed and held with no bond set at the time of press release.

--Gerald Dupas, 38, Iberia Street, Franklin, was arrested at 7 p.m. Tuesday on charges of violation of protective order, possession of Schedule I drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. Dupas was additionally arrested on a warrant for 16th Judicial District Court alleging failure to appear on charges of battery of a dating partner resulting in serious bodily injury and violation of protective order. Dupas was booked, processed, and held with no bond set at the time of press release.