Franklin man arrested on drug, gun charges: Berwick reports arrests after checkpoint

(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.)

St. Mary deputies arrested a Franklin man Aug. 21 on marijuana and weapons charges. Berwick police also ran an impaired driver checkpoint that resulted in several arrests, including one by deputies on an aggravated flight charge.

St. Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported these arrests:

--Mario Jermaine Harris Sr., 44, Franklin, was arrested at 8:07 a.m. Aug. 21 on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a drug-free zone and speeding.

Bail was set at $65,250.

--Jerral Wade Prestenbach, 36, Patterson, was arrested at 2:48 p.m. Aug. 21 on a charge of disturbing the peace (intoxicated). Bail was set at $750.

--Ashley Marie Schildwachter, 33, Patterson, was arrested at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 21 on a warrant alleging bigamy. Bail was set at $5,000.

--Michael Paul Lovell, 57, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:08 a.m. Saturday on a charge of driving while intoxicated. Bail was set at $11,000.

--Selvin B. Lopez-Villanueva, 31, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:30 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving while intoxicated and driver must be licensed. Lopez-Villanueva was released on a $2,750 bond.

--George Lane Torres, 34, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 10 a.m. Saturday on two counts of aggravated obstruction of highway, two counts of aggravated flight from an officer, obedience to police officers and traffic signs, hit and run, and criminal damage to property.

Bail was set at $287,000.

--Michael Warren Federer Jr., 34, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:28 a.m. Tuesday on charges of obstruction of justice (tampering), resisting arrest or officer and driving under suspension, and on a failure to appear warrant for child support.

Bail was set at $2,948.62.

Berwick

Chief David S. Leonard reported these arrests:

On Friday, the Berwick Police Department, with assistance from several parish agencies, conducted a DWI checkpoint.

During the checkpoint, 290 vehicles were screened. Several were arrested.

Leonard thanked the Lafayette Police Department for cooperation over the years and for providing the Mobile Command Alcohol Traffic Action Campaign bus. More thanks go to the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Morgan City Police Department, the Patterson Police Department, the Nicholls State University Campus Police and Acadian Ambulance. “One impaired driver taken off our roads makes this campaign worth it,” Leonard said. “And to those who attempt to undermine these efforts by sharing checkpoint locations, remember – it could be your loved one injured or killed by an impaired driver.”

Among those arrested:

--Shawn Stevenson, 48, Gibson, was arrested at 9:08 p.m. Friday on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (second offense), failure to signal and open container.

--Amanda Deroche, 31, Berwick, was arrested at 11:23 p.m. Friday on a charge of possession of marijuana (under 14 grams). (Released on summons.)

--Jose Daarte, 38, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:45 a.m. Saturday on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated (first offense), driving wrong way on divided highway and no driver’s license.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 59 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Dung Cenac, 28, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:25 p.m. Monday as a fugitive from the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.

--Timothy Tindell, 51, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:25 p.m. Monday as a fugitive from the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.

--Eddie Herring, 31, South Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:19 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of marijuana (first offense), possession of drug paraphernalia and improper lane usage. (Released on summons.)

--Kloey Cuvillier, 25, Wise Street, Patterson, was arrested at 11:19 p.m. Monday on a charge of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 23 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest:

--Cordell Elzy, 18, Willow Street, Franklin, was arrested at 4:52 p.m. Monday on a charge of simple battery. Elzy was booked, processed and held on a $2,500 bond.