Major arrests reported by state, local authorities
(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.)
State and local authorities announced major arrests in the last week, including an out-of-state man uploading child pornography in Patterson; a possession with intent arrest in Morgan City involving synthetic cannabinoids and marijuana; and the arrest of a man accused of possessing more than a pound of methamphetamine and 5 pounds of marijuana and Baldwin.
Patterson
The Louisiana Bureau of Investigation has arrested a South Carolina man who is accused of uploading child sexual abuse material years ago while he was residing in Louisiana, Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a press release.
In August 2023, special agents with the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation received multiple tips from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children indicating 23-year-old Gabriel Alpha, Nance Street in Newberry, South Carolina, uploaded child sexual abuse material while residing in Patterson.
Special agents ultimately obtained an arrest warrant for Alpha. On Thursday, Alpha was located in Newberry County, South Carolina, placed under arrest, and booked into the Newberry County Detention Center pending extradition to St. Mary Parish.
He's being charged with five counts of child sexual abuse material.
The assisting agencies on this case included the LBI Fugitive Apprehension Unit, the Newberry County Sheriff’s Office, the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division Fugitive Unit, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Morgan City Police Department and the Patterson Police
Department.
Patterson Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:
--Shailon L. Favors, 32, Gabriel Street, Patterson, was arrested at 11 p.m. April 22 on a failure to appear warrant connected with a charge of seat belt violation. Favors is incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $585.
--Desmond J. Richard, 44, Second Street, Patterson, was arrested at 2:24 p.m. April 22 on charges of simple burglary, attempted burglary, resisting an office and theft by shoplifting, and on a warrant for another jurisdiction. Richard is incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with no bond set.
--Ragan R. Alcina, 47, was arrested at 10:41 p.m. Thursday on a warrant from another jurisdiction. Alcina was released to another agency with no bond set.
--Dedrick J. Gant, 41, Grout Street, Patterson, was arrested at 10:54 p.m. Saturday on a warrant for another jurisdiction. Gant was released to another agency with no bond set.
Morgan City
Chief Chad M. Adams reported these arrests:
--Logan Hebert, 20, Nini Road, Bayou Vista, was arrested Thursday on charges of possession with intent to distribute synthetic cannabinoids, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and improper lane usage.
On Thursday, officers with the Morgan City Police Department Patrol Division conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by Hebert for improper lane usage. During the course of the traffic stop, officers developed probable cause to conduct a further investigation.
As a result, Hebert was found to be in possession of a large quantity of synthetic cannabinoids, marijuana and THC resin.
Hebert was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for processing.
“The Morgan City Police Department would also like to address the growing presence of synthetic cannabinoids in our community,” police said in a Facebook post. “Officers are increasingly encountering these substances on the streets, particularly among teenagers and young adults.
These drugs are often marketed in a misleading manner and may appear harmless, but they are unpredictable and can pose serious health risks.
“Synthetic cannabinoids are not regulated and are frequently manufactured with unknown chemicals. In many cases, users do not know what they are actually consuming, which can lead to severe medical complications, overdose, or even death.
“If you know of anyone distributing these dangerous substances in our community, please do not hesitate to contact the Morgan City Police Department and request to speak with a member of the Narcotics Division. You may remain anonymous. With the community's help, we can continue working together to keep these dangerous drugs off our streets and out of Morgan City.”
--Elmer Galloway Jr., 73, Fifth Street, Berwick, was arrested at 10:12 a.m. Friday on a charge of driving while intoxicated.
--Candice Norman, 36, Taryn Lane, Franklin, was arrested at 10:24 a.m. Friday on charges of hit and run and criminal damage to property.
--Lionel Granger III, 60, Leona Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:46 p.m. Friday on a charge of contempt of court (6th Ward Morgan City Court).
--Jace Cradeur, 17, Palm Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:14 p.m. Friday on charges of distribution of THC, possession with intent to distribute THC, possession with intent to distribute synthetic cannabinoids, obstruction of justice, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a juvenile.
--Terry Sam, 41, Short Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:32 p.m. Friday as a fugitive from the Austin Police Department.
--Gavin Ennis, 71, Third Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:59 p.m. Friday on charges of driving while intoxicated and careless operation.
--Akema McClendon, 40, Shannon Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:12 p.m. Saturday on a charge of failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court).
--Lucille Rodriguez, 46, Franklin Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:55 p.m. Saturday on charges of failure to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court) and remaining where forbidden.
--Michele Law, 41, Baylis Drive, Gray, was arrested at 10:34 p.m. Saturday on charges of driving under suspension, possession of marijuana and possession of methamphetamine.
--David Daigle, 23, Pineneedle Street, Thibodaux, was arrested at 5:28 p.m. Sunday on a charge of disturbing the peace (intoxicated).
--Joshua LaCoste, 51, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:52 p.m. Sunday as a fugitive from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office.
--Lilian Delgado, 22, Federal Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:25 a.m. Monday on a charge of contempt of court (6th Ward Morgan City Court).
--Jacob Klenert, 32, South Everett Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:05 a.m. Friday on a charge of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and bicycle lights required.
--Reginald James, 24, Columbus Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:05 a.m. Friday as a fugitive from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.
--Russell Vellier, 59, Windsor Street, Metairie, was arrested at 2:23 p.m. April 22 on charges of disturbing the peace and remaining where forbidden.
--Daniel McNeal, 48, Egle Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:15 p.m. April 22 on a charge of theft (under $1,000).
--Sarah D. Scott, 44, Walnut Drive, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:08 p.m. April 22 as a fugitive from the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office.
--Christopher Percle, 27, Clements Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:30 p.m. April 22 on a charge of criminal mischief (false complaint).
--Charles Gaspar, 54, Sixth Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:21 a.m. Thursday on a charge of driving while intoxicated.
St. Mary
Sheriff Gary Driskell reported these arrests:
--Silas Glent Vanhaverbeke, 22, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:03 a.m. Friday on charges of reckless operation, hit and run, resisting arrest or officer, failure to report an accident and resisting an officer (false information).
Vanhaverbeke was released on a $9,500 bond.
--Brody James Guillory, 39, Opelousas, was arrested at 2:29 am. Friday on a warrant alleging failure to appear. Bail has not been set at this time.
--John Aucoin, 44, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 11:24 a.m. Saturday on a charge of domestic abuse battery (aggravated assault). Bail has not been set at this time.
--Calvin Smith Singleton, 43, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:05 a.m. Saturday on a charge resisting an officer by giving false information and on a Patterson Police Department warrant. Singleton is being held for another agency.
--Dantraell Deon Benjamin, 31, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:19 p.m. Saturday on a Morgan City Police Department warrant alleging speeding. Benjamin is being held for another agency.
--Cherie Ann Welch, 33, Baldwin, was arrested at 4:24 p.m. Sunday on charges of simple assault, disturbing the peace (intoxicated) and self-mutilation, and on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of simple criminal damage to property.
Bail has not been set at this time.
--Henry John Giroir III, 39, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 9:19 p.m. Sunday on a charge of domestic abuse battery. Bail has not been set at this time.
--Lexi Lynn Martin, 27, Jeanerette, was arrested at 12:13 p.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of operating a vehicle with expired license plate, simple battery and failure to maintain automobile liability insurance. Bail has not been set at this time.
--Lenis Joseph Clements III, 37, Jeanerette, was arrested at 1:40 a.m. Sunday on charges of threatening a public official, simple battery of the infirm, battery on a police officer, resisting arrest and a hate crime.
Bail is not set at this time.
--Cory James Pierce, 39, Franklin, was arrested at 9:15 p.m. Saturday on charges of taillights required, possession of synthetic cannabinoids, possession of drug paraphernalia and protective order.
Bail has not been set at this time.
Baldwin
Chief Anthony Gibson reported this arrest:
--Antoine F. Jones was arrested April 22 on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a drug-free zone, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, multiple counts of possession with intent to distribute Schedule I drugs, possession with intent to distribute synthetic cannabinoids, possess with intent to distribute methamphetamines, possession of a legend drug without a prescription and possession of drug paraphernalia.
On April 22, Baldwin officers approached several individuals standing near the rear of a residence on Branch Street near the Branch Street Park. One of the individuals was known to have an outstanding warrant.
After illegal narcotics were detected, a K9 unit from the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office was requested to conduct an open-air sniff of a nearby vehicle. The K9 alerted on the vehicle.
A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of approximately 5.6 pounds of marijuana, approximately 1.4 pounds of methamphetamine, approximately 56 grams of synthetic marijuana, approximately 25 MDMA pills, approximately 6 grams of crack cocaine, THC vapes, Promethazine and a loaded firearm.
Jones was transported to the St. Mary Law Enforcement Center, where bond was set at $1,002,500.
Gibson thanked his officers along with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff Department for an outstanding job.
Franklin
Chief Cedric Handy reported these arrests:
--Logan Parker, 28, Ninth St., Franklin, was as arrested at 7:47 a.m. April 22 on charges of speeding, careless operation, driving under suspension and possession of marijuana. Parker was booked, processed and released on a $785 bond.
--Gerald Dupas, 39, Iberia Street, Franklin, was arrested at 11:52 a.m. Friday on charges of theft and four counts of resisting an officer. Dupas was booked, processed and held on a $12,000 bond.
--Bryan Louis, 26, Oaklawn Drive, Franklin, was arrested at 3:38 p.m. Saturday on a charge of careless operation. Louis was booked, processed and released on a $265 bond.