Patterson man charged with continuous sexual abuse of child

A 41-year-old Patterson man has been arrested in St. Mary Parish on a warrant for allegedly sexually abusing a child in Houston from 2008 to 2010.

Kenneth Francis, 41, of Mill Road in Patterson, was arrested at 3:38 p.m. Thursday on warrants for failure to appear on the charge of failure to provide notice as a sex offender and for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of probation, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.

Francis is also being detained on a Harris County, Texas, warrant for continuous sexual abuse of a child. Morgan City police provided information to detectives regarding the Texas warrant. Detectives located at a home in Verdunville. Patterson police also assisted in the investigation.

From September 2008 through October 2010, Francis allegedly committed continuous sexual assaults against a child at a Houston home, according to a Houston Crime Stoppers news release.

Francis was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set.

Hebert reported responding to 40 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Jonathan Borne, 34, of Southeast Boulevard in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 5:09 p.m. Thursday on a charge of illegal possession of stolen things.

A deputy patrolling the Ricohoc area located a truck that had been reported stolen from Morgan City. The deputy observed the truck on Ricohoc Drive that matched the be-on-the-lookout information provided by the Morgan City Police Department.

The deputy stopped the vehicle and identified the driver as Borne. After speaking with him about the vehicle, the deputy transported Borne to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set.

—Leo Green Jr., 52, of Verdun Lane in Franklin, was arrested at 9:25 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family.

A deputy stopped to assist a stranded motorist on U.S. 90 in Patterson. The deputy identified the driver as Green and located the active warrant for his arrest. Green was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bail is set at $5,122.57.

Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported responding to 42 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Jarrod Hudson, 30, of Onstead Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:17 a.m. Thursday on a Berwick police warrant charging him with disturbing the peace.

Hudson was located at his home on Onstead Street. A warrant check revealed that he held an active warrant for the Berwick Police Department. Hudson was jailed.

—Christian A. Brown, 39, of Maple Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:14 a.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with three counts of failure to pay fines.

Brown was located on Justa Street and had a city court warrant for his arrest, Blair said. Brown was jailed.

—Nathushun D. Singleton, 39, of Breaux Bridge, was arrested at 1:23 p.m. Thursday on charges of no turn signal, possession of synthetic marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A patrol officer in the area of Redwood Street observed a vehicle fail to use its turn signal while turning on to Victor II Boulevard. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver, Singleton, was found to have suspected synthetic marijuana and items used to smoke illegal narcotics in his possession, Blair said. Singleton was jailed.

—Jim Businelle, 58, of Carol Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:11 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with probation violation.

Buisnelle was transported from the parish jail to the Morgan City Police Department on a city court warrant. Businelle was jailed.

—Clarence J. Benoit Jr., 53, of Gibson, was arrested at 10:29 a.m. Thursday on charges of driving under suspension and view of windshield obstructed.

A patrol officer in the area of La. 182 near Seventh Street observed a vehicle with a large crack spanning the length of the windshield.

A vehicle stop was conducted and the driver, Benoit, was asked to produce a valid driver’s license. A computer check revealed that Benoit’s driver’s license was suspended. Benoit was jailed.

—Jude Resignola Jr., 22, of Federal Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:34 p.m. Thursday on a charge of remaining after being forbidden.

Officers responded to a residence on Lesley Drive in regard to removing an individual from the home. Officer arrived and spoke to the victim. The victim stated that Resignola had been told by the victim and officers on a prior occasion not to return to the home, but he continued to return to the location, Blair said. Resignola was located outside the home and jailed.

—Joshua N. Bertrand, 39, of Levee Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:29 p.m. Thursday on charges of DWI and improper lane usage

Officers responded to a vehicle crash on Justa Street and located one of the drivers, Bertrand, who appeared to be under the influence of some type of narcotic, Blair said.

Bertrand did poorly on a field sobriety test, Blair said. At the police department, Bertrand registered 0.000 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test, Blair said. Bertrand was jailed.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:

—Peter Grogan, 39, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:55 a.m. Friday on charges of open alcoholic container and a warrant for failure to appear on charges of theft and trespassing. Bail was set at $1,100.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.