Berwick police arrest man in sexual assaults on young person

(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.)

Berwick police have arrested a Napoleonville man accused of sexually assaulting a pre-teen

Berwick

Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:

--Randell P. Thomas, 30, Howard Lane Napoleonville, was arrested at 3:36 p.m. on a warrant alleging two counts of first-degree rape (victim under 13 years old).

On Oct. 27, the Berwick Police Department was contacted by Children’s Hospital in New Orleans concerning a juvenile patient who disclosed that she had been repeatedly raped over the last several years.

Detectives were assigned to the case and learned that the abuse took place at a residence in Berwick when the victim was under the age of 13. Throughout the course of the investigation, the suspect was identified as Thomas.

Through investigative means, detectives were able to establish that probable cause existed for the arrest of Thomas.

Warrants were prepared for his arrest and on Monday, Thomas surrendered himself to the Berwick Police Department, where he was processed on the warrants. The investigation continues, and due to the age of the victim and nature of the crime, no further information regarding this incident can be released.

--Juvenile male, 11, Berwick, was arrested at 7:05 p.m. Monday on a charge of theft (under $1,000).

On Monday, officers responded to a residence on Sixth Street in reference to a theft. According to the victim, the juvenile went onto her porch and stole an item, which was captured on her home video system.

Officers made contact with the juvenile and his guardian, and he confessed to stealing the item. Officers recovered the item.

The victim requested to file charges, at which point the juvenile was and released to the custody of his guardian pending juvenile court proceedings.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff's Office responded to 35 complaints and made these arrests:

--Randolph Anthony Joseph, 30, Franklin, was arrested at 6:19 a.m. Monday on a charge of simple battery. Bail was set at $5,000 on this charge.

--Leonard Joseph Romero III, 43, Franklin, was arrested at 11:34 p.m. Monday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charge of improper lane usage, no insurance, driving under suspension, switched or stolen license plate, and resisting an officer by giving false information.

Romero also held an Iberia Parish warrant for failure to appear on the charges of operating a vehicle without a driver's license and improper use of registration, license plates or license.

Bail has not been set.

Franklin

Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to five complaints over the past 24-hour reporting and made this arrest:

--Ruth Martin, 37, Myra Street, Franklin, was arrested at 5:50 a.m. Monday on charges of hit and run, simple criminal damage to property, careless operation and driver must be licensed.