Four drug arrests by local authorities; attempted murder charges in Franklin

(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 and Morgan City officers made four drug-related arrests over the weekend, while Franklin police arrested a man accused of five counts of attempted murder.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 72-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 34 complaints and made these arrests:

—Devan Nichole Serpa, 36, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:21 p.m. Friday by the Narcotics Section on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bail has not been set.

—Nathan Thomas III, 45, Franklin, was arrested at 1:21 p.m. Friday by the Narcotics Section on charges of transactions involving drug proceeds, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession with intent to distribute synthetic cannabinoids and possession of drug paraphernalia, and on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family.

Bail has not been set.

—Stacey Lynn Grubbs, 41, Franklin, was arrested at 5:09 p.m. Friday on a warrant alleging theft. Grubbs was released on a summons to appear.

—Daryl J. Richard, 59, Gibson, was arrested at 1:02 a.m. Saturday on charges of careless operation, failure of owner to secure registration, no insurance and driving under suspension.

Bail has not been set.

—Dean Joseph Beranek, 36, Berwick, was arrested at 11:15 a.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of disobeying traffic sign.

Beranek was released on a $275 bond.

—Stephanie M. Carey, 56, Franklin, was arrested at 4:50 p.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging telephone calls/harassment and extortion. Bail has not been set.

Morgan City

Interim Police Chief Mark E. Griffin Jr. reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 125 calls for service over the last 72-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

—Javion Russell Taylor, 20, James Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:49 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and reckless operation of a motor vehicle.

—Russell Blanchard Jr., 34, Allison Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:24 a.m. Sunday on charges of possession of marijuana and improper lighting.

—Devante Frank, 30, Doris Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:28 p.m. Friday on charges of battery on a police officer and criminal damage to property, and on 16th Judicial District Court warrants alleging failure to appear for contempt hearing and imposition hearing.

—Earl Simmons, 30, Shaw Drive, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:03 a.m. Saturday on a charge of disturbing the peace (intoxicated).

—Walter Reynieri Gonzalez-Avila, 39, California Street, Berwick, was arrested at 11:06 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), improper lane usage, no driver’s license and possession of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle.

—William Moore, 20, Maple Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:44 p.m. Saturday on a charge of criminal damage to property.

—Joshua Pisani, 32, Gen. Patton, was arrested at 12:03 a.m. Sunday on a charge of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

—Jimmy Bonvillain, 56, Second Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:32 p.m. Sunday on a charge of disturbing the peace.

—Kelli Alexis Muirhead, 22, Duke Street, Morgan City, was arrested on a charge of no driver’s license, switched license plate, failure to secure registration and allowing dogs to roam.

—Carlysia Francis, 18, Eagle Drive, Thibodaux, was arrested at 9:55 p.m. Sunday on charges of criminal mischief and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles.

—Dejon Thomas, 18, Cardinal Drive, Thibodaux, was arrested at 9:55 p.m. Sunday on charges of criminal mischief and contributing to the delinquency of juveniles.

—Harley Marie Campo, 27, Third Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:23 a.m. Monday as a fugitive from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Patterson

Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:

—Robbie J. Terrebonne, 36 Louis Street, LaRose, was arrested at 1:20 a.m. Saturday on a Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant alleging contempt of court. Terrebonne is incarcerated at the Patterson Police Department Jail with bond set at $500.

—Amber L. O’Conner, 42, Wedell Street, Patterson, was arrested at 7:05 p.m. Saturday on a Franklin Police Department warrant alleging stop signs and yield signs. O’Conner was transported to the Franklin Police Department.

Franklin

Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 21 complaints over the weekend and made this arrest:

—Irvyon James, 19, Seventh Street, Franklin, was arrested at 1:02 p.m. Friday on a warrant dated July 28 alleging illegal carrying of weapons, illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities, aggravated criminal damage to property, criminal street gang activity, five counts of attempted second-degree murder, firearm-free zone and five counts of principal to attempted second-degree murder.

James was booked, processed and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

Beverly thanked the Lafayette Police Department for assisting in the investigation.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:

—Carlin Peter Gaudet, 41, Belle River Road, Pierre Part, was arrested Sunday on a charge of bank fraud.

—Emily Georgia Zeringue, 33, Belle River Road, Pierre Part, was arrested Sunday on a charge of attempted bank fraud.

Deputies responded to a complaint at a financial institution in Pierre Part on Friday alleging that on Tuesday, Gaudet opened an account and deposited a check made out to him. That check was in the amount of $3,850.44. Gaudet then obtained a debit card and transferred $3,350 to a cash app account.

Two days later, Gaudet presented at the institution again, this time with an individual identified as Zeringue. Gaudet presented a nearly identical check made payable to Zeringue and that check was in sequential numerical order with Gaudet’s check.

Both checks appeared to be from a substance abuse treatment facility in California. When contacted, the company verified that both checks were fraudulent.

At the completion of the investigation, deputies secured arrest warrants for both Gaudet and Zeringue.

Both Gaudet and Zeringue remain incarcerated in the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending bond proceedings.