Deputies make arrest in kidnapping; Bayou L'Ourse man faces child porn charges

(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.)

A Morgan City man was jailed Sunday, accused of kidnapping and battery, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office said.

In Assumption, deputies made another arrest in the Operation Bottom Dweller operation targeting adults who solicit sex from young people online. And a Bayou L’Ourse man faces child pornography chargse.

St. Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported these arrests:

--Guillermo Cerpa Carmona, 27, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:12 a.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging simple kidnapping, simple battery and false imprisonment.

On Sunday, a deputy responded to a business in Assumption Parish in reference to a female who reported she had been kidnapped from a business in the Amelia area.

A male subject who was allegedly intoxicated had forced her into the vehicle and drove off with her. She subsequently was dropped off at the business and was contacted by the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Using the Flock camera system, the St. Mary deputy located a vehicle that matched the description, time frame and direction of travel given by the victim. The Texas license plate displayed on the vehicle came back to Guillermo Carmona.

A “be on the lookout” was issued for the vehicle, and the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle and made contact with the driver, Carmona. Through the investigation, the St. Mary deputy obtained an arrest warrant for Carmona and transported him to the St. Mary
Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bail has not been set at this time.

Driskell and deputies thanked the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office for their critical assistance in this incident.

--Reginald Thomas, 59, Franklin, was arrested at 10:38 p.m. Thursday on a charge of residential contractor fraud.

A detective was assigned to a case involving a complaint of contractor fraud. The victim advised that they hired Thomas to perform work at a property in Patterson. The victim stated they paid Thomas $7,000, and the checks were cashed in April 2026.

The permit was obtained for the work after an additional $250 payment was made. However, no work was ever done on the property. The complainant asked for the money to be refunded several times.

As of Aug. 19, 90 business days had elapsed with no work being done on the property and no refund of money to the complainant. A warrant was obtained for the arrest of Thomas.

On Thursday, a deputy transported him to the St. Mary Law Enforcement Complex for booking. Bail was set at $10,000, and Thomas was transferred to another agency.

--Robert Jules Rock II, 69, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:04 p.m. Monday on a warrant alleging failure to appear for operating a vehicle without proper required equipment and failure to maintain automobile liability insurance. Bail was set at $6,000.

--Joseph Lee Martinez, 18, Berwick, was arrested at 5:15 p.m. Sunday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting) and aggravated assault. Bail has not been set at this time.

--Jonisha Jshay Yelling, 34, Baldwin, was arrested at 4:24 a.m. Saturday on charges of possession of stolen things, switched or stolen license plates, proper equipment required on vehicles, driving under suspension, and vehicle license required.

Yelling was released on a $1,500 bond.

--Donshea Ameche Amos, 38, Labdieville, was arrested at 9:12 p.m. Thursday on charges of driving on roadway laned for traffic, possession of marijuana, driving while intoxicated, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under suspension and open container.

Bail was set at $5,500.

--Elaina Nicole Ashmore, 26, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:19 p.m. Sept. 16 on a charge of introduction of contraband into penal institution. Ashmore continues to be incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

--Kurvontay Nigel Webb, 24, Siracusa, was arrested at 7 p.m. Friday on charges of general speed law, following vehicles, aggravated flights from officers, hit and run, possession of Schedule I drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, aggravated
obstruction of justice, and driver must be licensed.

Webb was also arrested on failure to appear warrants involving charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids; illegal use, possession, or control of weapons (crime of violence); and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bail was set at $103,000.

--Devin Michael Leblanc, 25, Berwick, was arrested at 1:30 p.m. Thursday on a charge of simple and aggravated escape and principal to escape.

--Lorenzo Paul Harris, 41, Baldwin, was arrested at 1:30 p.m. Thursday on a charge of simple escape.

--Michael Ray Ceasar, 47, Baldwin, was arrested at 1:30 p.m. Thursday on a charge of simple escape.

On Thursday, a corrections deputy was assisting with inmates returning from arraignment in the Zoom room for court at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center. He observed three inmates exit one secured area and into another secured area. At that time, the deputy unholstered his Taser and gave commands for the inmates to get down on the ground.

The inmates were searched and escorted back to their dorm and secured without incident. All three continue to be incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

--Alexander Blunt II, 51, Patterson, was arrested at 10:44 a.m. Sept. 16 on a charge of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and five counts of possession of a firearm in the presence of controlled dangerous substance. Bail was set at
$60,000.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:

--Aroldo Paniagua Rocha, 28, Elaine Street, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested Thursday on 36 counts of child sex abuse material under 13 and on an immigration detainer.

The Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office received information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children related to child sexual abuse material that was uploaded to a Google account between October 2023 and July 2026. Approximately 300 files uploaded to the account depicted disturbing sexually explicit images of children under the age of 13.

Through investigation, detectives were able to connect 36 of those files to an IP address located on Elaine Street in Bayou L’Ourse. As the investigation progressed, detectives were able to identify Rocha as an individual who possessed the illegal sexually explicit material.

On Thursday morning, detectives executed a search warrant at the Elaine Street address in Bayou L’Ourse and located evidence associated with this investigation.

Deputies arrested Rocha and booked him into the Assumption Parish Detention Center where he remains pending a bond hearing.

As a result of executing Thursday’s search warrant, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agents arrested two individuals who were in the United States illegally.

They were identified as Cruz Martinez and Uriel Paniagua. Both were released to the custody of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement for deportation from the United States.

Falcon thanked the Louisiana Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children and the Department of Homeland Security (I.C.E.) for their assistance in this investigation.

--Dustin Harley Caldwell, 47, MacArthur Circle, Cocoa, Florida, was booked Sunday in Assumption Parish on charges of indecent behavior with a juvenile and computer-aided solicitation of a minor.

The arrest was related to Operation Bottom Dweller, which was conducted Aug. 26-29.

The operation was conducted by the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, and was assisted by numerous south Louisiana law enforcement agencies.

The operation was designed to identify, investigate and apprehend individuals who use electronic communications or internet-based platforms to solicit, entice or attempt to exploit individuals they believe to be juveniles for sexual purposes.

During this operation, law enforcement developed probable cause sufficient to obtain arrest warrants for Caldwell.

Caldwell is one of the 14 suspects from throughout Louisiana and across multiple states charged during the investigation

Caldwell was arrested Sept. 1 by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office in Florida. Caldwell was released to the custody of the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office on Sunday and was booked into Dustin Harley Caldwell was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending a
bond hearing.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported these arrests:

--Dwayne Pierre, 41, Orphan Home Road, Baldwin, was arrested at 12:45 p.m. Friday on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of MDMA, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor.

--Shantelle Hotard, 40, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:01 p.m. Saturday on charges of failure to appear to pay fines and failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Robert Falgout, 72, Filmore Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:57 p.m. Saturday on a charge of domestic abuse battery.

--Arnold Maldonado, 23, Halsey Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:51 a.m. Sunday on charges of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace (intoxicated), and on an immigration hold.

--Georgianna Sweetser, 58, Ditch Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:31 p.m. Sunday on charges of simple assault and disturbing the peace.

--Jordan Gant, 36, North Dorgenois Street, New Orleans, was arrested at 3:53 p.m. Thursday on a charge of contempt of court (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Jodie Wilson, 36, Federal Avenue, Morgan City, arrested at 7:42 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana (under 14 grams), expired license plate and failure to signal. (Released on summons.)

--Timothy Francis, 39, Idaho Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:20 p.m. Thursday on a charge of driving under suspension.

--Kathleen Nero, 62, Roderick Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:26 p.m. Sept. 16 as a fugitive from the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Patterson

Chief Garrett Grogan reported these arrests:

--Eugene LeBlanc, 31, Ledoux Circle, Patterson, was arrested at 11:22 a.m. Friday on a charge of possession of marijuana (over 14 grams), possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of a drug-free zone. LeBlanc is incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with no bond set.

--Jermond J. Johnson, 49, Guyther Street, Patterson, was arrested at 2:16 p.m. Saturday on a charge of remaining where forbidden (place or entry). Johnson is incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $346.

--Eris A. Robinson Jr., 21, Hickory Street, Patterson, was arrested at 5:31 p.m. Saturday on a charge of simple battery. Robinson was incarcerated at the Patterson PD Jail with bond set at $469.

--Caihari R. Wilson, 23, Monarch Drive, Houma, was arrested at 6:54 p.m. Saturday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting). Wilson was released on a summons.

--Kayla M. Broussard, 19, Sixth Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:54 p.m. Saturday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting). Broussard was released on a summons.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported these arrests:

--Michelle Lanclos, 40, Yellow Bayou Road, Franklin, was arrested at 12:40 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of heroin, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and stop lamps required. Lanclos was additionally arrested on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court alleging failure to appear on a charge of improper lane use. Lanclos was booked, processed and held on a $5,040 bond.

--Marie Sophus, 70, Isabella Street, Franklin, was arrested at 1 p.m. Friday on a warrant dated Sept. 10 alleging remaining where forbidden and theft. Sophus was additionally arrested on charges of resisting an officer with force and battery of a police officer. Sophus was booked,
processed and held on a $12,500 bond.

--Jumichael Smith, 47, Hamilton Street, Franklin, was arrested at 12:29 a.m. Sunday on charges of violation of protective orders, two counts of resisting an officer and simple criminal damage to property. Smith was booked, processed and held on a $27,500 bond.