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Suspect in drug case now faces 33 sex crime charges

Tue, 10/14/2025 - 1:43pm
Staff Report

A man arrested last month on drug charges now faces 33 sex crime counts, including six alleging rape, Morgan City police said.
Micael Anthony Noel, 53, Birch Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 2 p.m. Monday on five counts of third-degree rape; one count of second-degree rape; four counts of sexual battery; 21 counts of video voyeurism; and two counts of misdemeanor sexual battery.
The Morgan City Police Department Narcotics Division arrested Noel for various narcotics violations on Sept. 25.
Following this arrest, the Morgan City Police Department Detective Division, with newly obtained evidence, initiated an investigation into a series of sex crimes allegedly committed by Noel. As a result of this investigation, additional warrants were issued for his arrest related to these offenses.
The Morgan City Police Department is requesting the public's assistance with identifying any additional victims who may be connected to Noel.
The Morgan City Police Department is aware of the sensitive nature of sex crime investigations and urges anyone who believes they may have been a victim linked to Noel to contact the Morgan City Police Department Detective Division at 985-380-4605.
All cases involving victims will be handled confidentially.
This investigation remains active and ongoing. Noel has been booked on additional charges and remains incarcerated awaiting judicial proceedings.

Morgan City police radio logs for Oct. 10-14

Tue, 10/14/2025 - 1:33pm

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the Police Department at 985-380-4605.
Thursday, Oct. 9
5:42 a.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Medical.
8:32 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
9:47 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Disturbance.
9:57 a.m. 1000 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
10:19 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
11:21 a.m. 1000 block of Federal Avenue; Medical.
11:26 a.m. La. 182; Assistance.
1:17 p.m. 1000 block of Third Street; Theft.
1:21 p.m. 300 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
1:37 p.m. 1200 block of Youngs Road; Disturbance.
2:57 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Disturbance.
3:10 p.m. 6600 block of La. 182; Complaint.
3:32 p.m. Levee Road/Veterans Boulevard; Suspicious person/vehicle.
3:34 p.m. 100 block of Wren Street; Animal complaint.
4:20 p.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Complaint.
4:44 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Suspicious person/vehicle.
5:47 p.m. Pine Street/Lakewood Drive; Vehicle Accident.
5:57 p.m. 300 block of Federal Avenue; Complaint.
6:37 p.m. 200 block of Canary Street; Complaint.
6:43 p.m. 200 block of La. 70; Vehicle accident.
7:04 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Juvenile runaway.
7:52 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Complaint.
8 p.m. 1000 block of General Clark Street; Disturbance.
8:08 p.m. Bush Street; Disturbance.
8:18 p.m. 300 block of Oriole Street; Suspicious subject.
9:57 p.m. 2000 block of La. 70; Suspicious subject.
10:01 p.m. Seventh Street; Welfare concern.
11:04 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Complaint.
Friday, Oct. 10
1:51 a.m. 1000 block of Bernice Street; Disturbance.
1:59 a.m. 600 block of Front Street; Commercial alarm.
2:12 a.m. 1000 block of Onstead Street; Domestic disturbance.
6:22 a.m. U.S. 90 East/La. 182 On Ramp; Vehicle accident.
6:52 a.m. 4000 block of Chennault Street; Suspicious vehicle.
10:02 a.m. 1000 block of Fig Street; Animal complaint.
10:06 a.m. 500 block of Greenwood Street; Animal complaint.
10:27 a.m. 1000 block of Second Street; Medical.
11:30 a.m. Fourth/Arenz streets; Patrol request.
11:32 a.m. 500 block of Roderick Street; Remove subject.
1:33 p.m. 1200 block of North Prescott Drive; Suspicious subject.
1:55 p.m. 200 block of Utah Street; Medical.
1:58 p.m. 1300 block of Main Street, Patterson; Arrest.
2 p.m. 700 block of Cottonwood Street; Remove subject.
2:38 p.m. 200 block of Chennault Street; Complaint.
5:38 p.m. 1900 block of Elm Street; Medical.
6:59 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
7:18 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Loud music.
7:52 p.m. 300 block of Aycock Street; Alarm.
8:55 p.m. 500 block of Aucoin Street; Complaint.
9:54 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.
10:16 p.m. General McArthur Street; Juvenile complaint.
Saturday, Oct. 11
12:05 a.m. Federal/Brashear avenues; Suspicious subject.
1:27 a.m. 900 block of Cottonwood Street; Medical.
2:47 a.m. 800 block of Levee Road; Disturbance.
8:14 a.m. 700 block of Maine Street; Patrol request.
8:45 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Check building/open door.
8:50 a.m. 1100 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
9 a.m. 1200 block of North Prescott Drive; Medical.
10:17 a.m. 800 block of Brashear Avenue; Assistance.
10:21 a.m. 1400 block of Railroad Avenue; Remove subject.
10:52 a.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Narco violation.
1:57 p.m. 900 block of Federal Avenue; Disturbance.
2:39 p.m. Greenwood/Second streets; Disturbance.
3:06 p.m. 200 block of Patton Street; Residential burglary.
3:36 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Complaint.
4:15 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Disturbance.
4:21 p.m. 1300 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
4:27 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Welfare concern.
5:07 p.m. 1100 block of Seventh Street; Alarm.
5:12 p.m. 2300 block of La. 70; Patrol request.
6:24 p.m. 3000 block of Roderick Street; Arrest.
8:24 p.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Loud music.
9:49 p.m. 1800 block of Filmore Street; Loud music.
10:07 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Alarm.
Sunday, Oct. 12
12:46 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Suspicious subject.
1:03 a.m. 200 block of Aycock Street; Arrest.
1:37 a.m. 600 block of Brashear Avenue; Disturbance.
1:37 a.m. 700 block of Belanger Street; Medical.
2:22 a.m. 900 block of Everett Street; Open door.
2:58 a.m. 800 block of Youngs Road; Complaint.
8:27 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; 911 hang up call.
10:42 a.m. 1000 block of Second Street; Medical.
1:32 p.m. Greenwood/Fifth streets; Intel.
5:34 p.m. 800 block of Youngs Road; Complaint.
6:02 p.m. 300 block of Mallard Street; Complaint.
6:02 p.m. 400 block of Myrtle Street; Patrol.
6:36 p.m. 400 block of Louisa Street; Arrest.
7 p.m. 1000 block of Third Street; Civil.
7:17 p.m. Eleventh Street/Railroad Avenue; Stalled vehicle.
8:13 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182; Medical.
8:52 p.m. 900 block of Marguerite Street; Complaint.
9:06 p.m. 800 block of Youngs Road; Complaint.
9:31 p.m. 7300 block of La. 182; Suspicious subject.
10:43 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
11:34 a.m. 1200 block of Brashear Avenue; Arrest.
Monday, Oct. 13
12:34 a.m. Federal Avenue/Onstead Street; Suspicious subject.
1:11 a.m. 7700 block of La. 182; Suspicious vehicle.
1:39 a.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Suspicious vehicle.
2:39 a.m. 800 block of Youngs Road; Complaint.
5:31 a.m. 900 block of Ditch Avenue; Medical.
7:02 a.m. 1000 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
7:22 a.m. 1000 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
8:24 a.m. 500 block of Front Street; Criminal damage to property.
8:50 a.m. 900 block of Spruce Street; Complaint.
10:27 a.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
10:37 a.m. 600 block of Grove Street; Animal disturbance.
11:17 a.m. 700 block of La. 182; Complaint.
12:42 p.m. Cottonwood Street/Victor II Boulevard; Assistance.
1:02 p.m. 600 block of Freret Street; Medical.
1:32 p.m. 3000 block of Lake Palourde Street; Alarm.
1:35 p.m. 600 block of Fifth Street; Vehicle removal.
2:14 p.m. 800 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
2:22 p.m. 500 block of Hilda Street; Complaint.
2:46 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Complaint.
4:12 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Complaint.
4:45 p.m. 300 block of Greenwood Street; Alarm.
5:23 p.m. 400 block of Duke Street; Disturbance.
6:21 p.m. 7100 block of La. 182; Complaint.
6:41 p.m. 500 block of Brashear Avenue; Complaint.
6:48 p.m. 500 block of Aucoin Street; Complaint.
8:16 p.m. Florence/Eighth streets; Suspicious person/vehicle.
8:28 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.
8:36 p.m. 900 block of Eighth Street; Complaint.
9:37 p.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
10:30 p.m. 800 block of Youngs Road; Complaint.
11:17 p.m. 100 block of Guzzetta Street; Assistance.
Tuesday, Oct. 14
12:02 p.m. 1000 block of Ninth Street; Suspicious person/vehicle.
1:10 a.m. 1800 block of Maple Street; Disturbance.
2:45 a.m. 6300 block of La. 182; Assistance.
3:22 a.m. 800 block of Youngs Road; Complaint.
3:42 p.m. U.S. 90; Stalled vehicle.

Domestic, heroin possession charges follow MC arrests

Tue, 10/14/2025 - 12:02pm
Staff Report

(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.)

Morgan City police reported recent arrests on charges that include domestic abuse and heroin possession.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reports that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 119 calls for service over the last 96-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Jonathan Perou, 21, Maple Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:52 a.m. Tuesday on charges of domestic abuse battery and criminal damage to property (less than $1,000).

--Cayd Hatch, 28, Aycock Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:23 a.m. Sunday on charges of domestic abuse battery, resisting an officer and criminal damage to property (less than $1,000).

--Terri Helman, 44, Maine Street, Patterson, was arrested 7:19 p.m. Sunday on charges of possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana (first offense) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

--Adriane Wilson, 41, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:14 a.m. Monday on a charge of remaining where forbidden.

--Corey Tarver, 48, Maine Street, Patterson, was arrested at 4:18 p.m. Monday on a charge of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Joseph Acosta, 33, Gen. Patton Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:01 p.m. Friday on four counts of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Napolian Webb, 40, Kentucky Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:42 p.m. Sunday on two counts of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Connie LeBlanc, 47, Terry Street, Houma, was arrested at 11:59 p.m. Sunday on a charge of failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

School Board gets insurance break; enrollment down

Tue, 10/14/2025 - 11:01am
BILL DECKER
bdecker@daily-review.com

CENTERVILLE — Active St. Mary public school staff members will see no premium increase in their health insurance premiums next year, the board decided Thursday.
Also at the regular second-Thursday School Board meeting, members heard another pupil head count indicating that enrollment is down.
The School Board shares the cost of health coverage with covered employees through Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Louisiana.
With higher claims driven mainly by prescription medication, Blue Cross had requested a 5% increase in premiums for the year that begins Jan. 1, 2026.
But the board’s insurance consultant, James Perez, said at September’s meeting that he was appealing Blue Cross’ premium calculation, especially what he called an underestimation of the effect that removing Mounjaro from the list of covered medications will have on costs.
Mounjaro is one of the GLP drugs that have helped push up prescription drug pay-outs. GLP drugs are used to treat diabetes, with the added benefit of weight loss.
On Thursday, Perez told the board that Blue Cross lowered its premium increase request to about 2.5%, or about $300,000 a year.
On a voice vote without objection, the board voted to absorb the premium increase without increasing covered employee’s share of the cost.
Enrollment
As of Oct. 1, K-12 public school enrollment stood at 6,719, Superintendent Dr. Buffy Fegenbush told the board.
That’s down 240 from 2024-25, Fegenbush said.
Enrollment has fallen by 960 since the 2020-21 state Education Department figure of 7,679.
The loss of enrollment tracks Census Bureau estimates of the parish’s population.
The bureau estimates that the parish lost 2,356 residents between the 2020 Census and mid-2024 and stood at 46,799.
Oct. 1 is a date used by the state to calculate how much St. Mary will receive in state Minimum Foundation Program funding.
The formula is based on factors such as enrollment and how much the district contributes to its own revenue.
According to the general fund budget passed last month, the school system will receive about $46.3 million in unrestricted MFP funding during the year ending June 30, 2026, a number that has also been decreasing.
Even so, the state funding exceeds the $43.7 million the district expects to raise from local sources, including sales and property taxes.
Also Thursday:
•The board recognized Students of the Month Amari Dugas, a fifth-grader at Bayou Vista Elementary; Larry Smith, a fifth-grader at W.P. Foster Elementary; and Seth Howse, a fifth-grader, and John Fitch, an eighth-grader, both of Patterson Junior High.
•The board recognized Employees of the Month: teacher Bridget Mabile, Bayou Vista Elementary; teacher Patrice Williams, W.P. Foster; and teacher Tracy Stelly, Patterson Junior High.
•The board approved a resolution of respect for retired Principal Herbert Hernandez, who died recently.

Parish Council considers veto override

Tue, 10/14/2025 - 11:00am
Staff Report

Parish President Sam Jones and the Parish Council are headed for another clash.
The council voted Oct. 8 to put an override vote on the Oct. 22 agenda after Jones vetoed a zoning change obtained by Council member J Ina of Franklin.
Also Oct. 8, Councilman Mark Duhon of Amelia asked whether St. Mary residents might get the 35% discount on flood insurance that Jefferson Parish people are getting.
The veto was issued by Jones on Sept. 19. It targets a Sept. 10 vote in which the council approved Ina’s request to rezone a home he owns on Franklin’s Robert Street to neighborhood commercial. Ina plans to use the house for a group home.
At the Sept. 10 meeting, three nearby residents objected mainly to opening a residential area to business, and what might follow if the group home fails.
“Do you think I should have that right to be able to start a business as a business owner and a property owner,” Ina said in one response, “and to have the business before we talk about it failing?”
At the Oct. 8 meeting, Jones pointed to expressions of opposition and said he vetoed the rezoning “because the people don’t want it.”
“I think this is racially motivated,” said Ina, who is African American, “and I’ll save my comments for another time.”
The original vote for the rezoning was 6-2. One member was absent, and Ina and Les Rulf of Patterson abstained.
To succeed, the veto override must get yes votes from at least three-quarters of the 11-member council.
Rate reduction?
St. Mary Levee District Executive Director Tim Matte, cautioning that he’s not a flood insurance expert, answered Duhon’s call for information about Jefferson Parish’s good fortune.
Residents of unincorporated Jefferson are eligible for the 35% National Flood Insurance Program discount as of Oct. 1 because the parish is now Class 3, up from Class 5, in the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Rating System.
Jefferson becomes the first Class 3 entity in Louisiana and only the 11th in the United States.
In St. Mary, only Morgan City participates in the rating system and has a Class 9 rating, along with Terrebonne and Houma, Matte said. That rating is good for a 5% reduction.
The Jefferson Parish government website list these factors in the improved rating:
•Improving the Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule to a score of 3 for residential building codes and a score of 4 for commercial building codes.
•Adopting freeboard (additional feet of flooding protection above FEMA’s minimum requirement) for all structures.
•Maintaining open spaces.
•Having a Watershed Management Plan.
•Continuing to improve the Hazard Mitigation Plan.
•Protecting our natural floodplain functions.
•Earning credit for our flood warning and response practices.
•Informing citizens of their risk of living inside levee-protected areas through an annual mailer.
“They made a commitment to significantly adopt whatever rules they had to adopt to improve their particular situation,” Matte said.
Flood insurance rates have become a major issue since FEMA adopted Risk Rating 2.0, a system that sets premiums based on individual properties rather than applying a set premium across a broader area, such as ZIP Codes.
While FEMA insists that most covered homes will see the same or lower premiums, the price of flood insurance in about a third of covered homes will see increases, some of which put the price out of reach.
Congressional leaders have tried without success to obtain the formula by which FEMA judges individual properties.

Back to Berwick

Tue, 10/14/2025 - 10:56am

The Review/Bill Decker
The Nicholls State baseball team came to Berwick's Lud Henry Field on Saturday for an intrasquad game. Head coach Brent Haring's team includes Dawson Richard, left, who pitched an eight-inning complete game in Berwick High's 2023 state championship victory. Richard spent a year at Southwest Mississippi Community College before transferring to Nicholls.

Eagles open district with a victory

Tue, 10/14/2025 - 10:52am

After a bruising nondistrict schedule, Central Catholic broke a four-game winless streak by beating Hanson Memorial 42-18 Thursday in the 7-1A opener.
Elsewhere in St. Mary, Friday was a tough night.
E.D. White hammered Morgan City High 65-6, and Berwick fell 67-26 to Covenant Christian (see related story). Patterson put 40 on the board for the second time in three weeks, but remained winless by falling to Kaplan 51-42.
Jeanerette downed Centerville 56-12; Catholic-New Iberia upended Franklin 49-8; and West St. Mary went to 5-1 with a 30-0 victory over Houma Christian.
This Friday, Morgan City goes to South Terrebonne; Central Catholic will be at Centerville; Berwick hosts Erath; Belle Chasse comes to Patterson; West St. Mary is at Franklin; and Covenant Christian plays at Hanson.
Central Catholic 42,
Hanson 18
Xailen Hebert rushed 11 times for 102 yards and two touchdowns for Central Catholic.
The Eagles threw only one pass Thursday, but it was a 54-yard TD from Khyler Willis to Landon Ramagos.
Central Catholic didn’t need much help through the air. The Eagles rolled up 341 rushing yards.
Hayden Walker rushed eight times for 78 yards and a TD. Ramagos rushed only twice but had a 55-yard rushing TD to go with his touchdown reception. He finished with 68 rushing yards.
James Sanders ran six times for 75 yards, including a 43-yarder, and a touchdown.
Jerius Bias rushed for 12 yards and Drew Irwin for 7.
In all, the Eagles had five plays that went for at least 40 yards.
Central Catholic is now 2-4.
E.D White 65,
Morgan City 6
Overwhelmed by 8-4A rival E.D. White, Morgan City scored its only touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
On a second-and-goal from the 5, Devin Campbell took handoff from JP McCleary and scooted around left end for the score.
Morgan City is now 1-5 after winning its opener against Berwick.

Panthers fall to Covenant

Tue, 10/14/2025 - 10:50am
JUDE TARVER, Review correspendent

After earning its first win of the season against Thrive Academy in Week 5, Berwick hoped to earn its second this Friday. They faced the Covenant Christian Lions, who came into this game with a 3-2 record.
The Panthers fell, 67-26.
The Lions started the game with a designed QB run with Owen Trosclair, who took it 65 yards to the house and gave Covenant Christian an early 7-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, Carter Dupuis gave everyone in the crowd a scare as he muffed the kick, but picked it quickly. After making a couple of people miss, he ran it 80 yards to the end zone for a Berwick touchdown and making the score even at 7.
Dupuis had another highlight reel play, catching a slant and taking it 55 yards for a touchdown. Dupius’ second touchdown would make the 41-14, as the Lions scored 34 unanswered points.
They also added another touchdown before halftime, and went into the locker room leading by 34.
Berwick would only score one more touchdown for the rest of the game. Blake Blanchard got his first career touchdown.
This Friday, the Panthers are once again home, facing off against the Erath Bobcats. The Bobcats are 6-0 on the year. Berwick is 1-5.

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