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BATON ROUGE — In a continuing flood of criminal justice legislation, a Louisiana House committee approved a bill that would keep secret the means and methods of execution of a death-row inmate.
The 12-5 vote by the House and Governmental Affairs committee follows action elsewhere in the Capitol on Tuesday that expanded capital punishment to include electrocution and injection of nitrogen hypoxia. The state's new governor, Republican Gov. Jeff Landry, said he wants to resume capital punishment. He called the state Legislature into a special session on crime until early March.
The governor wants to address a public outcry over shootings, car-jackings and violent crimes, and to roll back part of an overhaul of criminal justice measures taken by the Legislature several years ago under former Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat.
Proponents contend that one reason Louisiana has not executed anyone on death row since 2010 is due to the unwanted publicity for pharmaceutical manufacturers who sell the lethal drugs.
Rep. Nicholas Muscarello Jr., R-Hammond, said his bill tracks laws in other states that have resumed executions and successfully kept details about the executions private.
“This is why Louisiana has not had an execution in over 10 years," said Muscarello, arguing that confidentiality is necessary for companies and individuals carrying out these executions.
The law mandates that any violations of the proposed law shall face prison terms for up to two years and fines of up to $50,000. The bill will eventually be considered by the full House where it is expected to be passed along with a similar bill in the Senate and sent to the governor for his signature.
Members of the House who opposed the bill, however, argued that it was not the state’s business to protect the reputation of a manufacturer selling drugs that could be used for execution.
Rep. Delisha Boyd, D-New Orleans said that the focus should be more on the individuals who are threatening the manufacturers of the drug, rather than protecting the identity of the companies.
Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge, followed up with a question about potential conflicts of interest. “If we are protecting the company, how do we know who is owning a company? she asked. “If I can own the company and sell the drug, that is a conflict of interest,’’ she said.
Organizations opposing the measure, known as House Bill 6, included The Promise of Justice Initiative, New Orleans nonprofit advocacy group, and the ACLU.
“We say justice is blind, but that doesn’t mean we do justice in the dark, which is what this bill will do,” said Michael Cahoon of The Promise of Justice Initiative.
Representatives in support of Muscarello’s bill disagreed.
“This is a step of justice,” said Rep. Mark Wright, R-Covington. “This is not about us dealing with the records; it is about us being able to execute.”
The bill also had the support of the influential Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association.
Before approving the measure, the committee cleared an amendment instructing the state’s department of public safety and corrections to make counseling services available for any person involved in the execution.

BATON ROUGE— Protesters swarmed House hearing rooms Tuesday as a top law enforcement committee passed legislation that would expand capital punishment to include death by nitrogen gas and electrocution. The panel significantly boosted sentences for carjacking and penalties for so-called “rainbow” fentanyl sold to children.
It also tightened parole issues and prisoner rules which drew opposition from groups that aid formerly incarcerated people in voting and civic participation.
Punishment for car-jackings and selling fentanyl to children came in a flurry of legislation that swept across the Capitol on Tuesday following a stirring speech the day before from newly-elected Gov. Jeff Landry. Landry, a former state attorney general, ran on a get-tough-on-crime stance that would roll back scores of revisions made under his predecessor, Gov. John Bel Edwards. Chief among Landry’s positions was to restart capital punishment as a deterrent to what has been soaring crime rates in the state’s major cities.
Louisiana has not administered capital punishment by lethal injection since 2010.
“Capital punishment is lawful, and we intend to fulfill our legal duty to resume it,” said Landry to a joint session of the Legislature on Monday.
Based on House committee action Tuesday, the minimum sentence for car-jackings was raised to five years from two and car-jackings involving violence – or causing severe bodily injuries – was raised to a minimum to 20 to 30 years from 10 years.
Two years ago, a horrific carjacking gained headlines nationally when an elderly woman was attacked by four teenagers in New Orleans and dragged 200 yards. Her arm was severed and she died 20 minutes later.
“There’s just a huge risk for grave harm to victims and we want to deter car-jackings as best we can,” said Rep. Laurie Schlegel, R-Metairie.
Sarah Whittington, a staff attorney from the nonprofit Justice and Accountability Center of Louisiana, which assists people re-entering society from incarceration, noted that increasing carjacking sentences would not deter the crime, violent or otherwise.
“You need to invest in people and opportunities,” Whittington told House members. “And those will not bear fruit for 20 years,” she said, adding “ but that is where the investment has to lie.”
Schlegel also attacked what is dubbed “rainbow fentanyl” with another bill.
According to Whittington, fentanyl is 50% more powerful than heroin and 100% more powerful than morphine. Children are being fooled with what seems to be innocent candy to suffer the effects of fentanyl from the manipulation of the deadly drug into fun colors and shapes, resembling SweetTarts, Whittington said.
Schlefel successfully proposed a sentence of 25 to 99 years for selling fentanyl to a minor, which is similar to that of other crimes that harm children. This sentence comes without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.
The debate around fentanyl was reported favorably and concluded in under 10 minutes with no opposition on the committee.

Cheryl Breaux, 67, a native of Morgan City and resident of Patterson, died Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2024, at her residence.
She is survived by her husband, Marvin Breaux; children, Brandi Breaux and Matthew Breaux; siblings, Michael Landry, David Landry, Dianna Leblanc and Sybil Lasseigne; and two grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation will be Thursday, 5-8 p.m., and continue Friday, 8-10 a.m., at Twin City Funeral Home, followed by Mass at 11 a.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Morgan City Cemetery.
Twin City Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

(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 Patterson man mistakenly released from serving his heroin possession sentence was rearrested by St. Mary deputies Tuesday, and now faces on additional drug charges.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 31 complaints and made these arrests:

--Fred Purnell Kenner, 37, Patterson, was arrested at 8:31 p.m. Tuesday on a Hunt Correctional Center warrant and on charges of resisting an officer, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance, entry on or remaining in places or on land after being forbidden, unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law (drug-free zone).

Kenner was serving time for possession of heroin with intent to distribute when he was released from the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center on Feb. 14.

On Tuesday, officials at the Law Enforcement Center were informed by the Louisiana Department of Corrections that Kenner was released in error. Kenner’s release came after corrections deputies confirmed in the jail management system that his completion date reflected that he should be released Feb. 14.

It was not known that the date was erroneous at the time of release.

Due to the error, the Louisiana Department of Corrections issued a warrant for Kenner, which was entered into the NCIC computer system.

Later, detectives traveled to a residence on Terrebonne Street in Morgan City. Kenner answered the door when detectives knocked. He attempted to shut the door. Entry was made into the residence.

Seeing crack cocaine in plain view, detectives obtained a search warrant of the residence. Through the search, drugs and drug paraphernalia were located.

Detectives were advised by Morgan City police that Kenner was barred from the residence. Additionally, Kenner had entered the residence without the knowledge of the resident who was not present.

Kenner was taken into custody and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking.

--Quentin Theodore Delco, 41, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:58 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging rape. Bail has not been set at this time.

--Juvenile male, 15, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:55 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging sexual battery. The juvenile male was released into the custody of a guardian pending juvenile court proceedings

--Marcus Anthony Juarez, 28, Spring, Texas, was arrested at 2:39 p.m. Tuesday on charges of speeding and reckless operation (no accident). Bail has not been set at this time.

--Alicia Marie Thompson, 34, Jeanerette, was arrested at 8:56 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear charges of possession of marijuana and criminal trespassing. Bail was set at $500.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 43 calls for service over the last 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest:

--Shawn Paul Francois Jr., 20, Duke Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:13 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of possession of tobacco products under 21.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:

--Andrew Luke, 19, La. 662, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of theft ($1,000-$5,000).

--Timothy Wayne Collier, 24, Honey Lane, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested Tuesday on a charge of theft ($1,000-$5,000).

The charges arise from an incident that occurred in the early morning hours of Feb. 12, in the area of Aristle Road.

On Tuesday, deputies responded to a complaint at a Bayou L’Ourse retail outlet. While they investigated that complaint, an independent witness identified two individuals who were present at the retail outlet as being the same two individuals captured on video surveillance stealing an ATV Feb. 12/.

Deputies initiated an investigation and identified Luke and Collier as the two individuals who appeared on the video surveillance stealing the ATV.

At the conclusion of the investigation, Luke and Collier were arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending bond proceedings.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin 0Police Department responded to six complaints over the last 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest:

--Frederick Jackson, 44, Trowbridge Street, Franklin, was arrested at 1:28 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession with intent to distribute hydrocodone and criminal conspiracy.

Jackson was booked, processed and held with no bond set at the time of press release.