A Shreveport driver’s flight from officers last year ended with the man’s conviction Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017, in Caddo District Court.
The seven-man, five-woman jury in District Judge Katherine Dorroh’s courtroom took a half-hour to find James Joseph Stewart, 31, guilty of aggravated flight from an officer during a May 2, 2016 encounter. Stewart led Shreveport police officers, attempting to conduct a traffic stop, on a high-speed chase on Pines Road.
According to officer reports, Stewart ran a stop sign, illegally passed another vehicle, ran another stop sign and then lost control, running his vehicle off the road in the 8700 block of Pines Road. Stewart and a passenger then fled on foot. Police apprehended the passenger, who identified him, and also found Stewart’s ID that had been left in the vehicle. A warrant was issued for Stewart’s arrest, and he was brought in two weeks later.
Stewart, who was convicted in 2011 for the same offense, will return for sentencing on Jan. 26, 2017, and faces up to five years in prison.
Prosecutors were Assistant District Attorneys Joshua K. Williams and Jason Waltman. Stewart was defended by David McClatchey.