A Shreveport man accused of attempting to sell methamphetamine and carrying a weapon despite being a felon was convicted Tuesday, February 12, 2019, in Caddo District Court.
Jurors in Caddo District Judge Erin Leigh Waddell Garrett’s courtroom deliberated only 25 minutes before returning guilty verdicts against Ja’Kyron Mandell Reed, 29, of Shreveport.
Reed was arrested January 16, 2018, after officers observed suspicious activity at a closed car lot at Hollywood Avenue and West Canal Street. When officers questioned Reed, they smelled marijuana on his person and in his car. After being Mirandized, Reed admitted possessing narcotics as well as a firearm he bought on the street. Officers recovered the weapon, seven Ecstasy pills, 0.2 grams of marijuana and $160 in cash with the drugs.
Reed previously was convicted of second-degree battery, a felony, February 7, 2011, in the 26th Judicial District Court in Bossier Parish.
When Reed returns to Judge Garrett’s courtroom February 26, 2019, he faces prison terms of one to ten years, with or without hard labor, and a fine of up to $50,000, for conviction on the charge of possession with attempt to distribute a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance, and five to 20 years at hard labor, without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence, and a fine of $1,000 to $5,000 for conviction on the charge of possession of a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon by a convicted felon.
Reed was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Ross Owen and Erica Jefferson. He was defended by Richard Fisher.