After Caddo Parish led the state of Louisiana in the number of criminal jury trials held during the pandemic, and after a two-month suspension of jury trials by court order for the Omicron variant of Covid, Caddo Parish is full-steam ahead in jury trials.
More than 80 trials were set in the District Attorneys Office’s criminal trial sections, many of which were resolved with guilty pleas. The remaining cases were called for trial, or in some cases were continued. These covered a wide range of offenses, from murders, attempted murders and sexual batteries to rapes, domestic violence and various weapons charges.
Here are the highlights of the first week back in business:
* On Monday, March 7, 2022, Lonnie James pled guilty to a charge of manslaughter in connection with the September 27, 2021 slaying of his wife, Antiqua James. She had been shot twice, in the stomach and in the head, at their residence on Cedar Creek Drive. District Judge Ramona Emanuel sentenced Mr. James, 59, to the maximum sentence of 40 years in prison at hard labor and remanded him to the Department of Corrections to serve his sentence. He was prosecuted by Caddo Assistant District Attorney Nancy Berger-Schneider and was defended by Katherine Evans.
*Broderick Tyrone Lewis Jr. of Shreveport, 34, Shreveport, was convicted Tuesday, March 8, 2022, of aggravated flight from an officer in connection with an incident that occurred June 7, 2019. Lewis, reported as a suspect in a domestic offense with his girlfriend at the time, drove his SUV through a parking lot to evade arrest, leaving the roadway, running traffic lights and stop signs until he finally was surrounded by police and taken into custody. The five-man, seven-woman jury was unanimous in its decision. When Lewis returns to face District Judge Donald Hathaway Jr. March 17, 2022, he faces imprisonment at hard labor for not more than five years and a possible fine of up to $2,000. Lewis was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Victoria Washington and Allison Melton Griffin. He was defended by Elizabeth Gibson and Carter Lawrence.
* Nissan Cardivious Williams of Shreveport, 36, was found guilty Thursday, March 10, 2022, on two counts of molestation of a juvenile under the age of 13 in connection with acts committed in October 2018 and disclosed in late 2019. The victims, aged 9 and 10 at the time, reported that Williams gave them what they believed to be candy but was in fact some type of medication. He then separated the children and fondled them. The five-man, seven-woman jury in District Judge Donald Hathaway Jr.’s court unanimously convicted Williams. At his sentencing April 14, 2022, Williams faces imprisonment at hard labor for at least 25 and up to 99 years on each count with at least 25 years to be served without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Williams was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Victoria Washington and Sam Crichton. He was defended by Elizabeth Gibson and Katie Evans.
* Ramon Laderrick Adger of Shreveport, 33, pled guilty to manslaughter in connection with the December 4, 2018 shooting death of his girlfriend at their residence on South Emerald Loop. The shooting was witnessed by the victim’s teenaged son, who died before the trial. Louisiana law does not allow a jury to hear the statement of someone who is unavailable for cross-examination at trial. Thus the jury would not have been allowed to hear the deceased’s eyewitness statement. After consultation with the victim’s mother, the state accepted defendant’s plea offer and allowed him to plead guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughter. Adger was sentenced by District Judge Donald Hathaway Jr. after his allocution March 4, 2022, to 20 years at hard labor with no appeal to his conviction or sentence. Adger was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jason Waltman and was defended by J. Antonio Florence.
* Kenneth Wayne Small of Shreveport, 46, was convicted of attempted indecent behavior with a juvenile under age 13 in connection with acts committed August 1, 2020 at a residence in the 4200 block of Markham Street. The 9-year-old victim, a friend of Small’s child, was at a sleep-over at Small’s and at some point got into bed with Small, his wife and their minor daughter. The victim awoke to Small kissing her face. He then pulled her pants down and pulled his pants down and “hunched” on the victim. Small told her not to tell anyone promised to take her to the store if she did not tell. About two weeks later, the victim reported the sexual assault to her mother, who notified the police. The victim testified at the trial. The nine-woman, three-man was unanimous in its decision returned Thursday, March 10, 2022 before District Judge Mike Pitman. When Small returns for sentencing at a date to be determined, he faces up to 12 years, six months in prison. Small was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jason Waltman and was defended by Chris Miciotto.