June 2023
Once in a while I can use this column as a bragging corner, where I can sing loud the praises of the bright young lawyers who do the yeoman work of the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s office. This one of those times.
On June 8, Assistant District Attorney Senae Hall was sworn in as the president of The Louisiana State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division at its meeting in Destin, Fla. This is a BIG deal, and Senae did a wonderful job in representing our office and all the young lawyers in Louisiana.
The work Senae does in our office in quite important. She is the Human Trafficking Victims Diversion coordinator and also works with the STAR Court Program in Caddo Parish Juvenile Court to combat human trafficking issues.
She received a BA degree in mass communications in 2008 from Dillard University, and earned her JD degree in 2011 from the Southern University Law Center. She was admitted to practice in this state that same year.
She has served as the 2022-23 chair-elect, the 2021-22 secretary and as an at-large representative on the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division Council. She was a member of the 2018-19 Leadership LSBA Class and served on the LSBA YLD Awards Committee for two years. She also volunteered as a mock trial competition judge from 2017-20.
A member of the Shreveport Bar Association, the Louisiana District Attorneys Association and the Harry V. Booth/Judge Henry A. Politz American Inn of Court, she is the Law Week and Service chair for the SBA’s Young Lawyers Section. She served as the Social Media chair from 2021-23 for the SBA’s Young Lawyers Section and the treasurer for the SBA’s Women’s Section in 2022.
Senae’s recognitions include Teen Court Volunteer of the Year, 2018, and the Abounding Faith Temple Youth Leader Volunteer of the Year, 2017. She was the February 2019 Member Spotlight by the Shreveport Bar Association Women’s Division and a 2019 panelist for the Macy’s Black History Month Historical Black Colleges and Universities Program. She was selected by her attorney peers in 2021, 2022 and 2023 as a “Top Attorney” in SB Magazine and was chosen for the 2020-21 Dillard University “40 Under 40” list. She also was in the Shreveport Chamber of Commerce’s 2021 “40 Under 40” class. She is a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.
Finally, she serves as a board member for Volunteers for Youth Justice and also is a judge for the Volunteers for Youth Justice’s Teen Court Program.
And as everyone in our office knows, each year, she organizes a service project or fundraiser for her birthday to give back to her community.
Impressive, Senae!
Shifting gears, Juvenile Court transparency became a talking point by some in the recent legislative session. When I was elected and took on the role as Caddo Parish District Attorney in late 2015, I determined some changes were needed in Caddo’s Juvenile Court proceedings.
For one thing, I determined that the Louisiana Victim’s Rights Law was being ignored, evident by the mother of a 4-year-old rape victim being ejected from the courtroom by a juvenile court judge during the trial of the rapist.
After conferring with juvenile court staff and the Shreveport Police Officers Association about the treatment of victims and law enforcement officers at juvenile court, I notified juvenile court judges that the Victim’s Rights Law would be enforced by this office.
The Victim’s Rights Law allows victims to be present in court at every stage of juvenile court proceedings and have the right to speak to the defendant before sentencing. Investigating law enforcement officers also are allowed to be in court for all proceedings, including sentencing.
I also ended old juvenile court policies that prevented convicted juveniles – or their parents – from making monetary restitution to victims.
Prior to my changes, neither victims nor law enforcement were allowed in the juvenile court courtroom. The assistant district attorneys not only prosecuted cases, but were the only resource to contact victims or law enforcement regarding what occurred in court. Today, the law enforcement case agents are allowed to remain in Caddo Juvenile Court during the entirety of the trial and sentencing process. Prior to the changes I made, they were only allowed in court for their portion of the testimony.
I also expanded the Victims Assistance Program to juvenile court. The program once was only available to adult court victims; now it is available to juvenile court victims, with two new Victim Assistants assigned exclusively to juvenile victims.
Additionally, victims who cannot make it to juvenile court for a hearing due to their job or other issues can observe court proceedings or participate via Zoom technology.
Our office also regularly issues press releases, and this monthly recap includes, as allowed by state law, the names of juveniles in adult and juvenile court who are charged with certain violent offenses, are transferred to adult court or are sentenced for violent offenses. These news releases and the monthly recap, which include the names of the judge and the sentence given by the judge for violent offenses, are released directly to the public as well as through social media, including Facebook and our website at www.caddoda.com.
We have established reciprocal open lines of communication with our neighboring parish district attorneys and judges, regarding receiving the criminal histories needed to properly sentence juveniles who commit crimes in their non-home parish. This protects the public in all Northwest Louisiana parishes.
These changes made at our juvenile court were essential to make our office the most transparent, victim-friendly, law enforcement-friendly juvenile District Attorney’s office in the state. And despite whatever ignorance is said from outsiders who have no idea nor have ever asked what is going on in our part of the state, we will continue in these efforts.
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a crime committed by a juvenile and need assistance, please contact our Juvenile Division at (318) 429-7647 or visit our website listed above.
With that in mind, the June returns from the Caddo Parish Grand Jury included indictments against two juveniles for alleged sex crimes. And I decided three other juveniles will be prosecuted in adult court rather than juvenile court due to their involvement in recent carjackings.
After probable was determined through continued custody hearings, 17-year-old Miguel Foret and 15-year-old Truman Krantz each were charged with first-degree rape. Foret’s alleged offense was committed June 1, while Krantz’s alleged crime occurred May 20. Due to the nature of the charges, further details of these cases have been filed under seal.
Probable cause was found in Caddo Parish Juvenile Court June 9 in continued custody hearings for several Caddo Parish teens charged with the alleged commission of two recent carjackings.
Anthony Ardison, 17; Cornell Ardison, 16; LaBron Lewis, 15; and a 14-year-old male all were charged with armed robbery in connection with the June 7, 2023 robbery of a Door Dash delivery driver in the 2100 block of Grimmett Drive in north Shreveport. Juvenile Court Judge Natalie Howell also found probable cause regarding LaBron Lewis in connection with another recent armed robbery. The 14 year old pleaded guilty to carjacking in juvenile court July 5, and will be sentenced August 16 by Judge Howell.
Shreveport Police investigation determined that on June 7, the Door Dash delivery driver had completed her delivery and was attempting to leave in her 2008 Honda Accord when several youths blocked her exit in a gold Toyota Camry. Armed with weapons, they demanded her vehicle. The victim was able to escape, but her vehicle and all her valuables inside were stolen.
Further investigation determined the Camry had been the target of an armed robbery allegedly committed by Lewis June 5 in the 1600 block of North Market Street.
Assistant District Attorney Janet Silvie secured the findings, which were the latest in a series of cases where teen violent offenders have been forwarded for prosecution in District Court by the District Attorney.
The Foret and Krantz teen indictments were among seven true bills returned by the Grand Jury June 22. Other returns from that Grand Jury session were:
* Devin Porter Jr., 20, of Shreveport, was the target of three indictments, encompassing 22 separate counts for criminal acts allegedly committed in late March.
Topping the charges against him was one count of second-degree murder, in connection with the March 25 gunshot death of Jacorvin Taylor. Mr. Taylor, 32, was one of seven people fired upon by Porter in a shooting spree that occurred in the early morning hours on Texas Street in downtown Shreveport.
Counts two through seven in the first indictment, docket No. 394551, were for attempted second-degree murder in connection with the other injuries caused in the gunfire spree.
Count eight in this indictment is for aggravated flight from an officer, when Porter failed to bring his vehicle to a stop upon command from a police officer.
In the second indictment against him, docket No. 395986, Porter faces 13 counts topped by illegal possession of stolen things, namely a stolen car used in the commission of the shooting spree, aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce, and illegal use of weapons. The remaining 10 counts encompass damage to vehicles during the shooting spree.
The third indictment against Porter, docket No. 395987, consists of one count, resisting an officer.
* Also indicted for second-degree murder, docket No. 394218, was 19-year-old Natoya Dixon, charged with the March 5 slaying of Tyniece Haley. Haley, 18, was shot in the parking lot of a skating business on Bert Kouns Industrial Loop after the business had closed for the day. A group of people had reportedly met there to fight.
A secret indictment also was returned by the Grand Jury, but its details, like the sex charges against the teens, was filed under seal.
In other cases in June:
* A Shreveport man accused of pornography involving juveniles and sexual abuse of an animal pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court June 5.
Deaundrick Fuller, 23, admitted to possessing pornography involving juveniles under the age of 17 and possessing pornographic images of an animal engaged in a sexual act.
Caddo District Judge Ramona Emanuel sentenced Fuller to five years in prison without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence on count one and five years on count two, the terms to run consecutively, for a total of 10 years. Upon release, Fuller also must register as a sex offender for 25 years on the pornography involving juveniles under the age of 17 and register for 15 years on the sexual abuse of an animal.
Fuller was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brittany Arvie. He was defended by Katie Ferguson.
The case was docket No. 390468.
* A Shreveport man accused of molestation of a juvenile pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court June 6.
Eddie Ray Taylor, 63, admitted to molesting a juvenile under the age of 17, who was only 8 years old when the molestation occurred. Taylor was the babysitter for the juvenile at the time of the crime.
District Judge Ramona Emanuel sentenced Taylor to 10 years at hard labor. Taylor must register as a sex offender for 15 years upon release, and a permanent protective was put in place for the victim.
Taylor was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brittany Arvie. He was defended by Katie Ferguson.
The case was docket No. 392819.
* A Shreveport photographer accused of pornography involving juveniles pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court June 7 before Judge Ramona Emanuel. His plea encompassed three counts of pornography involving youths.
Mitchel S. Solice, 60, a well-known portrait photographer for local schools, admitted to photographing, videotaping, filming or otherwise reproducing visually sexual performances involving a victim under age 17. Solice stated he did not take the images but that they were located and found on his computer system.
Solice was sentenced to five years at hard labor on each of the three counts, with the sentences to run consecutively for a total of 15 years. Solice also must register as a sex offender for 15 years upon his release.
Solice was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brittany Arvie. He was defended by Angelo Piazza III.
The case was docket No. 392077.
* An Oil City man who pleaded guilty in April to child pornography charges was sentenced in Caddo District Court June 26 to 90 years in prison.
Anthony Joseph Remedes, 39, was sentenced by District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. to 30 years at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence, on each of three counts to which he admitted guilt. The terms are to be served consecutively.
Remedes admitted to possessing three videos of juveniles under the age of 13 performing sexual acts with adults. He already was a registered sex offender for a 2016 conviction of attempted possession of pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13.
This investigation started with the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s office and was handed over to Louisiana State Police. Remedes was contacted by troopers and confessed to viewing pornography containing juveniles as young as 1 year old.
He was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Courtney Ray and Jason Waltman. He was defended by Elizabeth Gibson.
* A Shreveport woman was found guilty in Caddo District Court June 13 of fatally stabbing her boyfriend in 2020 and not reporting his death for more than eight hours.
Kimberly Johnson, 43, was found guilty by the six-man, six-woman jury in Caddo Parish District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.’s court after two hours of deliberation. The verdicts were unanimous.
Jurors learned that on September 3, 2020, following a visit to the home of the victim’s mother, Johnson and the victim, Lemel Taylor, 43, returned to his home at which they resided in the 6100 block of Southern Avenue. The following morning, Taylor was found stabbed to death on the living room sofa. Johnson called 911 and stated that Taylor was not breathing.
When fire medics arrived they determined rigor mortis had set in. The coroner determined Taylor had been dead more than eight hours when 911 was called. There were no signs of forced entry at the home. At first, Johnson claimed to not know what had happened, but later admitted stabbing Mr. Taylor after he threatened her. Other than a self-inflicted cut on one hand, Johnson had no injuries. Physical evidence at the scene contradicted her story of a struggle. Johnson admitted to disposing of the murder weapon in a sewer drain; however, she took police to the drain and the knife was recovered.
Johnson faces a mandatory life prison term without possibility of probation, parole of reduction of sentence. For the obstruction charge, she faces up to 40 years at hard labor.
Johnson was prosecuted by Jason Waltman and Kendra Joseph. She was defended by Elizabeth Gibson and Carter Lawrence.
The case was docket No. 378293.
* A Shreveport man accused of a vicious July 2022 carjacking that badly injured a local woman pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court June 14.
Lewis C. Moton, 49, pleaded guilty in District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.’s court just as the jury was prepared to enter for the start of his trial.
The victim was ending her shift July 28, 2022 as a nurse at a hospital in the 1800 block of Irving Place, when Moton forced her car door open and violently attacked her. The nurse ultimately was thrown out of her vehicle into another vehicle and injured while fighting for her life. Moton eventually got the upper hand, taking the victim’s phone, car and belongings.
However, police were able to track the victim’s vehicle via an app on her cellphone, and recovered the vehicle within 30 minutes of the carjacking. Moton and some of the victim’s belongings were found in close proximity to the vehicle.
When Moton returns to court July 25, he faces a sentence of from two to 20 years in prison without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Due to prior felony convictions, he is eligible for enhanced multi-bill sentencing.
Moton was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kendra Joseph and Jason Waltman. He was defended by Sean Landry.
The case was docket No. 390512.
* A Shreveport man accused of pornography involving juveniles and molestation of a juvenile under age 13 pleaded guilty June 30 in Caddo District Court.
Nicholas Bouvay, 42, faced a single count of each offense in his appearance before District Judge Ramona Emanuel.
Bouvay admitted to photographing, videotaping, filming or otherwise reproducing visually sexual performances involving a child under age 17. Bouvay also admitted to molesting a 3-year-old child he had babysat.
Bouvay was sentenced to five years at hard labor on the pornography involving juveniles conviction and to 25 years at hard labor on the molestation of a juvenile under age 13 conviction. He also must register as a sex offender for 25 years upon his release. The sentences will run concurrent with each other.
He was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brittany Arvie and was defended by Katherine Ferguson.
The case was docket No. 391359.
* A Caddo Parish jury unanimously found a local man guilty as charged June 29 of drugging and raping a woman he met shopping at a local mall.
The six-man, six-woman jury in District Judge John D. Mosely Jr.’s court deliberated 30 minutes before finding Treydarrius Wright, 28, guilty of the July 30, 2021 second-degree rape.
Wright met his victim while shopping in Pierre Bossier Mall. He asked her out on a date and went to her house that afternoon to take her out. He took his victim to Party Central in Bossier City, then to a biker club on Greenwood Road in Shreveport. They then left to visit a liquor store, where he purchased a bottle of Patron tequila. They then proceeded to Wright’s brother’s house in Sunset Acres, where he persuaded his victim to drink some of the liquor. Witnesses reported he ground up a pill and later commented that he had drugged her. When his victim became dizzy and started to stumble, they returned to the biker club. When the woman became incapacitated and inebriated, he offered to take her home, but took several hours to do so.
At trial, the victim testified she could not remember what occurred after she drank the drugged shot and did not regain consciousness until the following morning. On July 31, 2021, she reported to police she suspected she was sexually assaulted. DNA and blood samples taken during a sexual assault examination. Analysis by the North Louisiana Crime Lab showed an overwhelming match for Wright’s DNA and the presence of the designer drug Clonazolam, also known as clonitrazolam, in the victim’s bloodstream.
When Wright returns to Judge Mosely’s court July 12, he faces at least five and up to 40 years in prison at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.
Wright was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Cheyenne Wilson and Courtney Ray. He was defended by Casey Simpson and Madison Crusan.
The case was docket No. 386656.
* A Shreveport man with a felony on his record caught with a concealed handgun after a traffic stop by police was convicted in Caddo District Court June 27.
The six-man, six-woman jury in District Judge Chris Victory’s court deliberated about 45 minutes before returning its guilty-as-charged verdict against Travis Latrea Adams, 33.
Adams was stopped by Shreveport Police after traffic violations April 2, 2019. Officers noticed a strong odor of marijuana and searched the vehicle, finding a Smith and Wesson handgun in an armrest. Adams admitted to possessing the firearm, despite having a 2010 felony conviction for aggravated assault of a peace officer with a firearm.
For his conviction on one count of possession of a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon by a convicted felon, Adams faces at least five and up to 20 years in prison without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence and a fine of at least $1,000 and up to $5,000. Due to his prior felony convictions, he is eligible for enhanced sentencing. Adams will return to court August 1 for sentencing.
Adams was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Victoria Washington and Sam Crichton. He was defended by Sean Landry.
The case was docket No. 366297.
* A Shreveport man accused of pornography involving juveniles pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court June 26 before District Judge Ramona Emanuel, who sentenced him to serve 10 years in prison.
Glenderek Merritt, 26, admitted to photographing, videotaping, filming, or otherwise reproducing visually sexual performances involving a child under the age of 17.
In addition to his hard-labor sentence, Merritt must register as a sex offender for 15 years upon his release.
Merritt was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Brittany Arvie. He was defended by Katherine Ferguson.
The case was docket No. 390485.
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Finally, an unusual case for a District Attorney fell our way in June, with a Caddo Parish voter challenging the qualifications of an elected official and prevailing.
Caddo District Judge Brady O’Callaghan sided with the voter and our office and vacated the seat of Caddo Parish School Board District 7 member Barbara Iverson, citing domicile issues.
Judge O’Callaghan issued his ruling June 29, following a hearing with both parties that occurred June 21. Assistant District Attorney Tommy Johnson represented our office, while Iverson represented herself.
Judge Callaghan determined that state law required Iverson to maintain her domicile in the district she represents, but that the facts, evidence and her own statements in that regard showed she maintained her domicile in Bossier City.
Iverson can appeal the decision to the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal.
The suit was docket No. 644261. A copy of Judge O’Callaghan’s decision can be found on our website.
We mourn and pray for all victims of crime, and pray for the apprehension and bringing to justice of those responsible for the senseless violence plaguing some areas of Shreveport.
Lastly, I want to offer condolences to the family and friends of our retired Assistant District Attorney Rachel King, who passed away last weekend after a courageous battle with cancer. To my friend her father Pete, her husband Rich, and their daughter Audra, I offer on behalf of this office sympathies and love to you in your earthly loss of a wonderful daughter, wife, and mother.
At your service,
James E. Stewart Sr., Caddo Parish District Attorney