From the Desk of the DA, October 2024

Similarly, in October, our office began an initiative to confront domestic violence from within the correctional system, as Caddo Parish officials and mental health professionals met October 31 with male inmates at Caddo Correctional Center. The goal: to address the impact of domestic violence on victims, families and communities.

The collaborative effort between our office and Clint Davis Integrative Counseling aimed to educate offenders and provide insights into prevention, intervention and the lasting consequences of domestic violence.

Assistant District Attorney Ron Christopher Stamps, a leading veteran Louisiana prosecutor, was joined by Melvin Lars, an expert in community engagement, and Clint Davis, a local licensed Professional Counselor. Together, they facilitated an open discussion, engaging the inmates on the real and pervasive impact of domestic violence. This discussion offered perspectives on behavior modification, strategies for healthier relationships and the need to break cycles of violence.

This initiative represents our commitment not only to justice now for victims, but to genuine change to prevent future violence. Addressing offenders directly, within a structured environment, is a crucial step to understand the consequences of their actions and to prevent future violence.

The initiative underscores our commitment to addressing domestic violence at all levels, with preventative measures aimed at creating safer communities. This program will continue to develop as a valuable tool for educating offenders with the knowledge and resources necessary to make meaningful changes, transforming their lives and the lives of those affected by domestic violence, and most importantly, stopping domestic violence and protecting victims.

In other activities to shine the spotlight on domestic violence, on October 19, our office hosted its 3rd Annual “Kick Against Domestic Violence” kickball tournament at Bill Cockrell Park on Pines Road. We partnered with Shreveport Community Renewal Friendship Houses, the Shreveport Police Department, the Shreveport Fire Department, the Shreveport City Marshal’s office and the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office. Each agency sponsored children from their assigned Friendship House for the tournament.

We also partnered with Shreve Memorial Library for its Purple Box Campaign to help collect unused toiletries for adults and children who fall victim to domestic abuse. When most victims flee their abusive environments they usually leave with next to nothing, often only the clothes they wear. The Purple Box Campaign helps organizations such as Project Celebration, Inc. serve adults and children who are displaced by domestic abuse.

PCI is a nonprofit organization that provides direct services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and children experiencing violence. Services are provided in Caddo, Bossier, DeSoto, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine and Webster Parishes, with two domestic violence shelters that provide safe housing for women and children fleeing domestic violence. All services through the organization are free and confidential.

In this campaign, purple boxes were placed at each Shreve Memorial Library branch located inside Shreveport. Members of the public donated items ranging from toothbrushes and toothpaste to soap and deodorant, as well as other personal hygiene items.

One of the many cases successfully prosecuted by our office in October was an especially egregious example of domestic violence.

Shreveporter Ahkeen Wiggins, 34, accused of beating, choking and attempting to strangle a pregnant former girlfriend, was found guilty as charged October 24 by a seven-woman, five man jury in District Judge Donald Hathaway Jr.’s court. Deliberations lasted about an hour. The jury vote was unanimous.

The jury heard witness testimony and reviewed evidence that included video of the criminal acts of Wiggins strangling and battering his former dating partner outside her home in the 4000 block of Rochester Street on February 25.  After an argument, Wiggins grabbed the pregnant victim by her throat and lifted her off the ground. Surveillance video recorded the victim gasping for air and Wiggins exclaiming “I am a different breed, I will kill you.” After choking the woman, Wiggins took her to the ground and used his legs to squeeze her abdomen. Interviewed by law enforcement, Wiggins admitted he was the attacker on the video. He argued that since he and the victim were no longer dating partners and that the domestic violence law was not applicable. The jury rejected that argument.

When he is sentenced by Judge Hathaway November 14, Wiggins faces up to three years in prison at hard labor for each charge, strangulation of a dating partner and battery of a dating partner who is pregnant.

Assistant District Attorneys Ashlin Thomas and Jason Waltman prosecuted Wiggins. He was defended by Evan McMichael. The case was docket No. 401201.

In other cases of note:

* A former Shreveport Police officer was convicted of malfeasance in office October 31.

Christopher McConnell, 40, of Bossier City, testified in his own defense before District Judge Chris Victory. Judge Victory heard McConnell and four witnesses for the state, who related that on the night of January 16, 2020, McConnell conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Linwood Avenue due to the car’s license plate light not working.

After McConnell activated his cruiser’s lights and siren, the female driver slowed down but continued to drive as she attempted to locate a safe and better-lit location, finally parking at a local business. McConnell exited his vehicle with his weapon, yelling as he approached the parked vehicle, “license, registration, shut your mouth.” He pulled the driver from her vehicle and attempted to handcuff her. Two other officers on scene assisted McConnell in arresting the driver, who allegedly pulled away from the officers and then was tasered by a different officer. She then sat on the pavement to be handcuffed. Despite her compliance, McConnell struck the driver in the face. Injured, she was taken to a local hospital to be treated for her injuries.

McConnell will return for sentencing December 9. He faces up to five years in prison with or without hard labor, or a fine of up to $5,000, or both.

McConnell was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Victoria Washington and Courtney Ray. He was defended by Rickey Swift.

The case was docket No. 382966.

* A Shreveport parent was convicted October 30 of criminal neglect of family in Caddo Juvenile Court.

Juvenile Judge Justin Courtney determined that Lasonya Shante Wilson, 35, of Valley Ridge Road, was guilty as charged of three counts of neglect. He sentenced her to 60 days in jail.

Wilson was arrested September 21 after her children ages 4, 12 and 13, were found home alone with an infestation of insects, no utilities, very little food and no working appliances. Wilson was tried at Juvenile Court under provisions of law that mandate the prosecution of adults for certain crimes, to include criminal neglect of family, at juvenile court.

Wilson also faces three charges of illegal use of controlled dangerous substances in the presence of minors and felony cruelty to juveniles at Caddo Parish District Court before Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.

Assistant District Attorney Glenn Cortello prosecuted Wilson. She was represented by public defender Mark Manno.

* A Shreveport man was found guilty October 25 of leading a mass shooting in the Red River entertainment district, which led to the death of one person, critical wounding of six others and a high-speed flight from officers that crossed the city last year.

Devin Owen Porter Jr., 21,  was found guilty as charged of all eight charges against him  — second-degree murder, six counts of attempted second-degree murder and aggravated flight from officers — by the eight-woman, four-man jury in District Judge Chris Victory’s court. Deliberations lasted about two hours.

On March 25, 2023, Porter and at least two other shooters arrived in a stolen vehicle at the intersection of Texas and Market streets in downtown Shreveport. They opened fire on a group of people heading towards one of the downtown clubs. At least seven people were shot, with one victim, 32-year-old Jacorvin Taylor, fatally wounded. At least sixty shots were fired, with Porter responsible for at least 33 shots, including the fatal round. The shooters then fled in the stolen car.

Shreveport police officers pursued the shooters from the intersection of Midway Street and Hearne Avenue to Willie Mays Street, reaching speeds of over 100 mph, running red lights and crossing residential yards. Four occupants abandoned the car and fled. Porter was apprehended by Shreveport police just south of the Peach Street Apartments complex.

Inside or near the abandoned car, police found three AR-style pistols. These were tested and all were determined to have been responsible for the 60 rounds fired at the downtown shooting. DNA on a ski mask found near the vehicle was tied to Porter. Surveillance video at the shooting scene captured Porter and one accomplice during the crime. Searches of Porter’s social media and cell phone further linked him to the murder weapon.

An arrest warrant was issued for one other suspect, who was arrested in Pennsylvania and is currently awaiting extradition. That man also faces pending charges in Pennsylvania.

When he returns for sentencing November 13, Porter faces mandatory life imprisonment at hard labor without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence for the murder conviction, 10 to 50 years in prison, also without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence, for each of the six attempted second-degree murder convictions, and up to five years at hard labor for the aggravated flight conviction.

Porter was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys William J. Edwards, Kodie K. Smith and Victoria Washington. He was defended by Michael Enright and Silver Sanders.

The case was docket No. 394551.

* A Shreveport man who shot and killed a neighbor almost three years ago was convicted of second-degree murder in District Judge Donald Hathaway Jr.’s court October 23.

Jimmy Cockerhem, 66, was convicted by a unanimous vote of the seven-woman, five-man jury, which deliberated about one hour.

Jurors determined, after hearing witnesses and assessing evidence, that Cockerhem murdered Gary Lee, 61, outside his home in the 1700 block of Alda Street in Shreveport’s Martin Luther King Jr. neighborhood, on November 22, 2021. Cockerhem, who lived next door to Lee, left his house with his wife and drove to Willie Mays Street, where he left his car armed with a handgun, walked approximately 140 feet across an empty lot to confront Lee, who he shot once in the head. Lee was taken to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wound.

Cockerhem claimed the shooting was in self-defense and that Lee possessed a dangerous character. However, the state was able to rebut those claims with evidence that the defendant fled the scene following the shooting and discarded the murder weapon in Twelve Mile Bayou.

Cockerhem will return to Judge Hathaway’s court for sentencing November 12. He faces a mandatory life sentence without possibility of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

Assistant District Attorneys Jason Waltman and Christopher Bowman prosecuted the case, docket No. 386449. Phillip Adams defended Cockerhem.

* A Shreveport man who shot and killed his older brother after an argument in 2023 pleaded guilty to the slaying in October 16.

LilAnthony Johnson, 21, pleaded guilty to manslaughter before District Judge Chris Victory and was sentenced to 20 years in prison at hard labor.

Johnson was accused of shooting his brother LilCharles Johnson, 24, on May 30, 2023 near Monkhouse Drive in west Shreveport, following a verbal and physical altercation. The brothers repeatedly pushed and shoved one another and efforts by bystanders to separate them and defuse the situation were to no avail. Finally, LilAnthony Johnson pulled out a firearm and fired multiple shots at his brother. LilAnthony then fled, but was later apprehended. LilCharles was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

The plea to manslaughter and the sentence were approved by the victim’s family.

LilAnthony Johnson was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Victoria Washington. He was defended by Michael Enright.

The case was docket No. 395967.

* A DeSoto Parish man whose felony record precludes him from possessing a weapon was found guilty of that crime October 9.

Dashone Gibson, 28, of Stonewall, was found guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon by the seven-man, five-woman jury in District Judge John D. Mosely Jr.’s court after deliberating less than 20 minutes. The verdict was unanimous.

After hearing evidence that included Louisiana State Police bodycam video and trooper testimony, as well as testimony from state Probation and Parole agents, jurors determined that on June 11, 2021, Gibson illegally possessed a Mossberg shotgun. The weapon was found in the trunk of a vehicle Gibson was driving when stopped by troopers for texting and driving. Troopers noted the smell of marijuana emitting from the vehicle and conducted a search of the vehicle.

Gibson was convicted of simple burglary in DeSoto Parish in 2017 and is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm until 2029.

Gibson was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jasmine Cooper and Kodie Smith. He was defended by Casey Simpson and Hilary Hileman.

The case was docket No. 383463.

* A Shreveport man who drove his truck into a shopping cart corral at a grocery store and then passed out behind the wheel of the still-running vehicle was convicted of felony DWI in Caddo District Court October 8.

The six-woman jury in Judge Katherine Dorroh’s court deliberated just under two hours before returning its unanimous verdict of guilty-as-charged of third-offense driving while intoxicated with regard to Emanuel Sanchez, 32.

Evidence showed that on September 21, 2023, police received a call that a man was passed out behind the wheel of a truck that had driven onto a shopping cart holder at the Super 1 Foods at 745 Shreveport-Barksdale Highway. Arriving officers found Sanchez in the driver’s seat asleep with his truck still in gear and the engine running. Removing Sanchez from the vehicle, officers detected the odor of alcoholic beverages and took him into custody. At the police intoxication room Sanchez failed a field sobriety test and refused to take others. Officers confirmed Sanchez had two prior convictions for DWI from Smith County, Texas, and Harrison County, Texas, leading to his felony arrest.

Jurors heard testimony from two SPD DWI Patrol Unit officers and an SPD fingerprint expert.

Sanchez was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Fernando Grider and Senae D. Hall. He was defended by Dick Dave Knadler and Royal Alexander. The case was docket No. 397701.