I hope you and your families had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. I saw that LSU thumped Oklahoma, and our friends at Southern University won both the Bayou Classic game and halftime show over our friends at Grambling. But we all won when the entire Superdome of both fan bases erupted with dancing, yelling, and enjoying Baton Rouge’s own Torence “Boosie” Hatch Jr.’s surprise performance with the Southern University “Human Jukebox” band.
However, the Thanksgiving Day death of a Shreveport teenager, combined with the joy and social media fervor throughout the state surrounding Boosie’s surprise performance, somehow brought me back to mind of last month’s report to you.
In recap, I brought to you that according to the Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice (“OJJ”) Caddo Parish (population 226,386) leads the state with the highest number of incarcerated juveniles in its juvenile prisons at 108. In comparison, East Baton Rouge (448,467) 90, Orleans Parish (364,136) 72, and Calcasieu Parish (203,761) 54. Caddo Parish also has at the time of this writing 17 juveniles in our parish pre-trial juvenile jail. Three of those pre-trial inmates are female. And this does not include the numbers of juveniles currently incarcerated at Caddo Correctional Center that are being charged as adults by my office. I also noted last month that 50 other Caddo juveniles are wearing the new unbreakable electronic ankle monitors.
I stated that as our Caddo Parish juvenile court has toughened up with the times, “what is sorely needed is analysis of and investment in the programming these juveniles receive while incarcerated.”
My words unfortunately came true Thanksgiving Day. The young man had just been released from juvenile prison in March 2024 following a five-year sentence for armed robbery committed when he was 14 and thus too young to transfer to adult court. Less than eight months later street violence had claimed two more young black males of our community.
Today, I call for the establishment of a statewide panel of experts to analyze the programming of inmates in the Office of Juvenile Justice custody. Whether it is by our Governor or legislature, it is past time for immediate action to be taken to develop and implement programs and counseling for incarcerated youth to learn better decision making, and then to also envelope these youth who often grow up in blighted crime ridden communities surrounded by traumatic violence, and where they ultimately return after serving their prison time. These young men need post-release tracking along with ongoing supportive services for extended periods of time to keep them out of further lives of crime. These costs are ultimately cheaper than the building of more prisons.
A selected panel of our OJJ secretary, respected legislators from each party, psychologists, sociologists, community leaders from our larger parishes, former inmates , sheriffs, police chiefs, DAs , and even admired Louisiana sports stars and entertainers such as Torence “Boosie” Hatch Jr., could be appointed to meet as a group, tour a facility, interview current and former juvenile inmates, and then issue an annual report to the Governor and legislature of the programming needs to address these troubled youth.
With the same focus, intensity, and pride of a Bayou Classic halftime show or big LSU football game, Louisiana needs to address saving and redirecting the lives of these troubled youth.
Our ADAs were busy in November:
* A Caddo Parish jury found Shreveporter Jonathan Tyrone Cooper, 45, guilty of first-degree rape of a child in a trial that concluded November 21.
The six-man, six-woman jury in District Judge John D. Mosely Jr.’s court deliberated approximately 45 minutes before finding Cooper guilty as charged.
On May 12, 2022, a 9-year-old girl told her fourth-grade teacher a male relative was having sex with her. The Shreveport Police Department and the Department of Family and Child Services responded. The child and a child witness took part in an emergency interview at the Gingerbread house, where critical testimonial evidence of the crime was preserved. After the Gingerbread House interviews Cooper was arrested for rapes that began when the child was 7 and continued until she reported them at age 9.
When Cooper returns to court January 8, 2025 for sentencing, he faces a mandatory term of life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.
Cooper was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Ross Owen, Michael Anderson and Chase Burgess. He was defended by Casey Simpson and Hilary Hileman.
The case was docket No. 389219.
* A Shreveport man who broke into a Highland home he thought a former girlfriend was at was convicted November 21.
William Cody Conder, 30, was found responsively guilty of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling by the 10-woman, two-man jury in District Judge Chris Victory’s court. The jury deliberated less than two hours.
Early October 11, 2023, Conder was outside residence in the 200 block of Boulevard Street, banging on the front door with a metal bat, yelling for his former girlfriend, who he believed to be inside. The homeowner armed himself with a shotgun and went downstairs to investigate. When the homeowner opened the door, Conder pushed open the door and aggressively entered the home where he demanded to know where his former girlfriend was. Fearing for his own safety and that of his family, the homeowner fired his shotgun, its pellets striking Conder in his legs. At that time, the homeowner’s father was able to shove Conder out of the house and call police. Later, it was learned that Conder had slashed two tires of his girlfriend’s car that was parked outside.
When he is sentenced, Conder faces up to six years in prison with or without hard labor.
Conder was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Courtney N. Ray and Briana C. Spivey. He was defended by Michael Enright and Katie Miller.
The case was docket No. 398079.
* A Shreveport man was found guilty of sexual battery of a teenaged boy Tuesday, November 19.
It took the eight-man, four-woman jury in District Judge Chris Victory’s court about three hours to find Anthony Hollis, 52, guilty of sexual assaults that occurred numerous times from November 2020 to November 2022.
Hollis was arrested September 28, 2023, shortly after the victim, then 13, told a family friend that he had been sexually assaulted by Hollis between the ages of 11 and 12. The victim reported Hollis ordered him to perform oral sex on him and had groped him in the shower, and told the victim not to report the attacks to anyone.
Hollis will return to Judge Victory’s court for sentencing January 9, 2025. For his conviction on the responsive charge of sexual battery of a victim under age 13 by an offender 17 or older, he faces at least 25 and up to 99 years in prison at hard labor, with at least 25 years to be served without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.
Hollis was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Victoria Washington and Courtney Ray. He was defended by Michael Enright and Katie Miller.
The case was docket No. 397853.
* A Shreveport man convicted in October for leading a mass shooting downtown last year that left a man dead must serve the rest of his natural life in prison, a Caddo judge ruled November 14.
Devin Owen Porter Jr., 21, found guilty October 25 of leading a mass shooting in the Red River entertainment district, was sentenced to mandatory life in prison without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence for firing the shot that left 32-year-old Jacorvin Taylor dead. Shots fired by Porter and accomplices critically wounded six other people and led to a high-speed flight from officers that crossed the city.
Of the six convictions for attempted murder, District Judge Chris Victory decreed that Porter must serve 40 years at hard labor on each count, again without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. For the conviction for aggravated flight from an officer he must serve five years at hard labor. All the sentences are to be served concurrently.
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, mortally wounded. At least 60 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. He also faces pending charges in Pennsylvania.
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.
* An elderly Shreveport man faces years in prison after a Caddo Parish jury determined November 8 that he had strangled and beaten his wife last year.
The seven-man, five-woman jury in District Judge Donald E. Hathaway’s court deliberated just under two hours before returning its unanimous guilty-as-charged verdicts against John Lafleur, 79, on charges of domestic abuse strangulation, and responsively guilty of attempted cruelty to the infirm and simple battery.
The jury was presented with evidence and witness testimony that on September, 20, 2023, the victim’s daughter-in-law arrived at the couple’s home in the 8600 block of Shelton Avenue to take the victim grocery shopping and was shocked to see horrendous bruising on the woman’s face, neck, chest, arms and legs. Employees at their shopping destination, a local Wal-Mart, also were taken aback at the condition of the victim and encouraged her to report her injuries to the police.
The victim recounted how Lafleur had savagely beaten her one week prior and had refused to allow her to call police or leave the home. The victim testified Lafleur threatened to kill her if she reported the abuse. The jury heard three witnesses and viewed photographs of the victim’s injuries before deliberating.
When Lafleur returns to Judge Hathaway’s court December 17, he faces up to three years in prison for domestic abuse strangulation, up to five years for attempted cruelty to the infirm, both at hard labor, and six months in the parish jail for simple battery.
Prosecutors were Assistant District Attorneys Ashlyn Thomas and Jason Waltman. Lafleur was defended by Evan McMichael and Katherine Ferguson.
The case was docket No. 39783.
* A Shreveport man was convicted of felony DWI November 8. The three-woman, three-man jury in District Judge Ramona Emanuel’s court returned a responsive charge of guilty against Roy Lee Wimberly Jr., 62, for a third-offense DWI.
On August 19, 2022, Wimberly was stopped by Shreveport police after changing lanes without using a turn signal and almost causing an accident with the SPD patrol car. Upon removing Wimberly from his vehicle, officers detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage. Wimberly admitted to drinking beer prior to driving. Officers conducted standardized field sobriety tests and determined Wimberly was under the influence of alcoholic beverages. Wimberly refused to take any chemical or breath tests.
Upon arresting Wimberly and conducting a check of his criminal history, officers were able to confirm he had three prior convictions for operating a vehicle while intoxicated in Caddo Parish, with two of those convictions in May 2018 and the last conviction in September 2021.
The jury heard testimony from SPD DWI patrol officers, as well as an SPD fingerprint expert.
When Wimberly returns to court December 16, he faces a fine of $2,000 and imprisonment, with or without hard labor, for at least one and up to five years.
Prosecutors were Assistant District Attorneys Fernando Grider and Senae D. Hall. Wimberly was defended by Joey Hendrix.
The case was docket No. 390873.
* A Shreveport man was convicted November 7 of fleeing from Shreveport police and Caddo sheriff’s deputies in March, using his vehicle in a manner that put the public, particularly other drivers on public highways, in mortal danger.
It took the four-man, eight-woman jury in District Judge Donald Hathaway Jr.’s court around 80 minutes to find Ethan Doyle, 33, guilty of aggravated flight from an officer and aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce, stemming from his actions March 9, after SPD officers attempted a traffic stop in the 1800 block of North Market Street.
At trial, prosecutors called three witnesses to prove that Doyle fled by car from law enforcement, endangering human life. From North Market Street he fled to Interstate 220 into Bossier Parish, turned back at Benton Road, back over I-220 onto North Market Street in Shreveport. Caddo deputies then picked up the chase on U.S. Highway 71 to state Highway 2 then onto I-49 North. The chase ended just south of the Arkansas state line.
When Doyle returns to Judge Hathaway’s court January 13, 2025, he faces up to five years at hard labor for aggravated flight from an officer and up to 15 years, with or without hard labor, for aggravated obstruction of a highway.
Assistant District Attorneys Stephen Folk-Cruthirds and Jason Waltman prosecuted Doyle. He was defended by Katie Ferguson and Evan McMichael.
The case was docket No. 400743.
* A Shreveport man was convicted of manslaughter and numerous firearms charges November 6 in regard to the deaths of a local mother and daughter while he fled police last year.
The six-man, six-woman jury in District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.’s court deliberated about an hour before returning its guilty-as-charged verdict against Terrance Malik Dangerfield, 26, of Shreveport, on two charges of manslaughter, one count of possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance (second offense) and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Over the course of the trial, the District Attorney’s office called 14 witnesses to prove that the defendant killed Faith Alexander, 31, and her 4-year-old daughter, while he fled from police officers January 10, 2023. The hit-and-run car crash that claimed the victims’ lives occurred at state Highway 3132 and Walker Road.
Dangerfield sped and drove erratically on 3132 and exited onto Walker Road when a patrol officer attempted to stop him. Dangerfield ran a red light and T-boned Ms. Alexander’s vehicle at high speed, then fled the accident scene on foot. Dangerfield’s car was found to hold around two pounds of marijuana and two firearms.
Dangerfield will return for sentencing December 12. Prosecutors plan to file a multiple offender bill through which Dangerfield can receive an enhanced sentence. If he is found to be a fourth-time felony offender, he will face a sentence of at least 40 years and up to life on each manslaughter conviction.
Assistant District Attorneys Christopher Bowman and Kodie Smith prosecuted Dangerfield, who was defended by Greg Johnson.
The case was docket No. 393286.
* Three Shreveport men were indicted for their part in a July 2024 slaying on Kennedy Drive in west-central Shreveport, while two area men face charges of rape in true bills returned November 13 by the Caddo Parish Grand Jury.
Everett Henderson, 23, is one of three men charged with the July 17 slaying of Jaden Barnhill, 24, who was found shot twice inside a residence on Kennedy Drive. He also is charged with possession of a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon by a convicted felon. That case is docket No. 403312.
Also charged with second-degree murder are Lejerrion Lee, 22, case No. 403613, and Peteria Seamster II, 21, case No. 403636.
Men charged with sex crimes are Orion Ivory, 19, of Shreveport and Anthony Rainey, 56, of Grand Cane.
Ivory, booked into Caddo Correctional Center September 7, is charged with first-degree rape, in case No. 403975. Rainey, booked September 15, is charged with first-degree rape and indecent behavior with juveniles, docket No. 404117.
Due to nature of the charges against Ivory and Rainey, no further information is available regarding their cases.
I hope you all have a joyous and Happy holiday season. Merry Christmas to you all. Remember the reason for the season!!
At your service,
James E. Stewart, Sr.
Caddo Parish District Attorney