1-9-15
THE ATTORNEY FOR SETH FONTENTOT, A LAFAYETTE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING 15-YEAR-OLD AUSTIN RIVAULT AND WOUNDING TWO OTHER TEENAGERS, HAS ASKED THE JUDGE IN THE CASE TO OPEN COURT PROCEEDINGS AND UNSEAL RECORDS IN THE CASE. THE ADVOCATE NEWSPAPER AND KATC TV HAVE FILED PETITIONS FOR ACCESS TO THE SEALED DOCUMENTS AND TRANSCRIPTS OF COURT HEARINGS THAT WERE CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC. JUDGE EDWARD RUBIN TOLD THE TWO MEDIA ORGANIZATIONS THAT OPENING THE RECORDS COULD ENDANGER FONTENOT’S RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL, BUT FONTENOT’S ATTORNEY, THOMAS GUILBEAU SAYS THERE ARE REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES TO CLOSURE THAT WILL PROTECT HIS CLIENT’S RIGHTS. A COURT HEARING ON THE MATTER IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT THURSDAY.
THE LAKE ARTHUR TOWN COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY APPROVED AN AGREEMENT WITH MEYERS AND ASSOCIATES TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES AND ADMINISTRATION FOR A 550 THOUSAND DOLLAR PROJECT TO IMPROVE THE TOWN PARK. MAYOR ROBBIE BERTRAND TELLS THE AMERICAN PRESS THAT MEYERS AND ASSOCIATES WILL DEVELOP PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE PROJECT AND SUBMIT THOSE TO THE STATE FOR APPROVAL. BERTRAND SAYS THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT IS TO REBUILD AND IMPROVE THE PARK’S PAVILIONS, INSTALL PICNIC TABLES AND BARBEQUE PITS AND REPLACE PARK BENCHES. THE SECOND PHASE WILL INCLUDE REPLACING THE BOARDWALK AND INSTALLING L-E-D LIGHTING ALONG WALKWAYS.
THE ST. MARY PARISH CORONER HAS DETERMINED THAT A FRANKLIN MAN, WHO DIED IN SEPTEMBER, WAS STRANGLED WITH A NECK TIE. 54-YEAR-OLD JOSE A. PINEIRO-PEREZ WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD ON SEPTEMBER SEVENTH AT HIS DOTTIE LANE HOME. THE CORONER, DR. F-H METZ JUNIOR DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF DEATH AS ASPHYXIA, WITH THE STRANGULATION CAUSING A DISLOCATION OF THE CERVICAL SPINE. THE ST. MARY PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS NOW INVESTIGATING HIS DEATH AS A HOMOCIDE.
Louisiana is still ranked near the bottom in the annual “Quality Counts” survey released by the publication Education Week. But the state did edge up from 49th last year to 44th in the latest rankings, which were released Thursday. The Quality Counts survey this year gives the state an overall grade of D-Plus. The scores are based on a variety of factors, including the income and education of family members, student achievement in grades K-12, and the financing of schools.
KEITH STUTES WAS SWORN IN AS THE 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AT THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COURTHOUSE. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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A CALCASIEU PARISH GRAND JURY DECLINED TO INDICT FORMER L-S-U AND
N-F-L FOOTBALL PLAYER BRANDON WINEY ON A CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREEE MURDER. WINEY WAS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING ANOTHER FORMER L-S-U FOOTBALL PLAYER TAHJ JONES AT A SULPHUR APARTMENT COMPLEX LAST APRIL. THE TWO GOT INTO AN ARGUMENT AT A WOMAN’S APARTMENT, WHICH ALLEGEDLY LED TO THE SHOOTING. WINEY WAS ARRESTED THE DAY AFTER THE SHOOTING AND CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER, AND HE WAS RELEASED LATER AFTER POSTING A 475 THOUSAND DOLLAR BOND.
TWO ROOMATES FROM EUNICE WERE ARRESTED THIS WEEK BY NARCOTICS AGENTS FOR ALLEGEDLY SETTING UP THE SALE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. SERGEANT CLAY HIGGINS OF THE ST. LANDRY PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS 38-YEAR-OLD KRISTY THIBODEAUX AND 32-YEAR-OLD RAYMOND D. MILLER ARE ACCUSED OF ARRANGING TO SELL ADDERALL AT THE TRAILER PARK WHERE THEY LIVED. HE SAYS AGENTS ALSO FOUND A HANDGUN INSIDE THEIR VEHICLE. THE TWO FACE SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE SCHEDULE TWO NARCOTICS.
Utility regulators say freezing weather across the state will prevent electric and gas utilities from disconnecting residential customers who are behind on their bills.
Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell says a 2007 rule he authored instructs utilities to avoid cutting off customers when temperatures reach 32 degrees or colder and remain there. Campbell, of Bossier City, says that kind of weather threatens the health of children, the sick and elderly when there’s no heat in a home. The same PSC rule prevents cutoffs during summer heat waves.
