5-23-24
LAFAYETTE POLICE HAVE MADE PROGRESS IN THE SHOOTING OF A SEVENTY-YEAR-OLD MAN, WHO WAS KILLED WHILE HE SLEPT AT HIS HOME ON MACKLYN STREET. SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.
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THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS MADE AN ARREST IN A COLD CASE MURDER FROM TWO THOUSAND THREE. IN DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR, THE BODY OF SUSAN KENNEDY JACKSON WAS FOUND IN BAYOU WIKOFF, JUST NORTH OF EXIT EIGHTY-TWO IN CROWLEY AND IT WAS DETERMINED SHE DIED FROM BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA. THE ACADIANA CRIME LAB MATCHED D-N-A EVIDENCE TO A MAN FROM MARYSVILLE, WASHINGTON, FORTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD FERRIS BONHAM, WHO WAS JAILED IN MICHIGAN ON AN UNRELATED CHARGE. BONHAM HAS BEEN TRANSPORTED TO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL ON A SECOND-DEGREE MURDER WARRANT AND HIS BOND WAS SET AT ONE MILLION DOLLARS.
A Louisiana bill that would empower state and local law enforcement to arrest and jail people in the state who entered the U.S. illegally received approval from lawmakers and will likely soon be on the governor’s desk. Laws similar to Louisiana’s legislation — in Iowa, Oklahoma and Texas — are currently facing legal challenges. Texas’ law remains on hold by a federal appeals court’s three-judge panel, which heard arguments from both supporters and opponents in April. Like the Texas law, Louisiana’s bill seeks to expand the authority of state and local law enforcement.
THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION IS MOVING FORWARD WITH AN AUDIT OF THE BEAUREGARD ELECTRIC CO-OP. COMMISSIONER MIKE FRANCIS TOLD CO-OP EMPLOYEES THAT THE INVESTIGATION WAS NEEDED AS OPERATING EXPENSES FOR THE FIRST QUARTER WERE TREMENDOUSLY HIGH COMPARED TO NORMAL. DIRECTORS FOR BEAUREGARD ELECTRIC HIRED A LAW FIRM TO DO AN INVESTIGATION WHICH, THEY SAY, FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF CURRENT OR ONGOING THEFT OR CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. HOWEVER, THE REPORT SUBSTANTIATED DIRECTORS EXERCISED UNDUE INFLUENCE AND ABUSED THEIR POWER, INTERFERING WITH DAILY OPERATIONS.
FORMER SAINT THOMAS MORE SCHOOL TEACHER JACOB DE LA PAZ WAS FOUND GUILTY OF ONE OF TWO CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES THAT HE WAS FACING. THE LAFAYETTE JURY FOUND HIM GUILTY OF ATTEMPTED RECEIPT OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY BUT THE JURY FAILED TO COME TO A UNANIMOUS VERDICT ON THE CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED PRODUCTION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY. A MISTRIAL WAS DECLARED ON THAT CHARGE AND IT’S NOT CLEAR YET IF HE WILL BE RETRIED. DE LA PAZ WILL BE SENTENCED ON AUGUST TWENTY-SECOND AND HIS ATTORNEY WILL ANNOUNCE LATER IF THEY WILL APPEAL THE GUILTY VERDICT.
EUNICE POLICE INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN TWO MEN AT A HOME ON WEST ASH AVENUE LED TO A SHOOTING TUESDAY NIGHT JUST BEFORE NINE-THIRTY. A MAN WAS KILLED, THOUGH HIS IDENTITY HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED, AND A GIRL WAS SHOT AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES. POLICE TOOK A MAN INTO CUSTODY FOR QUESTIONING. HIS NAME HAS ALSO NOT BEEN RELEASED.
A state of emergency has been ordered after severe storms swept Louisiana last week, knocking out power to nearly 160,000 people and leaving three dead, including a pregnant woman and her unborn child. Gov. Jeff Landry signed the emergency declaration Tuesday, allowing state resources to assist in the recovery process for several parishes affected by the May 14-17 storms, which churned up at least two tornadoes. In a statement, the governor said the state is staying in contact with local leaders and will do what it can to get affected areas the necessary aid and resources as the areas recover.
AN OPELOUSAS MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH A STABBING JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT MONDAY MORNING AT A HOME ON EMMA STREET. FORTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD JOSE OVIDIO AGUILAR IS ACCUSED OF STABBING HIS NEPHEW IN THE STOMACH. THE NEPHEW WAS AIRLIFTED TO LAFAYETTE GENERAL AND HIS CURRENT CONDITION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED. A KITCHEN KNIFE USED IN THE STABBING WAS FOUND IN THE FRONT YARD OF THE HOME.
