3-14-16
THE DEATH PENALTY TRIAL OF 24-YEAR-OLD LANDON BROUSSARD OF LAFAYETTE, THAT IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS SUMMER, MAY BE DELAYED BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS AT THE PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE. BROUSSARD IS ACCUSED OF KILLING THREE-YEAR-OLD JULIAN MADERA, THE SON OF HIS GIRLFRIEND, IN NOVEMBER OF 2014. BROUSSARD’S LEAD ATTORNEY, CLAY LEJEUNE OF CROWLEY, WAS ONE OF 26 ATTORNEY’S WHO’S CONTRACTS WERE CANCELLED BY THE PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE AFTER STATE FUNDING WAS CUT, AND HIS SECOND ATTORNEY RESIGNED TO TAKE A JOB IN BATON ROUGE. THE HEAD OF THE 15TH JUDICIAL PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE, PAUL MARX, TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT HE MAY HAVE TO PLAY A ROLE IN BROUSSARD’S DEFENSE.
A former Lake Charles priest has been sentenced to two life sentences, plus 50 years, for sexually abusing altar boys in the late 1980s and early ’90s. Mark Broussard was sentenced Friday on several charges including two counts of aggravated rape. The rape charges carry mandatory life sentences. KPLC-TV reports that Judge David Ritchie said he was disgusted by the former priest’s refusal to accept responsibility for what he did.
A LAFAYETTE WOMAN WAS KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT ON L-A 31 AT THE CYPRESS STREET EXTENSION ROAD IN ST. MARTIN PARISH. 18-YEAR-OLD HUNTER MANSOUR OF ALEXANDRIA WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON THE HIGHWAY AT AROUND 10:30 SUNDAY MORNING WHEN HE WENT OFF THE ROAD TO AVOID REARENDING ANOTHER VEHICLE AND STRUCK A CHAIN LINK FENCE. MANSOUR WAS NOT INJURED, BUT ONE OF HIS PASSENGERS, 18-YEAR-OLD JULIANA GERAMI WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. MANSOUR WAS FOUND BY POLICE TO HAVE NOT BEEN IMPAIRED BUT HE WAS CITED FOR CARELESS OPERATION AND THE CASE REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. dropped 9 this week to 480, a record low and another sign of continuing price woes in the oil and gas industry. Houston-based oilfield services company Baker Hughes said Friday that 386 rigs sought oil and 94 explored for natural gas. A year ago, 1,125 rigs were active. Louisiana, however, saw a gain of three rigs.
THE THIRD ANNUAL ZYDECO MARATHON TOOK PLACE IN LAFAYETTE YESTERDAY. MORE THAN 16-HUNDRED RUNNERS REGISTERED FOR THE MARATHON AND HALF MARATHON. THE START AND FINISH LINES FOR THE RACE WERE MOVED THIS YEAR FROM THE CAJUNDOME TO DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE BECAUSE OF A SURVEY OF RUNNERS WHO PREFERRED A SINGLE LOOP. THE WINNERS OF THIS YEAR’S MARATHON WERE 37-YEAR-OLD JOHN HITTER OF LAFAYETTE AND, ON THE WOMEN’S SIDE, 56-YEAR-OLD SUZY SEELEY OF HOUSTON.
SEVERAL DOZEN HOMES IN OAKDALE HAVE BEEN DAMAGED BY FLOODWATERS FROM THE CALCASIEU RIVER. THE RIVER CRESTED AT 19-POINT-7 FEET LAST NIGHT. HARDY ESTES, ONE OF THE RESIDENTS WHOSE HOME WAS DAMAGED, TOLD KPLC TV THAT THERE IS A CAR UNDERWATER IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND HE PLANS ON LEAVING. THE CALCASIEU RIVER WAS AT 21-POINT-7 FEET IN OBERLIN LATE LAST NIGHT AND FORECASTERS ARE PREDICTING IT WILL REACH 25 FEET.
AN OPELOUSAS MAN WAS KILLED IN A ONE VEHICLE ACCIDENT IN ST. LANDRY PARISH SUNDAY MORNING AT AROUND EIGHT A-M. 32-YEAR-OLD CLARENCE ROBINS WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON L-A 31 AT LITTLE TECHE ROAD WHEN, FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, HE WENT OFF THE ROAD AT A CURVE AND STRUCK A TREE. ROBINS, WHO WASN’T WEARING A SEATBELT, WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. TOXICOLOGY SAMPLES WERE TAKEN FROM ROBINS BUT STATE POLICE DO NOT BELIEVE IMPAIRMENT WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
TODAY THE STATE LEGISLATURE RETURNS TO THE CAPITAL TO BEGIN THIS YEAR’S REGULAR SESSION, WHICH WILL LAST THROUGH JUNE SIXTH. GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS WILL ADDRESS THE LEGISLATURE THIS AFTERNOON. HE IS EXPECTED TO PROPOSE A MINIMUM WAGE HIKE AND GENDER PAY EQUITY BILLS, WHICH WERE KEY COMPONENTS OF HIS CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR. THE LEGISLATURE WILL ALSO HAVE TO DRAFT A BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT BEGINS JULY FIRST.
