SERVING ASCENSION, ASSUMPTION & ST. JAMES PARISHES

During the week of September 7 – September 11, 2026, the following defendants pled guilty to various charges and were sentenced in the 23rd Judicial District Court, parishes of Ascension, Assumption, and St. James.

Posted on by Claire Falgoust

Ascension Parish: 

  1. Randall Groom, Gonzales, LA, age 66, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession of Marijuana. The defendant was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 24 months supervised probation. 
  1. Avery McWhirter, Prairieville, LA, age 25, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 18 months supervised probation. 
  1. Frank Melancon, St. Martinville, LA, age 40, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 18 months supervised probation. 
  1. Devin Landry, Maurepas, LA, age 26, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The defendant was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 18 months supervised probation. 
  1. Katie Ortego, Prairieville, LA, age 41, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (2 counts) and Theft Valued Under $1,000. The defendant was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 5 years supervised probation. 
  1. Alejandro Silva-Mata, Geismar, LA, age 43, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. Richard Dunn, Gonzales, LA, age 50, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, Distribution of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. The defendant was sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 5 years supervised probation. 
  1. Jeffery Johnson III, Baton Rouge, LA, age 26, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 3 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 3 years supervised probation. 
  1. Christopher Ryback, Gonzales, LA, age 26, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 24 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 24 months supervised probation. 

The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Charles “Chuck” Long, Robin O’Bannon, and Kenneth Dupaty. Presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge John Smith.  

Assumption Parish: 

  1. Avianna Payten, 115 Pugh St. Paincourtville, LA, age 20, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 18 months supervised probation. 
  1. Haze Hebert, 2329 Hwy 308 Labadieville, LA, age 24, pled guilty to Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and was sentenced to 3 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 3 years supervised probation. 
  1. Landyn Hebert, 2329 Hwy 308 Labadieville, LA, age 20, pled guilty to Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and was sentenced to 3 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 3 years supervised probation. 
  1. Stephen Harris, 612 Locust St. Thibodaux, LA, age 35, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 18 months supervised probation. 
  1. Jeremy Herron, 207 Sparrow St. Labadieville, LA, age 46, pled guilty to Introducing Contraband Into or Upon the Grounds of any State Correctional Institution and was sentenced to 1 year with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. JD Price, 15330 Ella Blvd. Houston, TX, age 26, pled guilty to Computer-Aided Solicitation of a Minor and was sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. It was ordered that 2 years of the said sentence are to be served, and the remaining 8 years are to be suspended. Upon release from incarceration, the defendant is to be placed on 5 years supervised probation. The defendant must also register and notify as a sex offender or child predator for a period of 15 years. 
  1. Lance Bush, 2979 Hwy 1 Labadieville, LA, age 36, pled guilty to Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling and was sentenced to 3 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. Devin Walker, 419 Chetimatches St. Donaldsonville, LA, age 31, pled guilty to Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and was sentenced to 5 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. Charles Richard Jr., 115 Pugh St. Paincourtville, LA, age 35, pled guilty to Obstruction of Justice and Distribution, Manufacture, or Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance. The defendant was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 

The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Thomas Daigle, and presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Steven Tureau. 

St. James Parish: 

  1. Brian Melder, 1560 Louis Rd. Gonzales, LA, age 42, pled guilty to Possession of Adderall and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 

The above case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Koenig, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Cody Martin.