On October 10, 2017, Faron Coupel of 6698 Hwy 998 Belle Rose, LA., age 56, pled guilty as charged to DWI 3rd Offense. Coupel was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lana Chaney, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Tess Stromberg. Per Judge Stromberg, sentencing was deferred pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. This guilty plea stems after a 2016 traffic stop.
On September 11, 2016, a patrol deputy with the Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office was on routine patrol in the area of Hwy 1000 in Belle Rose, when the deputy observed a vehicle traveling westbound in the wrong lane of travel at speeds in excess of 80 MPH. The deputy pursued the vehicle for a short time before a traffic stop was initiated. The deputy made contact with the driver of the vehicle who was identified as Faron Coupel. The deputy observed that Coupel was stumbling and had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his person. Coupel was given an opportunity to submit to a series of Standardized Field of Sobriety Tests which he failed. Coupel, who denied consuming any alcoholic beverages, was taken into custody for suspicion of DWI and was transported to the Assumption Parish Detention Center where he was given an opportunity to submit to a chemical breath test. Coupel refused the chemical breath test and was subsequently booked into the parish jail accordingly.
On December 11, 2017, Coupel appeared before Judge Stromberg for sentencing. Judge Stromberg ordered that Coupel be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for a period of 5 years with credit for time served. It was further ordered that at least 1 year of the said sentence is to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. In addition, Coupel is to pay a fine in the amount of $2,000.