On May 9, 2017, Rodney Lewis of 811 Pine St. Donaldsonville, LA., age 39, pled guilty to Aggravated 2nd Degree Battery. Lewis was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joni Buquoi, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Jason Verdigets. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following a 2015 incident.
On July 6, 2015, deputies with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to the area of Pine St. in Donaldsonville following reports of a stabbing. Upon arrival, deputies were approached by the victim who lifted his shirt and showed deputies an apparent stab wound to the abdomen. While speaking to the victim, officers observed a male subject who fit the description of the suspect. The victim pointed the male subject out and identified him as the person who stabbed him. Officers immediately detained the subject who was identified as Rodney Lewis. The victim advised that he was standing in his yard when Lewis approached him. Lewis made several remarks and shortly after, Lewis lunged at the victim with a sharp knife like object stabbing him in the abdomen. After a brief physical altercation, Lewis fled the scene. The victim was transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital where he was treated. Lewis was arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail.
Upon entering a guilty plea to the above mentioned charge, as per the plea agreement with prosecutors, Judge Verdigets ordered that sentencing be deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. A sentencing date has not been set as of this time. Lewis faces up to 15 years in state prison.