SERVING ASCENSION, ASSUMPTION & ST. JAMES PARISHES

During the week of February 23 – February 27, 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.

Ascension Parish: 

  1. Dryan Dupre, 1378 Windsor Dr. Baton Rouge, LA, age 37, pled guilty to Theft Valued At $5,000 or More, but Less than $25,000 and was sentenced to 8 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 5 years supervised probation. 
  1. Rustin Wheat, 43502 Oak Ln Gonzales, LA, age 34, pled guilty to Domestic Abuse Battery – Child Endangerment 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. 

The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Christopher Carter and Blake Sheets. Presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Cody Martin. 

Assumption Parish: 

  1. John Thibodeaux, 6706 Hwy 308 Belle Rose, LA, age 45, pled guilty to Theft Valued at $5,000 or More, but Less than $25,000 and Promoting Pyramid Promotional Scheme. Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. 
  1. Victoria Courville, 2815 Lafiton Lane Port Allen, LA, age 29, 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, to be suspended, and placed on 2 years supervised probation.
  2. Arian Wiggins, Baton Rouge, LA, age 28, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance. The defendant was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 2 years supervised probation. 
  1. Ronald Vallejo, 187 Violet St. Labadieville, LA, age 35, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 5 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. Demetres Miller, 3376 Back Marais Napoleonville, LA, age 52, 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. Jeremy Dipuma, 14165 Jefferson Hwy Baton Rouge, LA, age 42, pled guilty to Distribution, Manufacture, or Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance. The defendant was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 2 years supervised probation. 
  1. Erick Brunner, 107 Melissa St. Labadieville, LA, age 41, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (2 counts) 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. 

The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lana Chaney, and presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Keyojuan Turner. 

  1. Rico Askins, 253 Hwy 400 Napoleonville, LA, age 32, pled guilty to Domestic Abuse Battery Involving Strangulation and was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 

The above case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Thomas Daigle, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Jason Verdigets. 

St. James Parish: 

  1. Alajuwon Jackson, 14401 Courtney Rd. Walker, LA, age 36, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana or Synthetic Cannabinoids and was sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 3 years supervised probation. 
  1. Casper LeBlanc, 3355 Amy St. Paulina, LA, age 27, pled guilty to Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and was sentenced to 5 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 3 years supervised probation. 
  1. Colen Johnson, 1521 Grant St. Laplace, LA, age 38, pled guilty to Distribution of Crack Cocaine and was sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 3 years supervised probation. 
  1. Kalvin Scioneaux, 6278 Burtin Ln. St. James, LA, age 71, 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. Shantell Scott, 9649 Jefferson St. Laplace, LA, age 41, pled guilty to Automobile Insurance Policies Fraud and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 2 years supervised probation. 
  1. Tyrean Harry, 7354 Freetown St. St. James, LA, age 29, pled guilty to Attempted Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. Keith Southerland, 8209 Mill St. St. James, LA, age 55, pled guilty to Failure to Register and Notify as a Sex Offender or Child Predator. Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. 
  1. Mandarrel Walter, 2542 East Lebray St. Lutcher, LA, age 21, pled guilty to Aggravated Assault with a Firearm, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance, and Illegal Carrying of Weapons – Controlled Dangerous Substance (2 counts). Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. 
  1. Wilson Gaines, 2428 W Lebray St. Lutcher, LA, age 64, pled guilty to Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms. Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. 
  1. Djwauna Early, 225 East 14th Gramercy, LA, age 34, pled guilty to Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 2 years supervised probation.

 The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Adam Koenig, and presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge John Smith.