SERVING ASCENSION, ASSUMPTION & ST. JAMES PARISHES

During the week of January 1 – January 5, 2024, 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. Lawrence James Harvey, 14447 Oak Meadow St. Gonzales, LA, age 56, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (2 counts), Possession of a Schedule III Controlled Dangerous Substance, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The defendant was sentenced to 8 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. Joseph Jackson, 8384 John LeBlanc Blvd Sorrento, LA, age 30, pled guilty to Introducing Contraband into or Upon the Grounds of a State Correctional Institution and was sentenced to 2 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. Muncy Mcalister, 15834 Varnado Rd. Walker, LA, age 65, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, Illegal Possession of Stolen Things, Theft Valued at $1,000 or More, but Less than $5,000, and Theft of a Motor Vehicle. The defendant was sentenced to 5 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. Destiny Weaver, 18024 Beechwood Sub’d Rd. Prairieville, LA, age 25, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (3 counts), Possession of a Schedule IV Controlled Dangerous Substance (2 counts) and Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance. The defendant 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. Brett Painter, 507 W Orice Roth Rd. Gonzales, LA, age 49, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession of a Schedule III Controlled Dangerous Substance. The defendant 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. Rebecca Jenkins, 37084 Sue St. Geismar, LA, age 23, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance (2 counts) and Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance. The defendant was sentenced to 18 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. Dwayne Variani, 2903 St. Landry Rd. Gonzales, LA, age 49, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance. The defendant was sentenced to 3 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. Kati Villar, 12393 Thomassie Rd. St. Amant, LA, age 34, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance and Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance. The defendant was sentenced to 3 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. Daniel Cavanaugh, 10287 Montrichet Dr. Baton Rouge, LA, age 24, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance (3 counts) and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. The defendant 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. Corey Bassett, 39248 Germany Rd. Prairieville, LA, age 19, pled guilty to Simple Burglary and was sentenced to 36 months with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 36 months supervised probation. 

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

Assumption Parish: 

  1. Melvin Breaux, 3071 Brasset Rd. Donaldsonville, LA, age 40, pled guilty to Obscenity and was sentenced to 1 year with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. Ronnie Vedros, 210 Vivian St. Morgan City, LA, age 61, pled guilty to Possession of a Schedule I Conttolled Dangerous Substance and was sentenced to 2 years 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: 

St. James Parish had no court news to report this week.