SERVING ASCENSION, ASSUMPTION & ST. JAMES PARISHES

During the week of October 20 – October 24, 2025, 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. Grace Smitherman, 1400 Liberty Dr. Gonzales, LA, age 22, pled guilty to Theft Valued at $1,000 or More, but Less than $5,000 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. Terrance Davis, 3245 Blackberry St. Baton Rouge, LA, age 30, pled guilty to Attempted Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (2 counts) and 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. Martin Vidrine, 17476 Eagles Perch Dr. Prairieville, LA, age 40, pled guilty to Obstruction of Justice 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. Gavin Comeaux, 12163 Cypress Park Geismar, LA, age 24, pled guilty to Aggravated Obstruction of Justice 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. Blake Gautreaux, Addis, LA, age 33, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana 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. David Williams, 38294 Mulberry St. Gonzales, LA, age 20, pled guilty to Theft Valued at $5,000 or More, but Less than $25,000 (2 counts) and 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. Markez Johnson, 157 D’Ville Village Donaldsonville, LA, age 18, pled guilty to Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and Illegal Carrying of Weapons. The defendant 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 4 years supervised probation. 
  1. Thomas Franklin, 3622 Bird Heights Ave Addis, LA, age 30, pled guilty to Second Degree Cruelty to Juveniles and was sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. Charlie Stafford, 41015 Mazoch Rd. Gonzales, LA, age 39, pled guilty to Oral Sexual Battery with a Victim Under the Age of 13 and was sentenced to 30 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. Prior to being released from incarceration, the defendant is to undergo chemical castration. Upon release from incarceration, the defendant must register and notify as a sex offender or child predator for life. 
  1. Melvin Sanders, 806 Church St. Donaldsonville, LA, age 39, pled guilty to Theft Valued at $1,000 or More, but Less than $5,000 and was sentenced to 1 year with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 

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

  1. Tregg Babin, 42432 Weber City Rd. Saint Amant, LA, age 57, pled guilty to Exploitation of the Infirmed and was sentenced to 9 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  2. Jordan Bourque, 324 E Chuck St. Gonzales, LA, age 19, pled guilty to Possession of Pornography Involving Juveniles and was sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. Upon release from incarceration, the defendant must register and notify as a sex offender or child predator. 
  1. Eugene Jones, 8207 Main St. Sorrento, LA, age 60, pled guilty to Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile. Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. 
  1. Vivian Langlois, 2228 Burnside Ave. Gonzales, LA, age 36, pled guilty to Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance (2 counts), Possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, and Promoting Prostitution. The defendant was sentenced to 5 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. 
  1. Daniel Looper, 7534 Trail View Dr. Gonzales, LA, age 74, pled guilty to Violations of Conditions of Probation, Parole, and Suspension of Sentence by Sex Offender and Failure to Comply with Provisions of Supervised Release. Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. 
  1. Sarenta Taylor, 3012 Lawrence St. New Orleans, LA, age 36, pled guilty to Theft Valued at $5,000 or More, but Less than $25,000 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. Edward Williams, 2495 Barber St. Baton Rouge, LA, age 54, pled guilty to Domestic Abuse Aggravated Assault 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. Arthur Johnson, 12231 N Salem Dr. Baton Rouge, LA, age 35, pled guilty to Simple Burglary. Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation.
  1. Melissa Johnston, 30139 Pine Alley Killian, LA, age 46, pled guilty to Simple Burglary. Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. 
  1. Jauane Session, 2495 Barber St. Baton Rouge, LA, age 54, pled guilty to Aggravated Criminal Damage to Property (4 counts) 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. Vontrell Steward, 108 Blackwell Lane Belle Rose, LA, age 35, pled guilty to Monetary Instrument Abuse 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. Mirna Presbot-Duncan, 856 Huey Andrew Ave Gonzales, LA, age 29, pled guilty to Theft Valued at $1,000 or More, but Less than $5,000 and was sentenced to 1 year with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served, to be suspended, and placed on 1-year supervised probation. 

The above cases were prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Adam Koenig and Lana Chaney. Presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Steven Tureau. 

Assumption Parish: 

  1. Sidney Clifton, 12430 River Highlands Rd. Saint Amant, LA, age 59, pled guilty to Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile Under the Age of 13 and was sentenced to 7 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. Upon release from incarceration, the defendant must register and notify as a sex offender or child predator for a period of 25 years. 
  1. John Bergeron, 115 Rice St. Morgan City, LA, age 42, pled guilty to Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile. Sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. 
  1. Quintrell Maurice, 400 Westside Blvd. Houma, LA, age 45, pled guilty to Attempted 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, to be suspended, and placed on 5 years supervised probation. 
  1. Marishell Ealem, 207 Lafourche St. Donaldsonville, LA, age 20, pled guilty to Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms 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 Thomas Daigle and Lana Chaney. Presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Cody Martin. 

St. James Parish:

  1.  Ayomide Akinwande, 13357 Sugar Estates Vacherie, LA, age 20, pled guilty to Possession of Illegally Transferred Weapons, Illegal Use/Possession/Control of Weapons-Crime of Violence or Controlled Dangerous Substance (4 counts), Distribution, Manufacture, or Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance, and Distribution, Manufacture, or Possession with Intent to Distribute a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance (2 counts). The defendant was sentenced to 10 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served. It was ordered that 5 years of the said sentence are to be served without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. The remaining 5 years of the said sentence are to be suspended. Upon release from incarceration, the defendant is to be placed on 3 years supervised probation. 

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