SERVING ASCENSION, ASSUMPTION & ST. JAMES PARISHES

Gonzales Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Firearm, Drug, and Battery Charges

          On May 14, 2018, Benjamin Locklear of 14326 Tiggy Duplessis Rd. Gonzales, LA., age 45, pled guilty to the charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Possession of a Legend Drug Without Prescription or Order, and 2nd Degree Battery. Locklear was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Phil Maples, and presiding over these matters was the Honorable Judge Thomas Kliebert. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following multiple arrests. 

          On October 18, 2014, deputies with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint regarding a theft of a firearm that had just occurred. Upon arrival, deputies made contact with the complainant who advised that Benjamin Locklear had stolen a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun from his vehicle. A warrant of arrest was issued, and Locklear was subsequently arrested on charges including Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Locklear had prior felony convictions for illegal narcotics possession. 

          On July 4, 2016, a patrol deputy with the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on Airline Hwy near Hwy 74 in Gonzales after observing a small sedan traveling without a license plate. Upon coming into contact with the driver of the vehicle, who was identified as Benjamin Locklear, it was learned that Locklear had an active bench warrant for a previous offense. Locklear was then placed under arrest. During an inventory search of Locklear’s vehicle prior to it being towed, the deputy located an unmarked prescription pill bottle which contained approximately 131 prescription pills that Locklear had no prescription for. Locklear was subsequently booked into the Ascension Parish Detention Center. 

          On October 19, 2017, while incarcerated at the Ascension Parish Detention Center, corrections officers came into contact with an inmate who advised that he was involved in an argument with Benjamin Locklear over trash on the floor of a jail cell. As the inmate reached to pick up the trash, Locklear kicked the inmate in the face which resulted in the inmate losing consciousness for a brief period along with a nose injury. Locklear was subsequently charged in connection with this incident.  

          Upon entering a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charges, as per the plea agreement with prosecutors, Locklear was sentenced to 15 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.