On January 3, 2017, Jess Martinolich, age 22, of Labadieville, LA., pled guilty to the charge of Simple Arson. Martinolich was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Thomas Daigle, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Jessie LeBlanc. This guilty plea was a result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following Martinolich’s attempt to burn down a residence on Quail Dr. in Labadieville, LA.

On February 18, 2016, Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of an arson in the Labadieville area. Jess Martinolich was denied entry into a residence located on Quail Dr. in Labadieville. Martinolich became angry and kicked in the glass door to the residence, but was still unable to make entry. Martinolich left the residence and returned a short while later, and was observed through video surveillance exiting his vehicle with a small red gas can. Martinolich poured gas on the bushes which were against the residence and lit them on fire in an attempt to burn down the residence. Martinolich was later arrested and transported to the Assumption Parish Detention Center where he was held for booking.

Upon entering a guilty plea to the above charge, as per the plea agreement with prosecutors, Judge LeBlanc ordered that Martinolich be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for a period of 8 years with credit for time served. It was further ordered that the defendant must serve 4 years of the imposed sentence, and the remaining 4 years are to be suspended. Upon release, Martinolich is to be placed on supervised probation for a period of 5 years.