On November 13, 2024, a St. James Parish Jury found 37-year-old Dedrick Branch of 150 Woodway Dr. Jackson, MS, guilty of Domestic Abuse Battery Involving Child Endangerment. Branch was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Adam Koenig and Lana Chaney. Presiding over this matter is the Honorable Judge Steven Tureau. 

          On December 3, 2023, St. James Parish Sheriff’s Deputies responded to the area of LA 3125 in Gramercy in reference to a suspicious person’s complaint. Upon arrival, deputies observed a female subject holding a toddler walking along the roadway. Deputies observed a vehicle following the female with its emergency flashers on. Deputies made contact with and identified the female. The female advised that the male subject who was identified as Dedrick Branch, had punched her in the mouth. Branch told deputies that he was trying to get the female back into the vehicle after she had exited during an argument in the presence of the toddler. During an interview of the female subject, deputies were advised that the two had gotten into a verbal argument after Branch was drinking an alcoholic beverage while operating the vehicle. The female subject took the bottle of alcohol from Branch and tossed it out the window. Branch slammed on the breaks of the vehicle causing the toddler to fly towards the front of the vehicle, before striking the female in the mouth. This is when the female advised she and the toddler exited the vehicle and began walking. Branch was subsequently arrested and transported to the St. James Parish Jail where he was booked accordingly. 

          Upon the jury rendering a guilty verdict in this matter, sentencing was deferred to a later date. Sentencing is tentatively set for December 9, 2024.