On June 19, 2017, Reginald Coleman of 216 A Hwy 401 Napoleonville, LA., age 47, pled guilty to 1st Degree Robbery. Coleman was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lana Chaney. Presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge Tess Stromberg, however, the Honorable Judge Thomas Kliebert stood in for the purpose of this guilty plea and sentencing. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following the December 2016 robbery of the Family Dollar Store located in Labadieville, LA.
On the night of December 9, 2016, Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Deputies were dispatched to the Family Dollar Store located along Hwy 398 in Labadieville. Upon arrival, deputies and detectives were advised that a black male subject entered the store wearing a mask and proceeded to the cash register where he held one hand behind his back portraying that he had a weapon in his waistband, while pointing at the cashier demanding money. After taking approximately $80 in U.S. Currency, the male subject attempted to flee. Prior to making his getaway, customers in the store attempted to apprehend the subject. Although unsuccessful, the customers were able to pull the mask off of the subject’s face. During the course of the investigation, detectives received a tip implicating Reginald Coleman as a suspect in the robbery. Detectives showed witnesses photo line-ups which included a photograph of Coleman. Coleman was positively identified as the subject who robbed the store. While canvasing the area, detectives obtained video surveillance from a nearby convenience store. Reginald Coleman was observed in the video surveillance footage wearing what appeared to be the same clothing worn by the suspect in the robbery. Detectives continued their investigation and executed a search warrant at the home of Coleman where they recovered clothing consistent with that of the clothing shown in the surveillance video footage, as well as the clothing description of the suspect given by witnesses. Upon making contact with Coleman, detectives observed fresh injuries to Coleman’s face consistent with being struck in the face with a closed fist as Coleman was while attempting to flee the area. Coleman was subsequently arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center.
Upon entering a guilty plea to the above mentioned charge, as per the plea agreement with prosecutors, Judge Kliebert ordered that Coleman be committed to the Louisiana Department of Corrections for a period of 12 years at hard labor with credit for time served. It was further ordered that the imposed sentence is to be served without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.