On November 12, 2024, Ronald Washington Jr. of 324 Half Oak Dr. Thibodaux, LA, age 28, pled guilty to Manslaughter. Washington was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Lana Chaney, and presiding over this matter was the Honorable Judge John Smith. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors in connection with the beating death of 58-year-old Hilary Rivere inside the Assumption Parish Detention Center. 

          On March 31, 2023, corrections officers inside the Assumption Parish Detention Center were alerted by inmates to check on an inmate who had sustained injuries from an incident inside his assigned jail cell. Corrections officers made entry into the cell which was occupied by inmates Hilary Rivere and Ronald Washington Jr. Officers observed Rivere to be covered in blood and suffering from significant injuries to his head and face. Rivere was airlifted to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge where he was placed in the Intensive Care Unit and subsequently succumbed to his injuries. During the course of an extensive investigation, detectives were able to determine that the injuries were the result of being beaten by Washington. Rivere and Washington were the only two inmates housed in this cell. Detectives turned over investigative materials to the 23^rd Judicial District Attorneys Office. This matter was presented to an Assumption Parish Grand Jury which resulted in a True Bill of Indictment. While still incarcerated, Washington was booked on additional charges. 

        Upon entering a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charge, pursuant to the plea agreement with prosecutors, Washington was sentenced to 30 years with the Louisiana Department of Corrections with credit for time served.