Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Covington woman has been arrested on several charges after falsely accusing a Thibodaux man of domestic abuse. Sandra Brooks (age 49) faces charges including domestic abuse, defamation, and filing a false report.

On June 29, 2017, Brooks filed a report filed a report with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff Office in which she alleged physical abuse by 57-year-old Carl Johnson Sr. of Thibodaux. Brooks and Johnson cohabitated from September 2016 to March 2017. Brooks reported having suffered several injuries due to Johnson’s abuse, and she presented audio recordings of encounters with Johnson, including an incident on February 24, 2017, in which she specifically accused Johnson of domestic abuse battery. Investigators also learned Brooks had filed a similar report with Johnson’s employer, the National Football League, three months prior on March 23, 2017. Johnson is employed as an NFL line judge and is a former vice president of officiating for the league. Detectives learned Brooks also contacted a national media outlet and shared her allegations.

Brooks filed for a temporary protective order against Johnson, and he was served with the order on July 11, 2017. Ten days later, a hearing was held to determine whether the order should be extended. Based on the evidence and arguments presented, Judge Christopher Boudreaux dismissed the protective order with prejudice.

In reviewing audio recordings which Brooks provided, and through interviews with both parties, investigators determined Brooks, not Johnson, was the predominant aggressor in the February 24 incident and had allegedly committed a battery on Johnson. Detectives also found no evidence of any wrongdoing by Johnson and ultimately exonerated him in the investigation.

On October 5, 2017, investigators met with Brooks and informed her that no charges would be filed against Johnson. They also informed Brooks of the investigation into her involvement as the predominant aggressor in the incident and filing a false report. The following day, Brooks contacted investigators requesting they end the investigation and to have all charges against Johnson dropped. Investigators again informed her that they were only pursuing charges on her, not Johnson.

During investigation that lasted several months, detectives interviewed nearly a dozen individuals and reviewed a large number of documents. They also painstakingly reviewed medical records from multiple medical facilities which contradicted Brooks’ injury claims. Detectives also concluded that Brooks had made the audio recordings in secret without Johnson’s knowledge, and she attempted to provoke him. Those recordings proved to be helpful in determining Brooks to be the predominant aggressor. Detectives have also maintained contact with the NFL throughout the course of the investigation.

Investigators obtained warrants for Brooks’ arrest, and on Tuesday, November 7, she turned herself in at the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux. She was booked on warrants for Domestic Abuse Battery, Defamation, Criminal Mischief (Filing a False Police Report), and Filing a False Petition for a Protective Order. She was released Tuesday afternoon after posting $2,500 bond. As a condition of her bond, Brooks has been ordered to stay away from the victim, Johnson.

Detectives indicate their investigation is continuing.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Michael Lirette Sr. (age 66) of Raceland on Tuesday. Lirette is charged with First Degree Rape stemming from an incident involving a juvenile which occurred approximately ten years ago.

Juvenile detectives opened an investigation into Lirette in October 2017 after a teenage female victim came forward. Detectives learned Lirette allegedly had inappropriate sexual contact with the child, including sexual intercourse, while the child was under the age of ten. The inappropriate contact occurred multiple times over the course of approximately five years.

On Tuesday, November 7, detectives made contact with Lirette. Following questioning, Lirette was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux on the charge of First Degree Rape. His bond is set at $30,000.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Donald Bolden (age 37) of Belle Rose for his fifth DWI offense. Just after 6 p.m. on Sunday, November 5, deputies conducted a traffic stop along LA Highway 309 in Thibodaux. Deputies identified the driver as Donald Bolden and detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on Bolden’s breath. Bolden admitted to consuming liquor prior to driving. He performed poorly on a field sobriety test, and a breathalyzer test showed him to have a blood alcohol level of .087g%. Bolden’s criminal history showed he was on probation from his fourth DWI offense in 2014. He was also found to have a suspended license with a hardship exception, but he was found to be in violation of that exception. Bolden was booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux. He was charged with DWI (4^th and Subsequent Offenses), Speeding, driving under suspension, and no ignition interlock device. He was also charged with violating R.S. 32:415.1 regarding exceptions for a suspended license.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Jericho Helmer (age 23) of Cut Off for Second Degree Rape. An investigation began on the afternoon of Wednesday, November 1 when a teenage girl did not come home from school. Through investigation, juvenile detectives learned the girl went to a friend’s house for a while and was later given a ride by Helmer to another location. Investigators learned that at some point, Helmer allegedly forced the girl to have sexual intercourse. Following the incident, the girl went to a nearby residence to ask for a ride. Due to the girl being so upset, the resident contacted the Sheriff’s Office. On Friday, November 3, detectives made contact with Helmer. He admitted to having sexual intercourse with the 15-year-old, but he claimed it was consensual. Following the investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for Second Degree Rape. Helmer was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux on the warrant. He was additionally booked on a Contempt of Court warrant for the Town of Golden Meadow. His bond is set at $25,300.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a 19-year-old female shot on October 31 in Marydale has died as a result of her injuries. Shantell Pollard of Thibodaux died on Friday, November 3. She had been in critical condition since the shooting.

At around 10:35 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31, deputies responded to Park Avenue in Thibodaux in reference to a shooting. Upon arrival, deputies discovered Pollard sitting in the passenger seat of an SUV. She was bleeding from a wound on her head and was unresponsive. She was initially transported to Thibodaux Regional Medical Center for treatment, and she was later transported to Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge. She died on Friday, November 3 as a result of her injuries.

The investigation into this incident is continuing. Anyone with information on this crime is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at http://www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted using the P3 Tips app on your mobile device. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Larose man for sexual battery of a child under the age of 13. Ricardo Lopez (age 32) has been arrested following an investigation.

Juvenile detectives opened an investigation into Lopez in September 2017. Detectives learned Lopez allegedly had inappropriate sexual contact with a child under the age of 13. Following the investigation, detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest.

On Tuesday, October 31, Lopez turned himself in to authorities. He was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux. He was charged with Sexual Battery (Forcible Fondling), and his bond is set at $100,000.

Due to the nature of the crime and the age of the victim, no further details will be released.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced an investigation into a borrowed vehicle which had not been returned led to the recovery of several firearms and other valuables from two burglaries. Jason Orgeron (age 35) and Mitchell Badeaux (age 24), both of Cut Off, and Edward Holloway (age 46) of Larose have all been arrested in connection with the investigation.

On the afternoon of Monday, October 30, a Larose resident reported that she had allowed Edward Holloway to borrow her SUV on Friday, October 27, and that he had not yet returned it. Deputies located Holloway and questioned him about the SUV. Following questioning, Holloway was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux. He was booked with Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, and his bond was set at $2,500.

Deputies learned Mitchell Badeaux had possession of the vehicle and was in Galliano. Deputies proceeded to the area, located the SUV, and made contact with Badeaux at a residence on West 166^th Street. He was found to be in possession of keys to the SUV, as well as Suboxone, for which he did not have a prescription. Badeaux, a convicted felon, was also found to be in possession of two firearms. Inside the residence, deputies observed several valuable items including weapons and electronics. Through investigation, deputies learned Badeaux allegedly stole the items during recent burglaries of a residence and a business, both in Galliano.

Badeaux was arrested and booked with two counts of Simple Burglary, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle, Possession of Suboxone, and Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Badeaux also had a $3,000 bond surrendered on a charge of Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling from a previous arrest in August 2017. His total bond is set at $68,000, and he is also being held for Louisiana Probation and Parole.

Through further investigation, deputies learned several firearms stolen during the residential burglary were in Jason Orgeron’s possession. By Monday evening, deputies obtained a search warrant for Orgeron’s residence on West 42^nd Street in Cut Off. Knowing Orgeron had outstanding warrants, deputies attempted to have Orgeron exit the residence and surrender. The Lafourche Parish Interagency Crisis Management Unit responded to assist and eventually entered the residence. They discovered Orgeron hiding in the attic, and he was taken into custody. They also recovered the firearms stolen in the burglary.

Orgeron was arrested and booked on outstanding warrants for Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Forgery, and Contempt of Court. He was additionally charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Illegal Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and Illegal Possession of Stolen Things. His bond is set at $70,000, and he is also being held for Louisiana Probation and Parole.