Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

DWI Checkpoint Planned for Friday, July 7

Sheriff Craig Webre announced deputies will conduct a DWI checkpoint beginning during the evening hours of Friday, July 7 and continuing into the early morning hours of the following day. During the DWI checkpoint, deputies will be looking for drivers who are possibly impaired while checking for other traffic safety issues.

Sheriff Webre reminds citizens to designate a driver if you are going to drink. Motorists suspected of DWI who refuse to submit to a breathalyzer test will lose their driver’s license for one year (first offense). For a second offense, the penalty increases to two years. Anyone convicted of a DWI offense while their driver’s license is suspended because of another DWI offense will face automatic prison time. Lafourche Parish is also a “No Refusal” parish, meaning if a suspected drunk driver refuses a breathalyzer test, deputies will seek a search warrant to have that person’s blood tested.

Man Arrested for Fourth DWI after Arriving on Scene of Friend’s Second DWI

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of two Thibodaux men for DWI on Sunday, July 2. Larry Fontenot Jr. (age 55) was charged with second offense, while John Roath (age 65) was charged with his fourth.

At around 8:45 p.m. on Sunday, deputies responded to a single vehicle on crash on Erika Drive in Thibodaux. Through investigation, deputies learned the driver, Larry Fontenot Jr., had crashed his truck into a ditch. Upon making contact with Fontenot, deputies detected the odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, and Fontenot admitted to having consumed alcohol prior to driving. Fontenot performed poorly on a field sobriety test, and a breathalyzer test showed him to have a blood alcohol content of .175g%. He was placed under arrest for DWI (2^nd Offense).

While conducting the investigation, another truck pulled up to the scene. Deputies made contact with the driver and identified him as John Roath. He also had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath, and deputies learned he had arrived to assist Fontenot in pulling his truck out of the ditch. Roath was unable to complete a field sobriety test, but a breathalyzer test showed him to have a blood alcohol content of .113g%. Roath’s criminal history showed three prior DWI convictions. Additionally, deputies found his license was currently suspended, and he did not have a valid registration for his vehicle.

Both Fontenot and Roath were transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux. Fontenot was booked with DWI (2^nd Offense), and his bond is set at $1,000. Roath was booked with DWI (4^th Offense), driving under suspension, and no vehicle registration. His bond is set at $50,600. If convicted, Roath would face up to 30 years in prison with a 10-year minimum sentence, including two years without the benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.

Lockport Man Charged Again for Filing False Public Records

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Lockport man faces another charge of filing a false public record following an indictment last month for the same charge. Robert Barker Jr. (age 65) was arrested Friday and now faces a total of four felony charges stemming from the investigations.

Barker was indicted by a Lafourche Parish Grand Jury on Wednesday, May 31, for allegedly forging documents in connection with the purchase of a Ford Explorer by the Lockport Police Department. Former Lockport Chief of Police Warren Vedros Sr. was also indicted in the incident. Barker faces two counts of Forgery and one count of Filing False Public Records in that incident. On Thursday, June 1, Barker surrendered to authorities and was released after posting a property bond.

Investigators learned that Barker went to the Lafourche Parish Assessor’s Office in Thibodaux on June 1 seeking information for the property bond prior to surrendering to authorities. While he was there, Barker who serves as the chairman of the Central Lafourche Ambulance District board, also submitted paperwork regarding the setting of millage rates for the ambulance district for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The paperwork referenced action approved at an ambulance district board meeting on May 30, 2017. Investigators learned that meeting never took place, and the ambulance district had not yet taken action to set the millage rates for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Detectives then obtained a warrant for Barker’s arrest for one count of Filing False Public Records.

On Friday, June 30, detectives made contact with Barker and he turned himself in. He was booked and subsequently released after posting $5,000 bond.

Bourg Man Found with Narcotics in Jail Following Arrest

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Shawn Meier (age 27) on Wednesday, June 28. On Wednesday morning, deputies made contact with Meier and he was arrested on an active warrant for contempt of court. He was also charged with resisting due to initially giving deputies a false name. He was transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center for booking. Upon arrival, correctional officers searched Meier, and he was found to have a bag containing methamphetamine, marijuana, and another drug only available by prescription. Meier was booked per the contempt warrant, and he was also booked with Possession with Intent to Distribute Methamphetamine, Possession of a Legend Drug, Possession of Marijuana (3^rd and Subsequent Offenses), Taking Contraband to a Penal Institution, Resisting an Officer, and Violation of Parole. He is being held without bond due to a parole violation.

Four Inmates Charged with Attempted Escape from Jail

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced four inmates have been charged with attempting to escape from the Lafourche Parish Detention Center. Inmates Coty Bruce (age 31), Eric Castagnetta (age 31), Dylan Dedon (age 23), and Perry Perrin Jr. (age 37) were all charged in the incident.

On Friday, June 23, investigators learned the four inmates were attempting to escape from the jail having already broken several windows and removed a metal security screen from a window on a cell block. Investigators also discovered a portion of an exterior wall of the cell block had been chipped away near the cells of the four inmates. The damage to the facility was estimated to be around $3,000.

During the course of the investigation, detectives also discovered an inmate had suffered a broken nose, a laceration to his head, and other injuries due to the four inmates attacking him on Thursday, June 22.

Investigators obtained warrants for each of the four inmates for Simple Escape, Felony Simple Criminal Damage to Property, and Second Degree Battery. Each inmate’s bond increased by a total of $100,000 per the warrants for these charges.

Bruce was already being held on charges for burglary and drug possession, and his bond is now set at $112,750. Perrin was already being held on charges for armed robbery and drug possession, and his bond is now set at $205,300. Castagnetta and Dedon are currently being housed in other parishes. Castagnetta was serving time for a Parole Violation and was in Lafourche on a writ due to several drug and weapons charges. Dedon is serving time for aggravated assault with a firearm and property damage.

Two Charged after Transitional Work Program Inmate Leaves Work Site

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Transitional Work Program inmate and a Bayou Blue woman have been arrested after the inmate left his work site with the woman on Wednesday. Inmate Jacory Adams (Age 32) and Joni Dobson (age 32) both face escape charges in the incident.

At 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 28, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office was notified that Transitional Work Program Inmate Jacory Adams was missing from the shipyard in Lockport to which he was assigned. Investigators quickly learned Adams had been in touch with Joni Dobson by telephone the day prior, and they made contact with her. Investigators learned Dobson had picked up Adams from the work site, and they went to a local motel together. Dobson told investigators she had brought Adams back to the work site afterward. Deputies proceeded to the shipyard, located Adams, and took him into custody.

Adams and Dobson were transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux. Adams was booked with Simple Escape, and he is being held for the Louisiana Department of Corrections. Dobson was also booked with Principal to Simple Escape. She was released Wednesday night after posting $5,000 bond.

Adams was serving time for aggravated battery and was scheduled to be released on November 15, 2018.

Sheriff Webre Announces Plans for Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign

Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will join other local law enforcement agencies in participating in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign which runs June 30th through July 5, 2017. The campaign is coordinated and funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Louisiana Highway Safety Commission.

Additional deputies will be assigned to saturated patrol efforts, and deputies will also participate in a DWI checkpoint to be announced by the Louisiana State Police.

Remember that Lafourche Parish is a “No Refusal” parish, meaning if a suspected drunk driver refuses a breathalyzer test, deputies will seek a search warrant to have that person’s blood tested.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk driving is a deadly epidemic that takes the lives of more than 10,000 people each year, on average. In 2015, there was one drunk driving fatality every 51 minutes. These alcohol-impaired-driving fatalities accounted for 29 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities in the United States in 2015. In Louisiana alone in 2015, there were 245 fatalities due to drunk driving.

Sheriff Craig Webre thanks citizens in advance for designating a driver if you plan to drink. He also thanks citizens for their cooperation and patience when passing through these checkpoints and for recognizing the importance of raising awareness for safety issues.

Rape Aggression Defense Courses for Women Slated for July and August

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre has announced two Rape Aggression Defense (R.A.D.) courses for women have been slated for the months of July and August. This self-defense course is designed exclusively for women and takes place over the course of three days.

The first course is scheduled for July 10, 11, and 12 at the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Range Facility located at 3451 Highway 182 in Raceland. Each class will begin at 1 p.m. and end around 4:30 p.m. each day. The deadline to register for this class is Wednesday, July 5 at 11 a.m.

The second course is scheduled for August 21, 22, and 23 at the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office Law Enforcement Complex, located at 1300 Lynn Street in Thibodaux. Each class will begin at 6 p.m. and end around 9:30 p.m. each night. The deadline to register for this class is Wednesday, August 16 at 11 a.m.

Participants must attend all three days of either course. Course instruction will be provided by certified R.A.D. instructions from the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

The cost of the course is $10 to cover the cost of course materials. Class size is limited, and advance registration is required. You can register online through our website at www.LPSO.net/RADsignup. Payment cannot be made through the online sign-up form, but the fee must be pre-paid and is non-refundable. Please send payment by mail, along with your name, address, and phone number to Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office, Attn: Captain Lafate Day, 1300 Lynn Street, Thibodaux, LA 70301. Please make checks payable to the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office.

For more information, please contact Captain Lafate Day at (985) 449-4485 or by email at lafate-day@lpso.net.

Bayou Blue Teen Arrested for Having Sex with a Minor

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Taylor Sagona (age 17) of Bayou Blue for Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile. Through the course of an investigation, juvenile detectives learned Sagona had allegedly engaged in consensual sexual intercourse with a minor female and obtained a warrant for his arrest for Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile due to the age difference being greater than four years. On Friday, June 23, detectives made contact with Sagona, and during questioning, he admitted to his involvement. Sagona was transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center and booked with Felony Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile. He was released Friday evening after posting $2,500 bond.

Raceland Man Arrested for Attempted Kidnapping and Home Invasion

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced Lawrence Batiste (age 35) of Raceland turned himself on Thursday. Batiste was wanted for attempted kidnapping and home invasion stemming from an incident in February.

On February 13, 2017, a Raceland woman reported that two days prior, she returned to her residence during the early morning hours and went to bed. The woman reportedly closed the door to her residence but did not lock it. Moments later, Lawrence Batiste and an unknown black male subject entered the residence and grabbed the woman, attempting to force her outside the residence. They eventually forced her outside where they allegedly planned to put her into a vehicle with other male subjects, but a concerned citizen approached and told them to leave the woman alone. Deputies attempted to make contact with Batiste on several occasions, but they were unsuccessful. A warrant was then issued for Batiste’s arrest.

On Thursday, June 22, Batiste turned himself in to authorities. He was booked into the Lafourche Parish Detention Center on charges of Attempted Simple Kidnapping and Home Invasion. His bond is set at $75,000.

This incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information on this case, is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at 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.