Year: 2014

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Aaron Martin convicted of second-degree murder

Aaron “Mug” Martin was found guilty of 2nd degree murder on August 11, 2014 for killing Brian J. Banks Jr.

Martin was arrested on April 8th, 2012, the day after Bank’s body was found at the corner of 27th and Panama streets. Banks was shot six times with a 9 mm pistol. Martin also awaits trial for the charge of a felon in possession of a firearm. He had a previous conviction on his record, rendering his possession of a gun during the shooting of Banks illegal. The minimum sentence for 2nd degree murder is life imprisonment without parole.

 

Update: October 27th, 2014
Martin was sentenced on October 27th to life in prison.

Link to nola.com article

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Brad Engel pleads guilty to sexual abuse, sentenced

Brad Engel pled guilty to two counts of sexual battery of a child under the age of 13 on August 1st, 2014. Engel was sentenced to 29 years in prison.

Engel admitted to abusing the victim, who was 10 years old, between August of 2007 and May of 2008. Engel was initially charged with the crime and pled guilty in 2011. However, due to a technical error in charging, the conviction was vacated in December of that year.

Prosecutors have since rectified the issue with an indictment in February of this year. Despite having previously pled guilty to the same crimes, Engel pled not guilty and argued a defense of mental incompetence. Judge Ellen Kovach found Engel mentally competent on July 31st. Engel pled guilty the following day and was sentenced.

Horace Billiot indicted with oral sexual battery

Horace M. Billiot was charged with sexual abuse by a grand jury on July 31st, 2014.

Billiot was arrested in June on rape charges. The crime occurred between May 1st 2007 and August 31st 2009 when the victim was between 7 and 9 years old. The grand jury charged Billiot with oral sexual battery. If convicted, Billiot will face a minimum sentence of 25 years. Bond has been set at $500,000.

Officers arrest Randy Hall on animal cruelty charges

 

Randy Hall was arrested by Jefferson Parish Police officers on July 14, 2014 and charged with four counts of aggravated cruelty to animals.

Hall was evicted from his Harvey apartment in early June and left behind a number of animals. Three weeks passed before Hall’s landlord discovered the animals. Officers discovered an emaciated 1 year old pit bull on July 8th who had been surviving on rainwater. The dog was tethered to the 2nd floor balcony with a chain-link choke chain. The chain had to be surgically removed from the dog’s neck. Hall is in custody and bond has been set at $100,000.

Todd Bacchus pleads guilty to pandering, sentenced

Todd Bacchus was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to pandering on July 1st, 2014.

Bacchus was arrested in 2013 after an investigation by the Jefferson Parish Police Department led officers to Houston where Bacchus had transported a 17 year old girl and solicited her sexual services. During the investigation, Police found that Bacchus enticed women into prostitution and advertised their services online. Incidents occurred in both the Metairie area as well as Houston, Texas.

Bacchus had three women in his employment, whom he threatened these women with violence often. Bacchus was convicted of battery.

Bacchus was originally charged with trafficking children for sexual purposes, enticing persons to prostitution, and pandering. He pled guilty to 2 counts of pandering and 1 count of second degree battery. Bacchus was sentenced to 5 years on both counts of pandering to run consecutively and 5 years on the battery charge to run concurrent.

Steven Carter convicted of aggravated kidnapping/aggravated rape, sentenced

Steven D. Carter was convicted of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated rape on July 31, 2014. He was sentenced to life imprisonment on both counts to run consecutively. Steven Carter abducted a 7 year old girl on June 5th, 2013 and forced her to perform sexual acts in his car. The child had been playing by the pool within her apartment complex when Carter kidnapped her and threw her in his car. An hour later he left the child on West William David Parkway in Metairie. At trial, prosecutors introduced evidence of video surveillance showing Carter kidnapping the child. Carter pled not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity, alleging he was under the influence of crack cocaine and pain medication and did not remember the events. However, the jury found him guilty on both counts.