Year: 2017

Jefferson man convicted of another purse snatching

A Jefferson man has been convicted of purse snatching, for assailing a woman as she exited an Old Jefferson business.

Eric Fitch, 37, who was convicted of committing a similar offense in Terrebonne Parish in 2013, was convicted by a six-member Jefferson Parish jury on Wednesday (Feb. 15). He also was found guilty of resisting arrest, a misdemeanor.

On Nov. 28, 2015, the 64-year-old victim had left a bar in the 3500 block of Jefferson Highway just before midnight and was getting into the passenger’s seat of a friend’s vehicle when Fitch approached her asking for a cigarette. The woman, who had placed her purse in the car, told him she did not smoke. That’s when Fitch pushed her into the car, snatched the purse and ran away.

Because the victim’s cell phone was in the purse, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office was able to quickly track the stolen items. Deputies found Fitch just after 1 a.m., hiding in a large trash receptacle behind a grocery store in the 3600 block of Jefferson Highway.

Fitch refused to get out of the receptacle, leading Deputy Daniel Lassus to forcibly remove him and leading to the resisting arrest charge. The victim positively identified Fitch as the man who stole her purse.

Fitch was convicted of a felony theft offense tied to purse snatching in the 32nd Judicial District Court, in Terrebonne Parish, four years ago. He grabbed a 55-year-old woman’s purse as she left a business in Houma. Her wallet fell out of the purse as he tried to run. The victim picked up her wallet, and Fitch returned and grabbed it, too.

He also has convictions of attempted simple robbery and simple robbery, in Houma and Golden Meadow. His criminal history could lead him to receive a sentencing enhancement.

Judge June Berry Darensburg of the 24th Judicial District Court, who heard testimony concurrently with the purse snatching case, found Fitch guilty of resisting arrest. Judge Darensburg is scheduled to sentence Fitch on Wednesday (Feb. 22).

Assistant District Attorneys Josh Vanderhooft and Thomas Sanderson prosecuted the case.

blue bar 2

Bridge City man sentenced to 60 years in prison for sexually abusing child

A Bridge City man was sentenced to 60 years in prison on Thursday (Feb. 9), for his conviction of sexually abusing a girl during a 5-year period.

Trevor Clifton, 37, also faces a lifetime of electronic monitoring by the state and sex-offender registration should he be released from prison, 24th Judicial District Judge E. Adrian Adams ordered in announcing the punishment.

A Jefferson Parish jury convicted Clifton as charged on Jan. 26 of sexual battery of a victim under age 13, and sexual battery. Sexual battery involving a child age 13 or under carries a punishment of 25 years to 99 years in prison.

For the former charge, Judge Adams handed down a 60-year sentence with the first 25 years to be served without benefit of probation, parole or suspended sentence. Judge Adams sentenced Clifton to the maximum 10 years for the latter charge. He ran the sentences concurrently.

The victim’s mother caught Clifton in the act of abusing the child on Oct. 2, 2015, when the victim was 14 years old. In impact testimony on Thursday, the woman told Judge Adams how Clifton’s actions adversely affected her and her daughter.

“Trevor Clifton showed no remorse for the horrible decisions he has made in his life,” the mother testified.

She added that with the sentencing hearing behind them, her daughter can grow into an intelligent woman. “Now she has a voice. I will not let this situation ruin her life.”

After she discovered the abuse, the mother called 911. Before the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office arrived, Clifton confessed to the mother that he abused the child only that one time, according to trial testimony.

Clifton brandished a knife and threatened to cut his own throat. But before deputies arrived, Clifton fled, triggering a two-day manhunt that ended with his arrest. Deputies tracked him to a woman’s home in Harvey. There, the deputies found Clifton hiding behind a refrigerator.

Authorities recovered a man’s DNA from the victim’s body, but the amount of genetic material was not enough for analysts to identify its donor. Meanwhile, through interviews, the victim disclosed Clifton had been abusing her since she was about 9 years old.

Assistant District Attorneys Matt Clauss and Josh Vanderhooft prosecuted the case.

blue bar 2

 

Former Terrytown resident convicted of raping girl on 10th birthday

A former Jefferson Parish resident faces spending the rest of his life in prison, for his conviction on Tuesday night (Feb. 7) of raping a girl on her 10th birthday five years ago.

Brian Banks, 52, was convicted as charged of the aggravated rape of the child in his West Bank apartment in February 2012. The victim, now age 14, is not being identified.

She testified that during a visit to his apartment in Terrytown, Banks ordered her to go to his bedroom, where he forced himself upon her. She recounted the abuse for a jury and to forensic interviewer Brittany Bergeron of the Jefferson Children’s Advocacy Center. “If you tell anybody, you’re going to hell,” the victim told Bergeron in repeating what Banks told her.

The victim testified that she was too embarrassed to report what happened, and she did not understand that she was raped until later in life, when she took sex education at her school. She said nothing about the rape for three years, until her mother, concerned about her daughter’s trouble in school, asked her to speak with a member of their church congregation who worked in the criminal justice field.

The crime still was not immediately reported. In April 2015, however, the victim and a classmate passed a note back and forth in class, in which they shared their stories of being sexually abused, according to testimony. Their teacher intercepted the note and alerted a school counselor, who in turn notified police.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office opened its investigation. The victim consistently recounted the crime to detectives, a doctor at Children’s Hospital in New Orleans, a forensic interviewer at the Jefferson Children’s Advocacy Center and to staff at the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office.

Banks lived in Houston, Texas, at the time he was arrested on July 7, 2015, as a result of the victim’s disclosure. In testimony, he denied raping the child. He asserted he was playing golf with a friend at the time the victim was raped, and in doing so, he contradicted a statement he made during a previous court proceeding.

The jury deliberated 2 ½ hours before reaching its unanimous decision. Life in prison is the mandatory punishment for aggravated rape under Louisiana law. Judge Nancy Miller of the 24th Judicial District Court is scheduled to sentence Banks on Monday (Feb. 13).

Assistant District Attorneys Thomas Sanderson and Lindsay Truhe prosecuted the case.

blue bar 2

Grand jury indicts Ronald Gasser with 2nd-degree murder of Joseph McKnight

Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul D. Connick, Jr. announced today that the grand jury has returned an indictment against Ronald Gasser, Jr.

Gasser, 55, was indicted for the second-degree murder of Joseph N. McKnight, Jr., on Dec. 1, 2016. Based upon the evidence available at the time, Gasser was arrested on Dec. 5, 2016 for the crime of manslaughter. Subsequent to that arrest, the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Jefferson Parish District Attorney’s Office continued working together in a collaborative effort to develop additional evidence regarding the case. Today’s indictment comes as a result of that joint effort.

If convicted as charged, Gasser would face a sentence of life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.

As a result of the indictment, Gasser’s bond was increased to $750,000 by Judge June Darensburg of the 24th Judicial District Court.

In keeping with office policy, there will be no further comment by this office.

blue bar 2

 

Bridge City man convicted of sexually abusing young girl

A Bridge City man was convicted Thursday night (Jan. 26) of sexually abusing a young girl over a period of five years, ending with her mother’s discovering his deeds when the victim was 14 years old.

Trevor Clifton, 37, faces 25 years to 99 years in prison for his conviction of two counts of sexual battery in connection with the abuse he meted out to the child with whom he was acquainted. The victim is not being identified.

The victim’s mother caught Clifton abusing her daughter on Oct. 2, 2015. After confessing to committing only one sexual act, he obtained a knife and threatened to cut his own throat.

The mother called the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office to report the crime, leading Clifton to flee with the knife. Deputies conducted a manhunt that involved searches by electronic means involving his cell phone and license plate recognition cameras.

Two days later, Detectives Donald Zanotelli and Gabe Faucetta tracked Clifton to a woman’s home in the 400 block of MacArthur Boulevard in Harvey.

The woman, with whom Clifton fathered a child and had an ongoing relationship, initially would not let deputies into her home. After gaining entry, the deputies found Clifton hiding behind a refrigerator, still holding a knife.

During the manhunt, detectives spoke with Clifton’s sister, who said her brother told her that the victim raped him and that the entire incident was a misunderstanding.

However, on the day the abuse was discovered, the victim was taken to Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. No sign of physical abuse was discovered, as is often the case in child sexual abuse cases.

But the child disclosed the abuse to hospital staff, and DNA belonging to a male was recovered from the victim’s genitals. While the donor’s gender was determined, the amount of genetic material was insufficient for DNA analysts to identify a specific person.

The victim initially only partially disclosed the extent of the abuse. Through interviews with JPSO Personal Violence Detective Kay Horne and to a forensic interviewer at the Jefferson Children’s Advocacy Center, the victim disclosed that Clifton began abusing her when she was about 9 years old and that Clifton threatened her to get her to submit to the acts. The jury heard expert testimony on how young sexual abuse victims delay in reporting the crimes.

Through his attorneys, Clifton denied the accusations. His attorneys argued that witnesses lied about the crimes, and that detectives were sloppy and rushed the investigation.

Judge E. Adrian Adams of the 24th Judicial District Court set Clifton’s sentencing hearing for Feb. 9.

Assistant District Attorneys Matt Clauss and Josh Vanderhooft prosecuted the case.

blue bar 2

 

 

 

Metairie man nabbed in heroin distribution case convicted of narcotics, firearms offenses

A Metairie man who sold heroin to an undercover informant in New Orleans during a multi-jurisdictional investigation that led to Jefferson Parish was convicted Thursday night (Jan. 19) of possessing and distributing the illegal narcotic and of illegally possessing four firearms.

Julius Hankton, 27, is guilty of possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of oxycodone and four counts of being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm.

A Jefferson Parish jury deliberated for 40 minutes before unanimously convicting him as charged of all counts. Judge Donnie Rowan of the 24th Judicial District Court set Hankton’s sentencing for Feb. 17.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation New Orleans Violent Crime Task Force investigated Hankton beginning in 2014, using an undercover informant to purchase small quantities of heroin on four occasions, according to testimony. The task force comprises members of the FBI and local law enforcement agencies, including the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Louisiana State Police.

Hankton, who lived in New Orleans when the investigation began, moved into an apartment with his girlfriend in the 1600 block of Clearview Parkway. As such, task force members obtained a warrant from a Jefferson Parish magistrate commissioner to search the apartment.

About 6 a.m., on March 19, 2015, FBI SWAT members and sheriff’s deputies served the warrant, surprising Hankton, his 4-year-old son and his girlfriend as they slept.

During the search agents found more than 21 grams of heroin, eight tablets of oxycodone and the firearms. They also seized more than $20,000 in cash.

The firearms included a fully loaded 9mm pistol with extended magazine, which was set on a dresser, a 10mm pistol on the floor next to his bed, a .45-caliber pistol found in the dresser drawer and a fully loaded AK-47 assault rifle in a duffle bag under the bed.

Hankton is barred from possessing firearms because of his prior convictions in New Orleans of aggravated battery, possession of cocaine, carrying a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance and illegal possession of stolen firearms.

Hankton, who did not testify, denied the crimes. His attorneys argued there was no evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the drugs and guns belonged to him.

Assistant District Attorneys Andrew DeCoste and Douglas Rushton prosecuted the case.

blue bar 2

DA’s statement on refusal of rape charge against man who killed wife, Westwego officer

Statement from Jefferson Parish District Attorney Paul D. Connick, Jr.:

First and foremost, at this time of horrible tragedy, my thoughts and prayers are with the family of Officer Michael Louviere, the family of Simone Veal, and the entire law enforcement community.

Sylvester Holt, Jr. (DOB 8/3/1984) was booked in Jefferson Parish with first-degree rape last year (under JPSO Item No. E-02768-16). The victim who made the rape allegation told authorities that she met the unknown suspect on May 4, 2016, while she was on a street near a bar in New Orleans and willingly got into his vehicle with him believing they were going to his home in Metairie.  However, the victim said he stopped at a location in Metairie and raped her at gunpoint in his car.  After being identified as the suspect and subsequently arrested, Holt denied raping the victim and claimed the sexual encounter was consensual.

In December, JPSO detectives and DA’s Office investigators attempted to locate the victim in New Orleans, to no avail, and the victim did not respond to voice messages left on her cell phone. On the night of Dec. 20, 2016, the victim left a voicemail with, and later sent text messages to a DA’s Office investigator, saying she did not wish to pursue charges.  She was subsequently located and brought to the DA’s Office.  During the course of the interview, she said for the first time she had met Holt on a previous occasion.  She claimed she saw him again on the night of the incident and reiterated the rape allegation, but again insisted that she did not wish to pursue the charges.

A follow-up meeting was scheduled, but she continued to be uncooperative. With assistance from the JPSO, the victim was located and transported to the DA’s Office for the follow-up interview on Dec. 29, 2016.  At that time she remained uncooperative and insisted that charges be dropped.  She requested and signed an affidavit saying she wished to withdraw the charges.

On Jan. 5, 2017, she left a voicemail with a DA’s Office investigator, inquiring about the status of the investigation and reiterated her desire not to pursue charges against Holt. She once again requested that the charges be dropped.

Therefore, after reviewing the evidence, and in light of the victim’s unwillingness to cooperate with the prosecution, the DA’s Office determined there was insufficient evidence to proceed without her participation. As such, the charge was refused two weeks ago, on Jan. 6, 2017.

blue bar 2

Kenner woman faces 20 years in prison in charity raffle scam targeting the elderly

A Kenner woman who stole $1,340 from unsuspecting elderly people by selling them fake raffle tickets will be sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Tammy Marie Davis, 49, pleaded guilty as charged on Thursday afternoon (Jan. 19) to 16 felony counts of exploitation of the infirmed, bank fraud, possession of cocaine, and to misdemeanor counts of theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and theft from an aged or disabled person. The crimes occurred in Kenner in 2016.

Davis struck up conversations with her victims during which she asked about their doctors, according to the Kenner Police Department. She then would lie to the victims, telling them she knew the doctor and that his child was suffering from an illness or disease.

She further asserted she was selling raffle tickets to a fundraising event, to raise money for the ill child. In several cases, the victims only had $100 bills, which they provided as payment for the tickets. Davis offered to make change, taking the $100 bills but never returning.

In one such case, Davis approached a 73-year-old woman at a credit union, asking the victim if she recognized her from a doctor’s office. Davis asserted she was selling the raffle tickets, at $10 per. The victim only had a $100 bill, which she gave to Davis. Davis stole the money.

The bank fraud charge stems from her befriending an 81-year-old man suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. She accompanied the man to his bank, where she forged his signature on a check made out to “cash.”

When Davis attempted to cash the check, a teller noticed the hand-writing differences. David fled before police arrived. The victim, meanwhile, needed medical attention because of his illness.

Police were able to identify Davis through the Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole, leading to her arrest on May 16, 2016. She was serving parole through December 2017 for a purse snatching conviction.

Questioned by Kenner police, Davis confessed to the crimes and said she needed money to feed her crack cocaine addiction. During the arrest, officers found a rock of crack cocaine in her pocket and a glass pipe used to smoke crack. Police also found numbered raffle tickets in her pockets, her car and her apartment.

Judge Henry Sullivan of the 24th Judicial District Court accepted the guilty pleas. Davis will be returned to court Feb. 16, when Judge Sullivan will sentence her to 20 years in prison.

Assistant District Attorney Kellie Rish prosecuted the case.

blue bar 2

Waggaman man sentenced to 50 years for shooting that wounded toddler

A Waggaman man who was convicted last month for his role in a Marrero shooting that left a toddler critically injured was sentenced Tuesday (Jan. 17) to 50 years in prison.

Kedrick “KK” Anderson, 24, was convicted as charged of two counts of second-degree murder for his role in the July 13, 2013 shooting in the 2800 block of Mount Kennedy Drive. Anderson and several other gunman targeted a woman and her 2-year-old son because of a violent, ongoing dispute with the toddler’s father.

In announcing the sentence Tuesday, Judge Stephen Enright of the 24th Judicial District Court noted that one of the victims was “a very small child.” He sentenced Anderson to 50 years in prison for each attempted second-degree murder count, the maximum for each crime, and ran the sentences concurrently. Anything less, Enright noted, would “denigrate the seriousness” of the crimes.

Although Anderson turned down Judge Enright’s invitation to speak to the court before the sentence, the judge found him in contempt of court after he refused to be quiet. The contempt of court hearing, and a multiple bill hearing, is set for Feb. 13.

A Jefferson Parish jury convicted Anderson of the attempted murder counts on Dec. 15. Anderson testified during the trial, denying he was involved in the shooting and asserting that he was misidentified as a shooter. Two co-defendants accused of involvement in the shooting await their trials.

Assistant District Attorneys Angad Ghai and Douglas Rushton prosecuted Anderson.

blue bar 2