It starts with a crime. The law enforcement agency involved, usually Shreveport Police or the Caddo Sheriff’s office, but also sometimes constables or police in towns, issues a summons or arrest; if they choose to arrest then bail or bond is set by a judge. In some cases , law enforcement investigates and forward results of the investigation to our office. This can take days, weeks or even months, or charges may not be filed and no arrest made. But if evidence is forwarded to our offices for opinion, we review it carefully and take action as necessary.
In short, police arrest on probable cause. The District Attorney’s Office then charges and prosecutes offenders based on evidence that can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt.
Bills of information are filed by our office, and in specific cases such as murders Grand Juries are convened to consider evidence and return formal indictments as warranted. Pre-trial motions are filed by defense attorneys and sometimes prosecutors, and are decided by the assigned judge.
At trial, judges or juries consider evidence and testimony and then determine the guilt or innocence of the accused. Judges then sentence those convicted, under guidelines set by state statutes. The Louisiana Department of Corrections determines how much time a defendant will actually serve.
In August, U.S. Attorney Brandon Brown and I announced our collaboration of efforts in the prosecution of gang and violent crime by adding a special appointed federal prosecutor to work with both offices. In August, Caddo Parish Assistant D.A. Jason W. Waltman was sworn in as Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in Shreveport. Waltman will work with the district’s Project Safe Neighborhood Program and other Assistant U.S. Attorneys to more efficiently prosecute these gang offenders between our two offices. Jason will do a fine job.
The Caddo Parish Grand Jury returned seven true bills in its session ending Thursday, August 31, charging six individuals with crimes ranging from murder to rape.
Lil’Anthony Roshawn Johnson, 20, of Shreveport, was charged with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in one indictment, docket No. 395697, and with illegal possession of stolen firearms in a separate indictment, docket No. 396677. The indictments are in connection with events of May 30, resulting in the death of Lil’Charles Johnson, 24.
Reginald Marcell Roberson, 25, of , was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the May 24, slaying of Eddie Rogers, 72. He also was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in the indictment, docket No. 395707.
Barry Dewight Davidson, 67, of Shreveport, was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the May 29 slaying of Charles Ray Bryant. Mr. Bryant, 62, was shot and killed at a residence in the 1500 block of Andrew Avenue. That indictment has docket No. 395688.
Douglas Lacamron Anderson, 28, of Shreveport, was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to juveniles in one indictment, docket No. 397,277. The murder charge is in connection with the second-degree murder of a juvenile referred to as L.M., born August 6, 2019, and killed between November 1, 2019 and August 11, 2021. The cruelty charge is connected to acts by Anderson upon an individual identified as J.J., born December 30, 2012, between December 13, 2019 and December 19, 2019. Anderson was booked into Caddo Correctional Center September 27, 2021.
The final two indictments charged Kyson Lee and Wesley Roussell with sex crimes. Lee, 18, of Shreveport, booked into Caddo Correctional Center May 27, 2023, is charged with two counts of first-degree rape. Roussell, also 18 and from Shreveport, booked into CCC May 19, 2023, is charged with first-degree rape.
Due to the nature of the charges and the victims involved, the indictments for Lee and Roussell were filed under seal.
As always, as the state’s per capita leader in jury trials, our office was busy in August, prosecuting cases and accepting guilty pleas.
Of note:
* A Shreveport felon convicted in June of illegally possessing a firearm must serve more than a decade in jail and pay a fine, a Caddo Parish judge ordered.District Judge Chris Victory sentenced Travis Latrea Adams, 33, to 12 years in prison hard labor without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence on August 1. He also must pay a $1,000 fine and court costs.
Adams was caught with a concealed handgun after a traffic stop by police in April 2019. He was convicted in Caddo District Court June 27.
In the April 2, 2019 traffic stop, officers noticed a strong odor of marijuana and searched the vehicle, finding a Smith and Wesson handgun in an armrest. Adams admitted to possessing the firearm, despite having a 2010 felony conviction for aggravated assault of a peace officer with a firearm, which prevented him from possessing a weapon.
Adams was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Victoria Washington and Sam Crichton. He was defended by Sean Landry.
* A man facing trial for numerous sex crimes pleaded guilty just before his trial was set to begin in Caddo District Court August 9.Clemon Ray Hanson Sr., 59, pleaded guilty as charged to several sex offenses: forcible rape, two counts of molestation of a juvenile and indecent behavior with juveniles under the age of 13.
On July 27, 2021, Hanson forced his 11-year-old granddaughter to watch pornographic videos with him. Upon his arrest, on August 31, 2021, many others came forward detailing a history of sexual abuse of minors by Hanson of his family members and close friends dating back to 1981.
Hanson has previously been convicted of several drug offenses.
He will return October 24 to face District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. for sentencing. He faces up to 85 years in prison.
Hanson was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kendra Joseph and Christopher Bowman. He was defended by Sean Landry.
* A Caddo Parish jury deliberated under two hours August 9 before convicting Romullus Noyes, 23, of the 2022 murder of Jermond Lewis. The verdict was returned to Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. in Caddo District Court.The four-woman, eight-man jury was unanimous in finding Noyes guilty of the second-degree murder of Lewis. Lewis, 41, was shot 11 times February 15 in the parking lot of the Economy Inn and Suites in the 5100 block of Westwood Park off Monkhouse Drive.
The state’s 10 witnesses and evidence showed that Noyes fired at least 29 rounds from a .22 caliber rifle and a 9mm pistol, that all the shell casings fired matched Noyes’ weapons and that the projectiles recovered from Lewis’s body were fired from Noyes’ rifle.
Noyes claimed the shooting was in self-defense. However, witness testimony and physical evidence that included hotel security footage refuted that claim and established that Noyes attempted to stage the scene.
Noyes was sentenced August 16 to a mandatory life term without possibility of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.
Assistant District Attorneys Christopher Bowman and Kendra Joseph prosecuted Noyes. He was defended by Elizabeth Gibson and Carter Lawrence.
* A Shreveport man who shot and killed a standout local high school football player in 2020 was sentenced to mandatory life in prison August 16 in Caddo District Court.Kolby Moore, 24, was sentenced by District Judge Katherine Dorroh, in whose court he was convicted of second-degree murder July 13. Moore must serve his sentence without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.
Moore’s victim was 17-year-old Minnion Jackson, killed in a hail of gunfire as he drove on Interstate 220 on August 26, 2020. Jackson at the time was a student at Green Oaks High School and was coming from football practice after dropping off several teammates.
Witnesses saw the car used in the shooting speed off to Bossier City and exit onto Benton Road. Police were able to obtain a license plate number from a camera and traced the vehicle to a rental agency, where a customer had a romantic relationship with Moore. Using OnStar, officers tracked the vehicle to the 8200 block of Pines Road, within walking distance of the home of one of Moore’s relatives. Officers contacted Moore there and secured a warrant to search his cell phone, which aided in tying him to the shooting.
Moore was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kodie K. Smith and Chris Bowman. He was defended by John Fuller and Devin Jones.
* A Shreveport man who pretended to be a police officer and terrorized a local woman was sentenced August 16 to 20 years in prison.Reginald Jamar Ruffins, 36, was found guilty in March of false personation of a peace officer and false imprisonment in connection with an incident that occurred June 22, 2022.
District Judge Donald E. Hathaway sentenced Ruffins as a fourth-felony offender, mandating the 20-year sentence at hard labor.
On June 22, 2022, Ruffins went to the Cooper Road Plaza Apartments dressed in a ballistic vest, duty rig belt and multiple law enforcement style tools, such as handcuffs, a collapsible baton and pepper spray. He entered an apartment and handcuffed the resident while he searched her dwelling for a gun she was legally allowed to possess. The woman’s children were present at the time. The woman believed Ruffins to be in law enforcement and testified that he presented himself as such. Ruffins had been to the apartment complex multiple times trying to secure a paid contract with the complex to do security patrols and presented himself as a member of SPD to the apartment complex manager.
Prosecutors were Assistant District Attorneys Courtney N. Ray and Jason W. Waltman. He was defended by Sean Landry.
* A Shreveport man facing trial in Caddo District Court on numerous domestic abuse and child endangerment charges pleaded guilty as-charged August 16.Joe Butler Jr., 31, pleaded guilty before District Judge Chris Victory to domestic abuse with serious bodily injury and three counts of domestic abuse child endangerment. His trial had been scheduled to commence August 21.
On August 24, 2021, Butler was enraged when his wife asked him not to smoke synthetic marijuana in the house where she and her three children lived. Butler pulled the victim into their bedroom, locked the door and choked his wife until she was unconscious. The three young children were on the other side of the door and heard their mother gasping for breath. The victim was able to flee and called 9-1-1 from a neighbor’s house. About one week after this incident, Butler called his wife and attempted to justify his actions, and told her she would be disciplined just like her children when she misbehaved.
Assistant District Attorneys Britney Green, Ron Christopher Stamps and Christopher Bowman prosecuted Butler. He was defended by Dave Knadler.
Pursuant to the terms of the plea agreement, the D.A.’s office will file a Habitual Offender Bill on Butler to enhance his sentences. As a second time felony offender, he faces at least two years and four months in prison and up to 16 years. And on each count of Domestic Abuse Child Endangerment he will face at least one year and up to six years in prison. So when Butler returns to Judge Victory’s court for sentencing September 7, he faces up to 34 years in prison.
The case was docket No. 386600.
* A Shreveport man facing seven drug charges pleaded guilty as charged on all counts just before his trial was to have begun August 21 in Caddo District Court.Mack Treshaun Marshall, 36, of the 2500 block of Jones Mabry Road, made his guilty plea before Caddo District Judge Erin Leigh Waddell Garrett.
Marshall’s charges, and the sentences imposed, were as follows:
Count 1: Possession with intent to distribute Schedule II methamphetamine, 28 grams or more, 10 years.
Count 2: Possession with intent to distribute Schedule II cocaine, 28 grams or more, 15 years.
Count 3: Possession with intent to distribute Schedule II lisdexamfetamine, less than 28 grams, seven years.
Count 4: Possession with intent to distribute Schedule II amphetamine, less than 28 grams, seven years.
Count 5: Possession with intent to distribute Schedule III buprenorphine,
seven years.
Count 6: Illegal carrying of weapons, a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun and an SCCY 9mm handgun, while in possession of the controlled dangerous substances cocaine, methamphetamine, buprenorphine, lisdexamfetamine and amphetamine, eight years without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.
Count 7: Possession of a firearm — a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun and an SCCY 9mm handgun — by a convicted felon, having previously been convicted of possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance on January 22, 2019, 20 years without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.
The terms, stemming from a single incident, are to be served concurrently.
Marshall will return to court September 27 to be charged as a multiple offender.
On November 1, 2022, Caddo Parish deputies executed a search warrant at Marshall’s residence in the 1700 block of Peach Street. The search turned up more than 30 grams of cocaine, more than 120 grams of methamphetamine and various amounts of buprenorphine, amphetamine and lisdexamfetamine, as well as packaging material. Deputies also recovered the handguns, along with proof Marshall lived at the residence.
Assistant District Attorneys Ross Owen and Michael Anderson prosecuted the case. Marshall was defended by Hilary Hileman.
A Shreveport man facing numerous felony charges pleaded guilty as charged August 21 in Caddo District Court.
Willie Lee Rochelle IV, 27, entered his plea before Caddo District Judge John D. Mosely Jr.
Rochelle pleaded guilty as charged to attempted armed robbery and aggravated second degree battery just as jury selection was to commence. The facts of that case are as follows:
In April 2017, Rochelle and an armed accomplice approached a victim outside a house party in the 5600 block of Kent Avenue. Rochelle demanded money and with his accomplice attempted to rob the victim. Their target refused to surrender his money, so Rochelle and his accomplice pistol-whipped the victim, causing injuries to the man’s head that required stitches and wound care. Rochelle has a prior 2016 conviction in Caddo Court for simple robbery.
Rochelle also pleaded guilty as charged to separate pending charges, namely battery of a police officer, aggravated second degree battery, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, attempted armed robbery and attempted second degree murder.
For these convictions, Judge Mosely imposed the following sentences:* Battery of a police officer, six months in the parish jail, the maximum possible.
* Second degree battery, eight years at hard labor, the maximum sentence.
* Aggravated second degree battery, 15 years at hard labor on each count, the maximum allowed.
* Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, 20 years at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence, the maximum allowed.
* Attempted armed robbery, 40 years at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.
* Attempted second degree murder, 40 years at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.
Rochelle was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Cheyenne Wilson and Jasmine Cooper. He was defended by Harry Johnson, Casey Simpson and Madison Crusan.
* A Shreveport man accused of forcing sex acts on an unconscious female relative was unanimously convicted as charged in Caddo District Court August 23.
The 10-woman, two-man jury in District Judge Chris Victory’s court found Erick Lamond Williams, 46, guilty of the April 24, 2022 attack on the adult victim who was inebriated.
Williams was charged with third degree rape, crime against nature, simple escape and resisting an officer with force or violence.
The jury determined that Williams had forced vaginal and anal sex of the woman, with another resident in the apartment capturing the sex acts in photos and video. After his arrest, Williams fled from police custody and while resisting, broke an arm of one of the police officers involved.
For the rape conviction, he faces up to 25 years in prison. For the crime against nature conviction, he faces up to five years in prison. For the escape, he faces two to five years in prison, while the resisting conviction has a one to three-year sentence. However, the state plans to file a habitual offender bill that would increase the sentencing to 25 years to life.
Williams will return to Judge Victory’s courtroom September 27 for sentencing.
Williams was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Sam Crichton and Victoria Washington. He was defended by Michael Enright and Stephen Folk-Cruthirds.
* A man accused of two separate instances of possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon, pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court August 24, just before the jury was to have returned to deliver its verdict.
Davis Lamichael Pea, 29 of Shreveport, was sentenced by District Judge Chris Victory to 15 years in prison without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence, for a February 25, 2021 incident where police responded to an armed person call resulting in a traffic stop where Pea was found to be in possession of an AR weapon.
Judge Victory sentenced Pea to five years, also without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence, for a January 1, 2023 incident where officers responded to a shots-fire call and found Pea, who fled on foot but was eventually arrested.
The prison terms are to be served concurrently.
The first crime had docket No. 381394, while the second crime was docket No. 392993.
Pea is prevented from possessing a firearm due to a 2013 simple robbery conviction.
Pea was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Victoria Washington and Courtney Ray. He was defended by Dave Knadler.
In August, our juvenile section requested the juvenile judges to enact consistently across their courtrooms more stringent, intensive supervision, with use of GPS technology, on probationers of all gun offenses. With this push by my office of more harsh supervision on juveniles already involved with guns and crime, there will be an immediate decrease in juvenile violence in Shreveport. And I continue to reiterate my promise to continue to work with the school board, superintendent, principals, teachers union and school board security to prosecute fully any classroom or athletic event disruptors.
See you at the high school football games,
At your service,
James E. Stewart Sr.
Caddo Parish District Attorney
