08. December 2023
Yesterday, November 28, 2023, Xavier L. Johnwell, 30, Lake Charles, was found guilty as charged of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Illegal Carrying of a Weapon-2nd Offense. In 2021, the Combined Anti-Drug Team (C.A.T.) responded to a call of suspicious activity at a vacant house. Upon arrival to the house, Johnwell fled from C.A.T. officers and once detained, it was discovered Johnwell had a firearm on him. Upon further investigation it was also learned that Johnwell is a...
22. November 2023
Yesterday, November 21, Stephen D. Cormier, 45, Lake Charles, was found guilty as charged of 2nd Degree Sexual Battery, 2nd Degree Kidnapping, and Mingling Harmful Substances. In 2021, Cormier put a sleeping aid in the victim’s drink and once the victim was unconscious, Cormier drove the victim to a different location and sexually abused her. Cormier will be sentenced on January 18, 2024 before Judge Clayton Davis. Assistant District Attorneys Hope Buford, Taylor Alexander, and Chas Swinburn...
02. October 2023
Today, October 2, Kendrick M. Cox, 32, Natchitoches, LA, pled guilty as charged to First Degree Murder and was sentenced to life in prison by Judge Michael Canaday. In 2022, Cox brutally murdered his victim after meeting him on a dating app. Cox has a warrant for a separate homicide case out of Natchitoches and will be transported there to answer to that charge. First Assistant District Attorney Jacob Johnson and Conrad Huber handled the case for the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s...
27. September 2023
Yesterday, September 27, Judge Kendrick Guidry sentenced Byron J. LeJeune, 35, Egan, LA, to 30 years in prison on one (1) count 2nd Degree Rape; five (5) years in prison on one (1) count Domestic Abuse Battery-Inflicting Serious Bodily Injury; and three (3) years in prison on one (1) count Domestic Abuse Battery-Strangulation. The sentences are to be ran concurrently and without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. In 2021, Lejeune violently beat the victim in the face...
13. September 2023
Today, September 13th, Kaden S. Peloquin, 19, Lake Charles, pled guilty to First Degree Rape and was sentenced to life in prison at hard labor by Judge Robert Wyatt. In 2020, Peloquin forced the victim, who was under 13 at the time of the crime, to have sexual intercourse with him on multiple occasions. During the investigation, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office performed a data extraction on his cell phone and discovered over 50 images of child pornography created during his attacks on...
21. July 2023
Today, July 21, 2023, Judge Robert Wyatt sentenced Blaine K. LeCompte, 44, Lake Charles, to 25 years in prison on one (1) count Vehicular Homicide; and 5 years in prison on each of the two (2) counts of First Degree Vehicular Negligent Injuring. The sentences are to be served at hard labor without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. The sentence for Vehicular Homicide is to be ran consecutively to the sentences of First Degree Vehicular Negligent Injuring which is to be...
21. July 2023
Today, July 21, 2023, Judge Robert Wyatt sentenced Jermaine Washington, Jr., 27, Lake Charles, to life in prison on one (1) count First Degree Murder; and 20 years in prison on one (1) count Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. Both sentences are to be served at hard labor without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. The sentence for the charge of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon is to be ran concurrently to the life sentence. In 2018, Washington was...
21. July 2023
Today, July 21, 2023, Judge Robert Wyatt sentenced Casey M. Hatch, 40, Lake Charles, to life in prison on each of the two (2) counts 2nd Degree Murder. The sentences are to be served at hard labor without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence and will be ran consecutively. In 2020, Hatch set fire to his mobile home while three people were trapped inside; only one survived. Assistant District Attorneys Charles Robinson, Conrad Huber, and Jordan Sutterfield prosecuted the...
19. July 2023
Today, July 19th, Judge Robert Wyatt found Travis Shane Ryan, 47, Lake Charles, to be a third or subsequent habitual offender. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison at hard labor on each of the three (3) counts of Pornography Involving a Juvenile Under 13; 10 years in prison at hard labor on one (1) count Computer Aided Solicitation of a Minor; 4 years in prison at hard labor on one (1) count Possession of CDS II; and 20 years in prison on each of the two (2) counts of Pornography Involving a...
01. May 2023
Today, May 1, John A. Arceneaux, 51, Lake Charles, pled guilty as charged to one hundred (100) counts of Pornography Involving Juveniles Under 13. Arceneaux was found to be in possession of these materials after an investigation by the Louisiana Bureau of Investigation Cyber Crimes Unit and the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. Arceneaux was sentenced by Judge Clayton Davis to the statutory maximum of 40 years at hard labor, as recommended at the time of the plea. “Our children deserve to...