Last Thursday, a 29-year-old Baton Rouge woman was indicted by a grand jury on charges of murder stemming from shootings that took place in February. Police and prosecutors claim that the woman shot a 51-year-old man, stole his bike and rode it a few blocks, and then fatally shot a 55-year-old man. The first man, who was apparently shot in the shoulder, survived. According to police, the defendant and the two men had been in a fight earlier in the day, though sources didn't indicate the nature of the argument or how the parties knew one another.
Illegal searches can result in exclusion of evidence at trial
A Baton Rouge man facing federal drug and gun charges also faces murder charges in state court. The charges, as The Advocate notes, stem from a search of the defendant's home back in June of 2010. Police had apparently entered the man's home looking for evidence that would connect him to the 2010 homicide of two Baton Rouge men. In the process they claim to have found evidence of other criminal activity.
Mother charged with negligent homicide after tragic home fire
On Sunday, a mother was charged with four counts of negligent homicide after her children died in a mobile home fire in the town of Rayne, which is roughly 70 miles west of Baton Rouge. The mother, whose children ranged from 2 to 8 years of age, was reportedly away when the fire happened, though it isn't clear where she was.
Bill would make habitual offenders eligible for parole, now goes to Senate
Habitual offenders convicted of drug offenses and other "victimless offenses" were given a hopeful piece of news on Thursday when the Louisiana House passed a measure proposing to give them the opportunity to be released from prison.
Recent measures seek to crack down on sex offenders
In recent weeks, Louisiana lawmakers have been busy considering various measures affecting criminal defendants throughout the state. In particular, the measures we're referring to aim to target and crack down on those convicted of sex offenses.
DWI sentence can be burdensome, especially for those with DWI history
St. Patrick's Day, as many of our readers know, can be a time of revelry and sometimes unsafe driving. Some people make poor decisions and end up driving under the influence of alcohol. Such mistakes can be easier to make than one thinks. And the consequences can be weighty, particularly if one has previously been convicted of DWI.
Independence man charged with first-degree murder
Last Thursday, authorities in Hammond, Louisiana, arrested a 46-year-old Independence man suspected of killing two Hammond residents. The killings reportedly took place earlier in the day on Thursday.
Sandusky case prompts lawmaker to propose stricter reporting standards
Our readers have by now heard about the criminal case against Jerry Sandusky, former assistant football coach at Pennsylvania State University. Sandusky was arrested earlier this year and charged with over 40 counts of sexual abuse of young boys spanning a 15-year period.
Feds turn up the HEAT in the battle against health care fraud
An estimated $80 billion in health care fraud occurs every year. As a recent CNBC article points out, the problem has gotten worse in recent years, shifting from the typically suspect being an individual physician to organized crime among people who have no background in health care at all.
Library employee charged with forgery and felony theft
Last week, a State Library employee turned herself in for allegedly embezzling $110,000 of privately donated funds. The 39-year-old employee was arrested and booked on 174 counts of unauthorized use of a credit card and 94 counts of forgery and felony theft according to the arrest warrant. Many of these checks were simply made out to "cash."
