Last Thursday, a grand jury in East Baton Rouge decided not to issue an indictment against two men on second-degree murder charges stemming from a January 14 homicide of one of the men's relatives.
Details matter in cases involve drug charges
Baton Rouge police recently arrested six individuals suspected of being involved in a cocaine distribution ring. Sources recite at length the various arrests and list all the illegal items that were confiscated in the four-month long investigation, giving the reader the impression that there is abundant evidence to convict the suspects of every drug charge that has been issued.
New bill would require 48 hours jail time for first time DWI offenders
A bill recently introduced into the Senate would require harsher penalties for first-time DWI offenders. Specifically, the bill would make it mandatory for a person convicted of drunk driving to spend at least 48 hours in jail. The jail time could not be suspended by a judge. At present, the penalty for a first-time DWI is 10 days in jail, unless a judge suspends the sentence.
Rapper "Lil Boosie" acquitted of murder
Last week, we wrote a post about the murder trial of Torence Hatch, the Baton Rouge rapper known as Lil Boosie. Hatch had been on trial for the 2009 murder of a man gunned down in his home. As we noted, Hatch was accused of hiring a hitman to kill the victim. Prosecutors had apparently included in their evidence a song, the lyrics of which the prosecutors felt contained strong suggestions that Hatch was responsible for the slaying.
Baton Rouge man faces child pornography charges
On Thursday, a 60-year-oldBaton Rouge man was arrested and charged with 100 counts of pornography involving juveniles. Sources didn't provide any other details about the alleged criminal activity, but did point out that Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, who is in charge of the case, has earned a reputation for being tough on monitoring, arresting, and prosecuting child predators online.
Baton Rouge rapper "Lil Boosie" on trial for first degree murder
Our Baton Rouge readers may have been following the ongoing murder trial against Torence Hatch, also known as "Lil Boosie." Hatch is currently on trial on charges of first degree murder connected to the death of Terry Boyd, who was shot to death in his home in the fall of 2009. Hatch is specifically accused of paying a hitman to kill Boyd.
House committee approves measure to crack down on second-time DWI offenders
Earlier this month, the Louisiana House Committee on the Administration of Criminal Justice approved of a measure that would require second-time DWI offenders to spend at least 30 days in jail and go through substance abuse counseling. The measure, which now goes to the House floor for debate, was unanimously approved by the committee, along with another bill which would punish anyone over 18 years of age who fails to report witnessed physical or sexual abuse of a child.
