Listening to the Drum Major's Rhythm

Need a shot of inspiration? Listen to John Lewis's talk of #resistance & #history making #CivilRights #Selma50 http://t.co/eJRJobRQJq
— Evelyn Encalada G. (@professor_evy) March 11, 2015 

While in Selma for the 50th year Jubilee it was evident that this year was different. Everyone was expectant. The President of the United States was scheduled to speak. However, we would find, there was a one-two punch.

We were waiting in line to be screened by security, just to get a little closer to hear the President. We had walked the bridge the day before. It was definitely something other than just us, on that bridge. It wasn't the day of the enactment.  Even so, the air was electric.  I felt healthier, rejuvenated and enlivened. 

After returning, from Selma for Worship the next day, the press was manifested in my bones.  The following day, announcements began to come of racism exposed once gain in our Nation. A "biracial" man was killed in Madison, Wisconsin by a police officer. Across the country in Norman, Oklahoma a fraternity group ranted a racist chant, from its bus. Our Society, was shocked.  Again.  Congressman John Lewis, had spoken on Saturday the 7th of March about those tribulation days of February to March of 1965.

Malcolm X, had come to Selma, while Dr. King was in jail, to lend his moral support. He was assassinated after leaving from Selma, shortly after. 

With, all that happening after leaving from Selma, and hearing the President say, the battle is not over. And after hearing a Congresswoman and Congressman say the same thing another way, I realized nothing has changed sufficiently in the hearts of America's people.  The News in Alabama, said the KKK dropped leaflets in Selma. 

Several City Officials in Ferguson, Missouri resigned. The State Supreme Court there, took over the municipal court. 

If Dr. King was here, he'd might say, "Where do we go from Here". He would talk about the unfinished business. He would talk about police brutality and poverty.

The Blessing of Deliverance One Way or Another

A lot of who we are is, what we do.
What we do is what is most remembered.
Even to the last thing, that is done.
But, the whole of life is what is mostly considered, by the reasonable.

However, there are times when a quintessential event occurs and the person that exits from the event becomes "an enrichly different persona". "What vehement desire", may cause a miscalculated circumstance to evolve. Yet, many know, that this Brother fought tooth and nail to obtain a different outcome for his son. This Brother, come out of Dallas in 2006 to do this battle. And, remained in Jena, until his untimely death. 

@BrotherJesse http://t.co/kGWUMosspc @DericMuhammad Services Sat. Dec.20 @ Goodpine School,Jena 1pm for Marcus Jones pic.twitter.com/3BGKY5X6nI
— Prowl Alert~El Ras (@ProwlAlert) December 16, 2014

       The Blessing of Deliverance-One Way or Another
The deliverance that must come for American society, must come shortly. Time is running out fast. One can become caught up in the indecency of our world's stereotypical discriminatory prejudices and step-out against it, and never feel fulfilled until change is evidenced. When the vultures came to pick the prey's bones, Marcus lashed out, and exposed a lot of skullduggery, during the time of the "6".
Some didn't understand his stance. He never, was for "the political shenanigans of the powers-at-be".
Several incidents, elicited the culmination of the would be "Jena Movement".  Indivdually, persons in the "6's" affair were targeted, in every way imaginable.

Marcus Jones lived out the remainder of his life, under threat and "backlash"

When the "government" began its process to "glass over" the underlying, racial strife in the town, without seeking long lasting solute, Jones withdrew.

After the "soul's son", incident in nearby Monroe, Jones further distanced himself from the mainstream malarchy and focused on what would really make a difference in the current streams of thought.

In his last thoughts, Marcus was dismayed at the police killings of black men, particularly youth, inclusive of Tamir Rice. When both Grand Juries in Ferguson and New York's Staten Island, yeilded no indictments,  he was disheartened by the events. In two of the last text messages from Mr. Jones, he said, "Seem like we just can't win" in reference to the Mike Brown Grand Jury decision.

The December 3rd text message said "They just let another Cop off " in reference to the Eric Garner Grand Jury decision in New York City's Staten Island.

With the recent deaths of Black youth and the standing up for those youngers' lost lives: particularly the fathers; Marcus Jones was the prototype.
Raw emotion, vehement desire and consistent activism. It was a last stand for the survival of this soul's son.
On the other day, Marcus met with tragedy. In a very freak accident, Jones fell to his death off the bed of a Pickup truck to be struck by another truck.
Rest in the privilege of deliverance from this present evil world.

Surely seems as though this should not be happening, yet it has; and answers are necessitated.

TROOP E NEWS RELEASE

December 14, 2014

Pedestrian Killed in LaSalle Parish Crash

LaSalle Parish – Late yesterday afternoon, a single vehicle crash involving a pedestrian killed a man from Jena, LA. 

Troopers responded to the crash around 5:41 p.m., which occurred on LA Hwy 8 near Jena. The crash involved a 2007 Chevrolet pickup, driven by Brittany N. Walker (W/F 22 yrs) of Jena and a pedestrian, identified as Marcus W. Jones (B/M 43 yrs). The Chevrolet was eastbound on LA Hwy 8 when Walker observed an object (later determined to be Jones) in the roadway. Walker attempted to avoid striking Jones by steering right, but was not successful. The Chevrolet struck Jones in the upper torso. 

Prior to the crash, Jones was lying down in the eastbound lane and was wearing a black jacket and black pants. 

While Troopers were investigating the crash, a friend of Jones arrived on the scene. The friend informed Troopers that, prior to this crash, Jones had been riding in the bed of his truck, standing and holding down wooden pallets. Once the friend arrived at their destination, he realized that Jones was no longer in the bed of the truck and was attempting to locate him when he came upon this crash scene. 

Routine toxicology tests are pending. The crash remains under investigation.

Although the condition of the pedestrian at the time of the crash remains unknown, Troopers would like to remind the public of the following: when walking near a roadway, always make yourself visible to drivers by wearing bright/light colored clothing and reflective materials. Pedestrians that are walking at night should try to carry a flashlight for added safety. A person should always walk on a sidewalk, but if there is not a sidewalk available, you should always walk on the shoulder or if no shoulder is available, as close to the roadway edge facing traffic.

Troop E Troopers have investigated 48 fatal crashes in 2014, resulting in 60 fatalities.

Contact Information:
M/T Daniel “Scott” Moreau 
Louisiana State Police
Public Affairs Section – Troop E
Office: (318) 769-9USA (872) 
scott.moreau@la.gov
www.LSP.org 
www.facebook.com/LouisianaStatePolice

The government's expected RIOTS in FergusonOctober Brews Still

Barack Obama speaking of quiet riots at Hampton University just before the election for President, takes on another meaning through the lens of Michael Brown's death at, what is the offspring of a now well known antiquated police system.

The "quiet riots" for which he spake are materializing, inch by inch. The seemingly spike in Police killings of black men, is seen as what has the possible solutions, soon to come to pass. Police brutality is a part of the culture of law enforcement.

Black rage, a product of the american capitalist system of deprivation and impoverishment of a "worker class"; to perform the mundane task of a disposable society for the "ruling class", is what's behind the Police State tactics recently utilized in St. Louis' Ferguson.

The aftermath of Ferguson's August debacle is evident day by day. There is a group of young folk, who are gutwrenchingly disturbed by the vulgar killing of Mike Brown and the subsequent inconsistency of the judicial/prosecutorial/law enforcement policies.
Even, the executive branch of the state of Missouri is culpable in the looming fiasco. Whether it is 2014 or 2015, this festering sore has boiled over.
It is such, that; direct intervention is needed now. The highest area of government is necessitated for the proper outcome of the injustices.  A congressional intervention or even presidential intervention are cast aside in lieu of the U. S. Attorney General's involvement. 
As nothing, definitive has been the outcome of DoJ's investigation of the Trayvon Martin murder-(it is a fact it is murder because GZ has consistently been in incidents) to this very day. So, it is the assumption of the 20-somethings and the 30-somethings; that the Mike Brown outcome will be, just as destructively deceptive. 

And, so now the "Quiet Riots" Barack Obama, talked about at Hampton, before the election of 2008 has matured, and the "babies" of the subsequent generation, "the Lost Voices" are speaking, loudly!! Everso Loudly!!

St. Louis' Ferguson,11Oct14 1748hrs

The Rigours of Defeat:-2013

La. tells HHS it won't run insurance exchange

By MELINDA DESLATTE
Associated Press

Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 9:12 p.m.

Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration sent formal notification Wednesday to federal officials that Louisiana won't create its own health insurance market as provided by the national health care overhaul.
Health and Hospitals Secretary Bruce Greenstein mailed a seven-page letter telling the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that Louisiana will leave it to the federal government to run the state's health insurance exchange.
The letter also outlined the Jindal administration's continuing opposition to the entire law, which was upheld by the Supreme Court earlier this year.
"The State of Louisiana has repeatedly stated that the law has severe legal problems, is bad policy and is unworkable. Those beliefs remain unchanged," Greenstein wrote to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
The exchanges, scheduled to launch in January 2014, will allow people and small businesses to shop for private coverage from a range of competing insurers. They are supposed to be ready to begin enrolling people in October 2013.
Jindal, a Republican who is considered a possible White House contender, has sought repeal of President Barack Obama's signature health care law, calling it an inappropriate expansion of the federal government and a burdensome expense for the state and businesses.
In his letter, Greenstein revisited those complaints, laying out pages of point-by-point criticism. He called the health care law unjust taxation, said it will undermine the private health care marketplace and claimed it will weaken job creation at private businesses.
"The full extent of damage the (health care law) causes to small businesses, the nation's economy and the American health care system will only be revealed with time," Greenstein wrote. "The State of Louisiana has no interest in being a party to this failure by implementing a state based exchange."
He said the health insurance exchanges have unrealistic deadlines and unclear regulations.
The exchanges are supposed to be set up with federal money and then sustained through taxes and fees on the insurance products.
State Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, the head of the Louisiana Democratic Party, tried unsuccessfully to get the state to run its own exchange. She said it doesn't make sense for the state to opt out of creating its own system that fits its local markets, instead of using a one-size-fits-all model.
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, a Republican who supports the concept of an exchange though not the Obama health law, echoed similar concerns Wednesday about using an exchange model not created specifically with Louisiana in mind.
"When the feds build the exchange, they will build it according to their political agenda and that gives me concern as a person who would not have voted for what I consider to be a program headed in the direction of national health care," Donelon said.
But he noted the decision of whether Louisiana would run its own health insurance exchange was not his, but Jindal's choice.
Louisiana, which was one of 26 states that unsuccessfully sued to throw out the health revamp, earlier had decided to let federal officials run the high-risk pools for people who have pre-existing medical conditions and can't afford the costs of private insurance plans.
Before the presidential election, Jindal also said he won't let Louisiana participate in another part of the Obama health care law, refusing to expand the state's Medicaid coverage to give more people health insurance.
Since Obama's re-election victory, the governor hasn't responded to questions about whether he'll change his stance now that efforts to repeal the national health care overhaul are expected to go nowhere.

Copyright © 2012 HoumaToday.com — All rights reserved.

Study: Income inequality continues to grow in La.

Study: Gap between rich and poor in Louisiana continues to grow larger, among worst in nation

Associated Press

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -- The gap between Louisiana's rich and poor has grown wider over the last three decades, with the poverty-ridden state having among the highest rates of income inequality in the nation, according to a new study released Thursday.
The richest 5 percent of households in Louisiana have average incomes more than 14 times larger than the bottom 20 percent of households, according to data from two Washington, D.C.-based think tanks, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute.
The groups advocate for low- to moderate-income families.
Louisiana has the sixth-widest gap in the country. States with higher income disparity, the study says, are New Mexico, Arizona, California, Georgia and New York.
Average household income for the poorest 20 percent of households in Louisiana grew less than 10 percent since the 1970s, compared to 62 percent for the richest 20 percent in the state, according to the report.
Jan Moller leads the Louisiana Budget Project, the state arm of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. He says he hopes the report is a "wake-up call to legislators and policymakers" as Gov. Bobby Jindal intends to push a revamp of Louisiana's tax code in the next regular legislative session.

Jindal: Obama re-election won't change path in Louisiana

Last Modified: Wednesday, November 07, 2012 2:46 PM
BATON ROUGE (AP) — Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal is congratulating President Barack Obama for his re-election victory, while saying that won't change his course in Louisiana.
Jindal issued a statement that said, "Here in Louisiana, we will continue to do what we have always done, and that means standing up for our people and doing what we think is right no matter who is president."
Louisiana's governor campaigned across the country for unsuccessful GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who Jindal also congratulated for running a "strong race."
Jindal didn't comment on what the election results mean for the future of the Republican Party, saying there's plenty of time to do that later.

The Rigours of Defeat: Worse Case Scenario

2011 No Better!? 2012 Worse! ~ Unless!~ Joint Motion all must reply

Former officer clears last criminal charge

Oct. 22, 2011, 1:15 p.m. CDT

AP

WINNFIELD, La. (AP) — Winn Parish prosecutors have dropped a malfeasance charge against a former Winnfield policeman in the death of a man who was shocked with a stun gun, and former officer Scott Nugent has agreed not to seek reinstatement or back pay.

Nugent's attorney, George Higgins, told The Town Talk (http://townta.lk/pQrixs) about the agreement Friday.

A jury acquitted Nugent last year of manslaughter in the death of Baron "Scooter" Pikes, who died in 2008 after being shocked eight times.

Higgins says the case is finally over.

However, there's still a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against Nugent and city officials. They asked Judge Dee D. Drell in September to dismiss it.

Latrina D. Thomas, the mother of Pikes' young son, has until Nov. 4 to file her response.

**all parties in the case in the Western District are required to reply by Nov. 4** LeSieur

Landrieu chastises Jindal for grant rejection

Oct. 19, 2011, 5:55 p.m. CDT

AP

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu said Wednesday she is "disappointed and concerned" that Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration refused to apply for a federal grant that could have brought $60 million in early childhood education funding to Louisiana.

Landrieu, a Democrat, said education experts across the state spent months working on a grant application to the Obama administration for the money earmarked to help low-income and disadvantaged children. She noted that one-third of children in Louisiana under the age of 5 live in poverty.

"Your decision not to even compete for these funds is one that will have a negative impact on thousands of children in our state," Landrieu wrote to Jindal, a Republican. "I hope your reasons for failing to apply for these funds are strong enough to justify these consequences."

The Jindal administration announced Tuesday that it would not seek the grant money, saying that the state's system for early childhood education is inefficient and mired in bureaucracy and that the grant wouldn't help address children's needs because it is one-time money for ongoing programs.

In response to Landrieu's letter, Jindal spokesman Kyle Plotkin said three state departments "completed a thorough analysis of this grant and determined that it is the exact opposite approach our state should take to help our kids."

"We need to streamline the governance structure, funding streams and quality standards in our early childhood system — and the grant would only make things worse by reducing flexibility and adding more micromanagement and regulatory obstacles," Plotkin said in a statement.

Landrieu said the decision is puzzling, and she asked Jindal to give her more details about how it was reached.

"I hope you will respond in some detail given the broad parameters and flexibility of this grant and the fact that nearly all the states have applied for the grant, making Louisiana the minority," the senator wrote.

Jones: Tough times ahead in the capitol
Outgoing District 17 Representative reflects on her tenure, offers advice for her successor

10/21/11
Robert K. Wright

Rosalind Jones

As election day approaches, candidates are making final pleas to voters for the House District 17 seat. The seat is currently held by Rosalind Jones, who has been in office since 2008. She announced earlier this year that she would not seek re-election. On Saturday, four candidates, Otis Chisley, Marcus Hunter, Brenda Shelling, and Billye Burns, are lining up for her seat. However, Jones said that the job they are applying for is not all fun and games.

Jones, who is a practicing attorney, said that she spent a lot of time away from her Monroe practice while in Baton Rouge during legislative sessions. Although legislators are compensated for their duties, she said that she lost money every year.

“You lose money every year. Because I wanted to stay close to the capitol, my entire per diem was used for room and board, not to mention gas and upkeep on my car,” she said.

Jones said that she was initially not prepared for the amount of time she would be away.

“It’s a full time job. I had misconceptions about the post. Even with dad (Charles Jones), I knew he had both roles as a lawyer and a legislator. But I was overwhelmed a little at the time I spent away from home,” she said.

So if being a public official costs so much, why did she do it?

“It was a wonderful opportunity to make a difference. I wouldn’t trade my experience for nothing in the world,” she said.

Jones said that the candidate who win’s Saturday’s election needs to be ready to hit the ground running. The ‘hitting the ground running’ idea’ has been a major focus of Hunter and Shelling. Hunter has lawyer experience and Shelling has many years of experience as an elected official.

But what is necessary to be successful in Baton Rouge? Jones said that being a lawyer, contrary to popular disbelief, matters in the legislature.

“Practicing lawyers understand implications of the law in real life settings. People who aren’t lawyers don’t share the same perspective. It’s not as easy as calling in a staff to get briefed on what’s going on. Your legislative staff is great, but they are not practitioners. Because I was a practicing lawyer, I felt more comfortable knowing how to read the bills that came before me,” she said.

Endorsing Hunter

This week, Jones sent out an official endorsement letter for Marcus Hunter to succeed her seat in the house. She is aware of the recent lawsuit filed against Hunter by Fourth Judicial District Attorney Jerry Jones. Hunter landed in court testifying that he did not live in the district he qualified for.

“I gave Marcus my word long before his residency came under question that I would support his bid for election. I am a woman of my word. Your word means a lot in this world. However, he needs to fix what needs to be fixed before he is sworn in as a House member, for any member of the House can challenge his residency,” Jones advised.

She said despite his residency dilemma, she believes he is the most qualified person to hold the seat in District 17 on the ‘sure base of ability.’

Tough times ahead

Jones said that whomever wins the election, they should be prepared to face a different House of Representatives unlike that of hers, her father, or that of former representative Willie Hunter.

“This new House will be very different from what my dad and Willie Hunter experienced. We’re entering a new phase in Louisiana politics,” she said.

Jones said that the legislature is nearing a majority republican presence (60/40) and that it is important for any democrat to be ready to fight for what they were sent there to accomplish.

“They (majority republican legislature) don’t really need one democratic vote to get done what they set out to do. New members of the House will find it tough as a democrat. That’s why its extremely important that we have someone in the seat that knows the rules, how to read a bill, amend it, or kill it if necessary. That person needs to be able to get in there and fight for District 17,” Jones advised.

Refusing to sell her soul

Jones said that she did not get to accomplish everything she set out to do. She said that there remains a lot of work in District 17.

“I could have brought back home more money and more opportunities for my district, but I refused to sacrifice my independence for a perceived benefit. Whomever wins the election, I would encourage them to not sell their soul to the governor for a cookie. Be independent. I could vote my conscious and explain to the body (House) why some policies were wrong, even if that meant my home base would not get the pennies the governor was handing out,” she said.

Novice candidates

Jones said that she thinks that novice politicans can still serve, if they are willing to learn the rules and play by the rules.

“I think everyone should have the opportunity to serve and once they get there they will find that there is a political process they must learn quickly,” she said.

Although Hunter is her choice for District 17, of the four, only Shelling has served in an elected capacity. For the novice candidates, Jones said that all who consider the post should be willing to learn the rules and procedures and operate within those rules.

“If you don’t know how to amend or kill a bill, you’re useless. There are a lot of rules and customs you have to operate within. What most novice politicians perceive is that they will go down there and make changes, but they have to come in and operate within the established rules,” she said.

Jones said that she has enjoyed her experience in the state legislature and will continue to serve her district in other capacities as they present themselves. “With the support of my colleagues, friends, and constitutents, I rose from a freshman legislator to the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee in only three years. During this term, we have addressed education issues, criminal justice reform, and economic development within the district. Most importantly, we have created a second majority minority representative district in Northeast Louisiana to give a voice to those citizens who have been silenced in years past. Alas, there is more work to be done,” she wrote in a letter this week.

**A Run-off in the 17th is imminent. Burns-Hunter**

The State of Louisiana Justice in HealthCare, Criminal & Civil Actions, Education is dismal. The Conservative legislature doesn't have any thing to do with it. It is again, the racism. If the present activity continues, gross miscarriages of Human Rights will prevail, the public-at-large will outcry, as they are presently. The courts are arrogant in its deficiency to expend "justice". Poor, indigent defendants are at the mercy of an in fact disparaged system.

Louisiana Public Defender Board is allowing defendants to be summarily defended with only the "constitutional guarantee" being afforded. A defendant in the 4th JDC, represented by a public defender, was told to "just plea"; whether his former lawyer had secured a lesser sentencing "deal" with the DA's office didn't matter. This is not defense. This is perfunctory.

Reciprocity:~Re-Jena'd

Reciprocity. Re-Jena'd! All of this time which has transpired, has left many in Jena, dejected an floundering. It is, however; the responsibility of the Civil Rights apparatus to "educate" the residue that remains in such a place as Jena, what they must watch for, in the ensuing years. September 20th 2012, will mark [5] five years since the Great March of 2007. That event, began with grassroot activist. Some believe it ended, with a plea deal. If that were true, the "Jena Boys" who are young men now, would not be interested in a "capitalist pig's" pretentious involvement as a so-called production rep. However, at midnight on September 19th 2012, the "people" of the Twenty-First 21st Century re-initiation of the Civil Rights Movement in America, will gather in Jena, Louisiana.
The operatives of 2007, are still alive. Some are behind bars! Some of trying, to just, make it! Some are lying , exaggerating and capitalizing on the Move of 2007. We the people caught rides, in the middle of the night, when things were challenging and demanding. Threats were made in '07, '08 thru '11. Lead grassroot activist were diminished. Stranger than strange occurred.
Richard Barrett Died.
As for the other man in this picture, that is another story. Maybe to be told at a later date. First, Jena must be "Re-Jena'd". I've heard many a activist say, we'll give you another Jena. Well, the "thing" that occurred was orchestrated, systematically at a certain point in each stage. At this very moment, we're in an other critical point. You see, 2oo7's Movement was a flashpoint, and we're there again. So, here we go. Brother Activist & Sister Advocate.

Now!! It Should Be Evident

Now, it should be evident, that if an FBI agent comes to talk to you; that you should remain silent and request to be magistrated. Of course, you risk the possibility of being charged with Obstruction of Justice, by not answering their convoluted questions.
What really gets, me however; is that all of this is going on "under the color of law" while a sitting United States Attorney in Washington D.C., looks on with seeming approval.

This same, Eric Holder was called to D.C. while dealing with a wrongful conviction case in this same Louisiana!!

• By BILL LODGE
• Advocate staff writer
• Published: Jun 22, 2011

There is no reason to suggest undercover FBI agents entrapped former New Roads Mayor Tommy Nelson during a sting operation that resulted in his indictment on racketeering and wire fraud charges, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.

Defense attorneys Page A. Pate, of Atlanta, and Michael A. Fiser, of Baton Rouge, argued that agents posing as corrupt sanitation service officials unfairly pushed bribes toward Nelson after he agreed their service would benefit city residents.

The garbage can cleaning service was known as Cifer 5000.

Earlier Tuesday, Pate and Fiser rested their defense of Nelson.

Chief U.S. District Judge Ralph E. Tyson dismissed the jury of five women and seven men for the rest of the day. The judge ordered all to return to his Baton Rouge courtroom Wednesday morning for final arguments in the nearly three-week trial.

Pate and Fiser asked that jurors be told Wednesday that they could acquit Nelson if they believed he had been entrapped.

The judge chose not to include that statement in the instructions he will give the jury on Wednesday.

Pate called one witness Tuesday — former FBI Special Agent Darin McAllister — who awaits sentencing in an unrelated criminal case in Nashville.

McAllister was convicted in December on 15 counts of wire fraud, involving $1.2 million in borrowed bank funds and three counts of false statements in his 2009 bankruptcy proceedings.

Jurors were not told of McAllister’s felony conviction. They were told that he no longer works for the FBI and is not employed.

“Yes, Mr. Nelson thought the Cifer 5000 was a good idea for his city,” McAllister testified during questioning by Pate.

Pate said one of the benefits undercover agents pushed toward Nelson was a free hunting trip.

“He did not take a hunting trip, did he?” asked Pate.

“No,” replied McAllister.

Pate then asked whether McAllister offered Nelson a silent partnership in the sanitation service and suggested it could be worth as much as $2 million.

“Yes,” replied McAllister.

Other FBI agents testified earlier in the trial that Nelson accepted the silent partnership.

Nelson, who lost a bid for re-election after he was indicted last year, is alleged to have accepted more than $22,000 in cash and other bribes from government investigators who posed as officials of Cifer 5000.

He did not testify.

FBI agents testified that Nelson received the $22,000 in return for his pledge to help the company obtain municipal business. Nelson, FBI agents testified, also received the money and other gifts in return for letters of support he wrote on behalf of Cifer 5000 to the EPA and Dallas residents he believed were Cifer investors.

Nelson believed those letters could mean as much as $4 million in federal grants and $3 million in new infusions of investor cash for Cifer, FBI agents testified.

FBI agents detained Nelson in May 2010 after the agents made video and audio recordings of Nelson’s acceptance of an alleged $5,000 cash bribe from an undercover FBI operative in the parking lot of a Starbucks Coffee shop in Gonzales.

FBI Special Agent Tonja Sablatura testified early in the trial that Nelson immediately surrendered the envelope containing that cash. She said Nelson then confessed that he had accepted bribes.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael J. Jefferson, M. Patricia Jones and Corey R. Amundson played recorded telephone conversations in which Nelson could be heard asking for money.

In one conversation, Nelson demanded a $10,000 payment from one of the men posing as corrupt businessmen. In another, he bragged that he had received more money from other companies.

Cifer 5000 was a fictitious company used by the FBI in a sting known as Operation Blighted Officials.

Six other municipal officials in three other Baton Rouge-area cities also were indicted last year.

Former Port Allen City Councilman Johnny L. Johnson Sr. pleaded guilty to racketeering and bribery charges. Johnson has not yet been sentenced by Tyson.

Former White Castle Mayor Maurice Brown was convicted March 3 on felony charges. He has not yet been sentenced by U.S. District Judge Brian A. Jackson.

White Castle Police Chief Mario Brown, brother of Maurice Brown, was acquitted on all counts in the same trial.

Port Allen Mayor Derek Lewis and Port Allen Police Chief Fred Smith are scheduled for trial July 25 in Jackson’s court.

St. Gabriel Mayor George L. Grace is scheduled for trial Jan. 23 in Tyson’s court.

BREAKING NEWS

Jury: Nelson guilty on all counts

Posted: Jun 22, 2011 2:44 PM CDT Updated: Jun 22, 2011 3:43 PM CDT

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) -

Former New Roads Mayor has been found guilty on all seven charges against him.

The jury deliberated for just over an hour before returning the verdict.

Nelson was found guilty of racketeering, wire fraud, making false statements and four counts of interstate commerce.

Defense attorney Paige Pate filed a motion for Judge Tyson to reconsider entrapment, but it was denied. Tyson instructed jurors to throw out entrapment and to not consider it.

Nelson was accused of taking bribes from undercover agents promoting a fake garbage can cleaning business. /end-WAFB story/jl

Fissured & Fractured Judicial Process

The Nelson Matter is forged in a "lacadaisical" nonchalant approach by the "civil rights" apparatus in Louisiana in particular, and America in general.

An action was anticipated with the forging of a recommendation arising out of the last state Convention of the NAACP . It is, as if the clientelle of an uncivil america; think that they can just walk in to court and everything is going to be fair. Without certain justice seeking appartuses involved, the pushers of paper will get the same results. The Six, would not be in the position there in now without those apparatuses in play in 2007.

Victoria Gosserand stands trial in the death of Terri Parker in a car accident days before Christmas last year. Judge Alvin Batiste set the trial for July 11, 2011. I still think it strange that Tommy Nelson wasn't indicted until after comments were made concerning the case of vehicular homicide of Terri Parker on a New Roads thoroughfare.

It should be stated the Louisiana Middle District US Atty, Donald Cazayoux and Gosserand Defense Attorney Rob Marionneaux are both former legislative co-horts. Can, Justice be Served in the Parker death under these circumstances. Should not Eric Holder, send a D. C., civil rights-justice department attorney AND a DOJ special prosecutor for the Gosserand matter. IT IS NOW EVIDENT, COMPLICITY IS A FACT OF LIFE IN THE JURISPRUDENCE IN AMERICA & Louisiana.

What federal operative is busy enticing you or yours to commit corruption?
The Post-trial battle immediately ensued with the 22 June motion filed in the Middle District has already begun.

"Prior to trial, the defense tendered a proposed Fifth Circuit patter instruction to the court
on the issue of entrapment. At the charge conference, the prosecutor objected to the instruction
urging that Mr. Nelson had not made a prima facie case warranting an entrapment instruction."

Where is Bobbi Bernstein, when you really need her?

The Louisiana We Know:SO WELL!!

So Long to Justice!

Commonwealth's desire for a free moral society fizzling fast. When the final actionaries seized control of the "final five" justice was no longer a pre-requisite. Out the window went the mechinations of the Mauffray Court & other pacifications. Now, one by one the principal participating personages, of Jena are systematically being picked off, one by one!

Others, however have continued to pimp, prostitute and capitalize on the "movement that was Jena" in 2007, labelled the 21st Century rejuvenation of Mass Protest. Well, since then we've had some serious marches to occur. However, EVERYone Should read, Sammy Franklin's article on the Jumping Frogs. You may get a better understanding of what's going on!!

In Jena, some of the princpals have been in the "crazy house", alienated and suspiciously targeted with stranger than life scenarios. You wonder WHY the Tpartiers, supremacist, neo-cons, Republicans and conservatives are jumping up and down? The took advice from ground zero. The Jena Experience has been attempted to be 'scrubbed clean', but no such washings can undo, the facts. To, top it off; employment of every wicked device has been accomplished.

Some of these "principal players" in the Jena Experience, have the slightest clue as to why, things are happening the way they are!

The Louisiana Machine is rolling Lead Vehicle in the Republican attempt to oust Obama!

HOWEVER, it is official, 2012:September:Jena:Year5-BACK!!

Who Says, Nobody Cares?!! -Death of a Nation From the bottum up!

Some things are just meant to happen the way they do.
However, the day to day horrors of society, tend to wear away at the heart of things.


Who say's nobody cares? When Chris Nevils said, he wanted to see a fair jury - he knew what he was talking about. Now it must be seen if the prosecutor, will appeal the verdict on the very grounds, that he laid.

Today, October 29th 2010; Scott Nugent was found not guilty in the death of Baron "Scooter" Pikes. What's strange though, in Shreveport another officer was laid to rest, killed on duty.

The tasing-death of Pikes occurred on Martin Luther King Day -weekend. And in this cruelest climate, Nugent's actions were vindicated on Halloween weekend. Both, incidents happened on a Friday. What will be, in the final analysis the understanding of what has, now become history. It is a familiar history.

A history, our children should not have to live in the twenty-first century. Well, we were already escalating our efforts to secure a brighter future for a tomorrow, which may never come. But we must "occupy until he comes." An awakening, will occur. All were so caught up in two senate candidates, slinging vulgar mud. The tea partiers, and the such like. Musing about a South Mississippi Democrat divulging he didn't vote for the POTUS, but for McCain.

We, who live in Dixie, call them dixiecrats. Whose so surprised. Maybe the non-know-it-alls of the varied "punditates". But we know! If we wake up one morning and can't recognize the state of affairs.

We Shouldn't be shocked surprised or
dismayed. We Should realize that time has caught
up with us. America -the south, all of America has got to come to grips with itself. Fast!
Well. Deliver us, from this task master. How is it so insisted upon, that we must accept, less than what is normal. Just because the powerful and the rich, exact prowess over the poor and impoverished; a reckoning day is coming. And who will be surprise, shocked or dismayed at its outcome.

Us people are destroyed, from a lack of Knowledge. And collusions with the very people, who destroy us. We, ain't gwine whistle dixie no mo'. Go 'head though "Whistle It" 'cause its yo' dixie too!

Former police officer found not guilty in Taser death trial in Winnfield

By Bret H. McCormick • bmccormick@thetowntalk.com • October 30, 2010

WINNFIELD -- Scott Nugent waited nearly three years for his manslaughter trial to begin.

Then, he waited about three weeks from the trial's start until closing arguments on Friday.

So, what were an additional three hours?

One of Nugent's attorneys, George

Higgins of Pineville, said the three-hour wait Friday afternoon while the jury deliberated was "gut-wrenching," but the jury returned with the two words Nugent wanted to hear: not guilty.

Nugent was a 21-year-old officer with the Winnfield Police Department on Jan. 17, 2008, when he arrested 21-year-old Barron "Scooter" Pikes (also known in Winnfield as Barron Collins Jr.). Pikes died in police custody, and Nugent was accused of causing the death by using excessive force -- specifically a Taser eight or nine times.

The incident between Nugent, who is white, and Pikes, who was black, caused racial tensions in the town of approximately 5,700 people, and those tensions were evident following Friday's verdict.

Several audible gasps were heard from friends and family members of Pikes' when the verdict was read, while Nugent began crying and shaking his head in relief.

Pikes' family members said the verdict would not be received well by members of Winnfield's black community.

"When it all boils down to it, the whole community is going to be outraged," said Nicole Collins, Pikes' cousin.

"The community is not going to be pleased by this verdict," Pikes' stepmother, Kayshon Collins, added.

Nugent and his team, however, were ecstatic at the news.

Nugent's family was released from the courtroom before anyone else and was unavailable for comment. However, Higgins couldn't hide his joy.

"We're thrilled that Scott was found not guilty," said Higgins, one of Nugent's three attorneys. "We're thrilled because we always thought Scott wasn't guilty."

Higgins said he also was happy for one of his fellow Pineville attorneys, Phillip Terrell, who also worked to defend Nugent.

"I know that this victory was especially meaningful for Phillip Terrell," Higgins said. "There is no bigger supporter of the police."

Terrell and Jerry Glas, a New Orleans attorney who specializes in Taser cases, both were unavailable for comment following the verdict.

*lesieur

Members of Barron “Scooter” Pikes’s family, including his stepmother Kayshon Collins (front center) and sister Lashanta Jackson (far right), exit the Winn Parish Courthouse Friday afternoon following the not guilty verdict in the manslaughter trial of former Winnfield cop Scott Nugent. Nugent was accused of using a Taser on Pikes on Jan. 17, 2008, and causing his death. (Bret H. McCormick)

Louisiana:-Still Denying Justice!?? Oil Well Blowout called Apocalyptic & Apoplectic | And we still don't get it!

Louisiana is this your KINGDOM COME!!

The second moral virtue that comes from grace, as the fruit out of the tree, and ripens in the sunshine of confirmation is justice. Justice is a virtue that will give to everyone what belongs to him.

The court respects the rights of all before God

"Enlightened by prudence, justice supernatural foremost respects the rights of God. Indefeasible owner of everything, God has the right to any and everything, hence the cult inside and outside of man and society. Here, Justice is manifested by the virtue of religion, which includes worship, prayer, sacrifice, hope and the faithful fulfillment of precepts relating to the direct worship of the Creator ."

It respects the rights of the next

"It respects the rights of the neighbor, rich or poor, weak or strong, lower or higher.

• To her the world must end the exploitation of man by man, the murder of children, slavery, despotism brutal, which weighed on all peoples before the redemption, and which still hangs over all foreign nations the benefits of the Gospel.
• It teaches man to respect himself, his soul and his rights, his body and his family, his life, his death and to his grave.
• She tells him, finally, to respect the creatures in the governing justly, that is to say according to their end, In a spirit of dependence, as a property of others with fear, as to account for the use he has made.

Imagine what would happen to the world under the dominion of supernatural justice!

Apoplectic & Apocalyptic
Coastal tent cities are about to rise to house the workers and contractors minimizing the damage, while barge-like floating hotels for a total of about 800 workers are being readied at three locations off Louisiana. Sand banks and barriers are being built. But the consensus around the Gulf Coast is turning more apoplectic and apocalyptic. This is, people are starting to say, a generational event -- tragic to this generation, potentially crippling to the next.

On Thursday June 3rd Louisiana's Legislature offered HCR 214 directed to Ken Salazar the Secretary of the Interior. Rep. Ernest Wooton took to the podium on the floor of the Louisiana House & assailed the Obama Administration. How dreadful.!. Wooton said two years ago he [President Obama] could do anything. There is a lot of hate fomenting in state legislatures. A very heated debate ensued in Senate Committee Judiciary C, on HB617-Requiring at least twenty percent of recipients of cash [welfare] assistance to be drug tested prior to receiving benefits.

But Louisiana, still doesn't get it! Wooton even said the President should stay up in D.C.!! So, an oil man from Texas allowed the regulations on oil production to become lax. And now, a Hawaiian is saying, stop all drilling until we fix the regulating arm of gov't, stopping all drilling. While Pelicans are drenched in blood, I mean oil. Or, bloody looking oil. This is the link of Wooton going off. His comment's are behind Rep. Dove's explanation of the Resolution.

This is the kind of rhetoric that is fueling the "militia militancy" against Obama. An oil-producer, in a mad-rush for profit, split the earth, changed drill bits; disregarded a blowout preventer and charged straight ahead into the abyss.

?What is the correlation to this drilling & the recent earthquakes in the Caribbean & Central/South American Region?

Is any one realizing this is a green President. And this type of fiasco is this man's worse nightmare. Imagine that, toxic oil pollution in an endangered ecological wetland. And now, it's hurricane season. Yet still, who are they fooling. Haiti proved the WORLD let lone the USA are ill-prepared for catastrophe. It is especially so, one behind the other!! '09 Financial debacle. '10 Haiti Earthquake April 2010 Oilwell Blowout.

Come on People. Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi & all total 13 states had filed suit against Healthcare. Somebody's sure 'nough gonna need it now!!

USF researchers find new underwater plume from gulf oil spill

By Craig Pittman and Katie Sanders, Times Staff Writers
In Print: Friday, May 28, 2010

The sight of an oil slick spreading across the surface of the Gulf of Mexico is bad enough. But now scientists from the University of South Florida have found signs that a 6-mile-wide plume of invisible oil is snaking beneath the surface, in the deepest recesses of the gulf.

The thickest concentration, they found, was more than 2 miles beneath the surface — a mile deeper than where the Deepwater Horizon well has been spewing oil for the past month — and about 20 miles northeast of the collapsed rig.

The plume of dissolved oil stretched 6 miles down, said David Hollander, a USF chemical oceanographer and lead investigator for the project. This is the second oil plume to be discovered by scientists, and it marks the first time such plumes have been detected after a spill, Hollander said. He compared them to streams of lava flowing out of an undersea volcano.

While the fudgelike goo coating Louisiana's marshes is getting lots of television coverage, the two undersea plumes show damage is also occurring where no one can see it: deep in the gulf, miles from land, where marine life has always been abundant and yet largely unobserved.

The USF research vessel Weatherbird II was dispatched Saturday to take samples in the DeSoto Canyon, a deep valley that cuts through the continental shelf south of the Florida Panhandle. In the canyon, an upwelling of nutrient-rich water means far more fish and other species swim there.

The scientists' big concern, Hollander said, is whether the oil they found is concentrated enough to be toxic to marine life. It could affect the whole food chain, he said.

The canyon area is a popular destination for local fishing boats, said Bob Spaeth, owner of Madeira Beach Seafood, the area's largest seafood house and home dock for many longline boats, because "it is pristine. It has great habitat.''

The fishermen are willing to make the day-and-a-half journey because they know they will catch bluefin tuna, swordfish, king mackerel and grouper, Spaeth said. If toxic levels of oil have contaminated the fish there, Spaeth said, "that's a disaster.''

The fish are not the only potential deep-sea victims of the spill. It could affect everything from the 10-foot-long giant tube worms rooted to the floor of the gulf to the sea turtles, sharks, whales and dolphins that spend their lives far from shore, say the experts.

"I would be worried about every marine species that swam through that plume," said John Williams, executive director of the Southern Shrimp Alliance, based in Tarpon Springs.

Currently federal officials have closed about 22 percent of the gulf to both commercial and recreational fishing. USF College of Marine Sciences Dean William Hogarth promised that if the area where the plume was found wasn't already covered by that ban, it will be by today.

A big question is where the plume will go next. It could continue spreading until it gets onto the continental shelf and is pushed close to shore. Another USF oceanographer, Robert Weisberg, warned congressional representatives this week that if subsurface oil gets lifted onto the shelf it could reach west Florida's wetlands and beaches, which he called "a very serious concern."

There is no ongoing government monitoring program for what's going on in the gulf, Weisberg said. The USF voyage cost $850,000 — funded by the state — and at this point there is no money for a follow-up trip.

The USF ship, scheduled to return today, went out after scientists from several universities working aboard the research vessel Pelican told the New York Times of finding plumes of oil 3 miles wide and 10 miles long beneath the gulf's surface. That plume was spreading southwest of the rig.

Computer models run by Weisberg had predicted the location of the southwestern plume found by the Pelican, Hollander said. Weisberg's model also suggested there could be a similar plume headed northeast, he said, so that's where the USF ship went.

The scientists aboard the ship — some from USF, some from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in St. Petersburg — discovered the plume on Tuesday. What's not known is the role that chemical dispersants play in the plume. BP has been spraying the dispersants both on the surface slick and directly on the gushing wellhead in the deep ocean, something never before attempted. The dispersants, being used in unprecedented quantities, are supposed to spread the oil so it will evaporate and degrade more quickly. That could be what has created the plumes, Hollander said.

The concern is that the dispersants are simply holding the oil below the surface, where it is harder to clean. So far, tests by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have found no signs that the dispersants are harmful to sea life, but the EPA has ordered BP to look for a less toxic version.

Once the Weatherbird II returns to port, scientists will conduct further tests to determine whether the plume is made of weathered oil droplets or oil linked to dispersants, Hollander said.

The one piece of good news: Tests conducted by the Weatherbird II between the loop current and the Florida coast showed clean water, no weathered oil on the surface and no sign of oil beneath the waves. But that doesn't mean it will stay that way.

Rowan Gould, acting director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has predicted the spill "will affect fish and wildlife resources … for years to come, if not decades."

Times staff writers Stephen Nohlgren and Alex Leary contributed to this report.

[Last modified: May 28, 2010 06:51 AM]

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New, giant sea oil plume seen in Gulf stretching toward Mobile Bay

By The Associated Press

May 27, 2010, 12:10PM

NEW ORLEANS -- Marine scientists have discovered a massive new plume of what they believe to be oil deep beneath the Gulf of Mexico, stretching 22 miles from the leaking wellhead northeast toward Mobile Bay, Alabama.

The discovery by researchers on the University of South Florida College of Marine Science's Weatherbird II vessel is the second significant undersea plume recorded since the Deepwater Horizon exploded on April 20.

The thick plume was detected just beneath the surface down to about 3,300 feet, and is more than 6 miles wide, said David Hollander, associate professor of chemical oceanography at the school.

While the researchers used Mobile Bay as a reference point, the area they are exploring is the DeSoto Canyon, which one researcher described as an "abyss" that falls off from the Florida shelf due south of the Florida-Alabama state line.

The canyon begins more than 100 miles off the Alabama coast with depths of more than 5,000 feet.

Hollander said the team detected the thickest amount of hydrocarbons, likely from the oil spewing from the blown out well, at about 1,300 feet in the same spot on two separate days this week.

The discovery was important, he said, because it confirmed that the substance found in the water was not naturally occurring and that the plume was at its highest concentration in deeper waters. The researchers will use further testing to determine whether the hydrocarbons they found are the result of dispersants or the emulsification of oil as it traveled away from the well.

The first such plume detected by scientists stretched from the well southwest toward the open sea, but this new undersea oil cloud is headed miles inland into shallower waters where many fish and other species reproduce.

The researchers say they are worried these undersea plumes may are the result of the unprecedented use of chemical dispersants to break up the oil a mile undersea at the site of the leak.

Hollander said the oil they detected has dissolved into the water, and is no longer visible, leading to fears from researchers that the toxicity from the oil and dispersants could pose a big danger to fish larvae and filter feeders such as sperm whales.

"There are two elements to it," Hollander said. "The plume reaching waters on the continental shelf could have a toxic effect on fish larvae, and we also may see a long-term response as it cascades up the food web."

(Associated Press Writers Jason Dearen and Matthew Brown authored this report, which was clarified by the Press-Register at 12:47 to better state the location of the undersea oil.)

More Oil 100 miles off Alabama Coast in 5000 ft CANYON

Justice Denied:-Still in Louisiana

The indigent defense system is steadily falling apart & the Louisiana Legislature has still failed to launch, an initial action to revamp the judicial process in the state of Louisiana. In particular Louisiana's 4th Judicial District has indigent defense attorneys, who are typically lax in their representation of impoverished defendants.

Public Defender Office-La. 4th JDC is currently covering a case involving three defendants, one of which has federal charges. Already, two of the defendants are lanquishing in the system, because of maneuvering by the federal defendant.

In New Orleans public defenders are to the point of possibly not taking on any new cases.

Should this not be the final signal, of the impending doom of the collapsing judicial process in Louisiana.

North Carolina has a commission in force that looks in to criminal convictions for possible mistakes even after all post-conviction remedies are exhausted! The Commission, considers claims of innocence from convicts or anyone else with pertinent information. It has reviewed hundreds of claims by prisoners and brought only three to a hearing.

If the commission agrees that a claim has merit, it refers cases to a three-judge panel, which has happened only once except for a recent case, [Gregory Taylor] and the argument in the other case was rejected.

BR man charged in corruption case

By BILL LODGE
Advocate staff writer

Published: Mar 17, 2010

Robert L. Stevens is the 10th person charged in the continuing federal investigation of corruption in Baton Rouge city and state district courts.

Each of the prior nine defendants has pleaded guilty to one or more felony counts. To date, none has been scheduled for sentencing.

Stevens, 61, of Baton Rouge, was charged Tuesday with conspiracy in aid of racketeering. That charge was filed in a bill of information by Assistant U.S. Attorneys M. Patricia Jones and Corey R. Amundson after Stevens waived his right to have the case sent to a grand jury.

“We’re not aware of any job that Stevens has right now or what (type of work) he did in the past,” U.S. Attorney David R. Dugas said.

Stevens is accused of soliciting and obtaining “cash and other things of value from individuals with criminal and traffic matters pending” in Baton Rouge City Court, the bill of information states.

In return for those bribes, the bill of information alleges, defendants were promised their charges “would be dismissed, reduced, or otherwise ‘fixed.’ ”

Stevens participated in the conspiracy in 2008 and for at least the first nine months of 2009, prosecutors said in their charge.

In April and May 2009, Stevens is alleged to have had multiple telephone conversations with Flitcher Bell, who was at that time a senior city prosecutor.

Bell pleaded guilty in the case late last year after prosecutors announced the continuing investigation, dubbed Operation Illegal Motion.

Thus far, the investigation also has produced convictions against two former Baton Rouge police officers, the former chief investigator for the local public defender’s office, several people outside the court system, and several former state and city court employees.

The charge against Stevens carries a possible five-year prison term and fine of $250,000.

Louisiana's Disarrayed Justice continuum ad infinitum

Woman from Pointe Coupee Parish not guilty on first DWI

By Chris Nakamoto
Source: WBRZ
Updated: February 3, 2010 5:47 PM

Woman from Pointe Coupee Parish not guilty on first DWI By Chris Nakamoto
Source: WBRZ WAFB

Officials postpone deadly crash grand jury trial

Feb 11, 2010

It took ten minutes for Judge Alex Wall to find 23-year-old Victoria Gosserand "not guilty" of first offense DWI in Baton Rouge.

In a separate case of DWI in Pointe Coupee Parish, Gosserand faces more serious charges. Investigators say she was three times over the legal limit when she caused a crash that killed 23-year-old Terri Parker and injured vehicle's driver.

Even though the first case doesn't involve Parker's family, they were in court to seek justice.

"If the courts would have taken care of the first DWI, she wouldn't have gotten the second DWI," Parker's mother, Debra Cushionberry said.

In court, the Baton Rouge police officer who pulled her over told a packed courtroom that after he arrested her, the smell of alcohol was so strong he had to crack a window in his police unit.

The executive director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving told News 2 she was concerned there wasn't enough evidence to convict Gosserand.

"We're not always winners," Donna Tate said. "The details of every case are different. In this case, there was not an opportunity to have a field sobriety test done because of the defendant's refusal and no blood alcohol test."

A grand jury in Pointe Coupee Parish will decide next week whether to formally charge Gosserand for the crash in New Roads.

Officials postpone deadly crash grand jury trial

Posted: Feb 11, 2010 6:12 PM CST Updated: Feb 12, 2010 5:36 PM CST

By David Spunt - bio | email

NEW ROADS, LA (WAFB) - A grand jury trial in New Roads scheduled for Friday was postponed after two judges have openly recused themselves from the case of a deadly crash involving a woman who failed a field sobriety test.

District Attorney Ricky Ward said Judge James Best and William DuPont have recused themselves. According to a source, DuPont said he has already been assigned a civil lawsuit in the matter. Best admitted he recused himself.

"It is much too personal to me to preside over this case, as my son was a classmate of both Victoria Gosserand and Kyle Riviere," Best said. "It would put me in an awkward position."

Ward said the case will be reassigned to either Judge Robin Free or Alvin Batiste. He expects the grand jury to hear evidence either next week or the following week.

Teri Parker's father says he is upset about the delay.

"I'm frustrated because my daughter has been taken from me and it's made me feel like nothing has been done about it," said John Parker.

Two days before Christmas, Teri Parker, 23, was killed as she drove home from work. Police have charged Tori Gosserand, 23, in the case. Records show Gosserand had a .30 blood alcohol level at the time of the accident. In Louisiana, the legal limit is .08. Kyle Riviere was riding with Teri Parker. He survived the crash. Story-wafb.com

Officers cleared in Monroe shooting

MICHELLE BATES, Editor

February 11, 2010
Officers cleared in Monroe shooting
MICHELLE BATES, Editor

The two officers involved in the shooting death of Bernard Monroe Sr. have been cleared.

Late Thursday afternoon, the Claiborne Parish Grand Jury handed down a no true bill, which means no criminal charges will be filed against former Homer Police Officers Tim Cox and Joseph Henry, in a case that turned the community of Homer upside down.

When the results were handed down, the only officer that might have faced criminal charges was Cox. According to the report filed with the Claiborne Parish Clerk of Court, Cox could have faced a charge of first degree murder, second degree murder, manslaughter or negligent homicide.

According to Assistant Attorney General John Sinquefield, the grand jury met two full days and worked overtime on the case. The 12 member jury heard 21 witnesses, including 12 civilians, meaning non law enforcement witnesses. They reviewed dozens of items of evidence and returned the no true bill, he said.

“I think they did a very thorough, very complete investigation involving the death of Mr. Monroe,” Sinquefield said. “They did a very good job in reviewing the evidence. All the witnesses, all the police personnel, and all the governmental officials in Homer cooperated 100 percent with us in our investigation, and on behalf of the attorney general’s office, we’d like to thank all these people.”

He extended his thanks to Second Judicial District Judge Jenifer Clason, Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, Homer Police Chief Russell Mills and all the police jury personnel for their full cooperation and accommodations during the grand jury proceedings – held at the Claiborne Parish Police Jury Complex in Homer.

“Judge Clason was very helpful and available, and took our report and showed us every courtesy of the court, and we’d like to thank her,” he said.

Rob Moore, of the Moore Law Firm in Arcadia, the attorney representing Henry, said his client is glad it’s over.

“We’re just relieved that it’s over,” Moore said. “Joey loves this town and wishes the best for Homer.”

Henry declined comment on the matter at this time, as did Homer Police Chief Russell Mills. Mills declined comment under the advisement of Town Attorney Jim Colvin, pending a civil suit.

Attorney Morris Dees, of the Southern Poverty Law Center in Alabama, representing the Monroe family, said they are disappointed in the outcome of this incident.

“They are extremely disappointed that no indictment was returned,” he said, “and they intend to file a civil lawsuit in the near future with the opportunity for a jury to hear the factual determination in the death of Mr. Monroe – something that did not take place with the grand jury.”

Dees indicated that a suit will be filed within the next 10 days as of Friday, February 5.

Bernard Monroe Sr., 73, was shot and killed by Cox on Friday, February 20, 2009, at his home. He was transported to Homer Memorial Hospital with multiple gunshot wounds. He later passed away at the hospital.

According to police, they were pursuing Monroe’s son, Shawn, on foot, and the chase ended at his residence where Monroe allegedly engaged the two officers with a loaded handgun. Witnesses at the scene say he did not have a gun, but rather a sports drink bottle.

The Rev. Willie Young, president of the Claiborne Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), said the members of his organization were disappointed in the outcome.

“We’re disappointed, and we have to accept the results whether I like them or not,” he said. “You live in the real world and there’s two sides to every story.”

He said they prepared themselves for the outcome either way, and it was time to move forward.

“The grand jury has spoken and we move on from here,” Young said.

The tragedy has spurred unrest and many questions by members of the community from all sides. The U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the ACLU and the Louisiana State Police have investigated the case from several different aspects, including any possible civil rights violations as well as the investigation into the incident itself.

The Rev. Al Sharpton was in Homer last year saying that he would not rest until justice was done for Monroe. The NAACP also conducted its own investigation just weeks after the incident.

Ex-officer's attorneys: Taser not cause of death

Robert Morgan • rmorgan@thetowntalk.com • February 11, 2010

Defense attorneys for former Winnfield Police Officer Scott Nugent said they plan to contest claims that a Taser stun-gun caused the death of Baron "Scooter" Pikes in 2008.

Nugent had been set for trial on a manslaughter charge Feb. 9, but the date was postponed until June 14 by state Judge John Joyce.

Nugent is accused of causing Pike's death while he was in Winnfield police custody by shocking him nine times with a Taser.

Pineville attorneys George Higgins and Phillip Terrell said the defense will challenge the science the prosecution intends to introduce.

Despite a finding by Winn Parish Coroner Randolph Williams that Pikes died as a result of the Taser shocks, Higgins said, "We contend that a Taser cannot cause the death of a human being."

"The Taser is a non-lethal weapon. That's precisely why it's used," he said.

Terrell said a report from forensic pathologist Joel Carney of Lafayette declares that the cause of death is "inconclusive."

Carney, who examined the body the day after Pikes died, issued a report saying Pikes had sickle cell anemia and an enlarged heart, either or both of which could have contributed to his death, according to portions cited by Terrell.

The report does not cite the Taser incident as a cause of death, he said.

Taser darts only go under the skin and cannot impact internal organs, the attorneys said.

"As we've contended from the beginning, Scott Nugent did not cause the death of the deceased," Higgins said.