October
10,
2005:
(Baton
Rouge, LA)Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., announced today that
two law enforcement officials sworn to uphold the law in New Orleans
following Hurricane Katrina have been arrested and charged with
looting, felony theft and malfeasance in office.
Mermentau Police Chief Jeremy Joseph Leblanc and Mermentau Police
Officer Hollins Burt Trahan were arrested on Friday, October 7, 2005.
Leblanc and Trahan are each charged with two counts of Looting, two
counts of Felony Theft, and Malfeasance in Office. Leblanc and Trahan
were booked into Acadia Parish Jail as fugitives, subsequently
transported to New Orleans, and booked for the above referenced
charges. Bond has been set at $35,000 for each suspect. The Acadia
Parish Sheriff's Office assisted with the investigation and arrests.
Special Agents with the Louisiana Attorney General™s Office allege
that Leblanc and Trahan, while dressed in Mermentau police uniforms and
acting in the capacity of police officers, stole a box of Ray Ban
sunglasses and two suede/leather sports coats from Saks Fifth Avenue,
valued in excess of $1,000.00. Special Agents further allege that
Leblanc and Trahan stole approximately 23 t-shirts from the Jean
Lafitte Gift Shop on Bourbon Street valued at roughly $200.00.
"It disappoints me that two law enforcement officers who were
supposed to be keeping law and order allegedly took advantage of a dire
situation and stole from the very businesses they were supposed to be
protecting. My office will continue to investigate cases of looting
and, if appropriate, arrest and charge those who we believe broke the
law," said General Foti.
"I also want to remind everyone that although these individuals
have been charged, they should be considered innocent until proven
guilty by a court of law," General Foti added.
Looting carries a possible prison sentence of up to 15 years and/or
a fine up to $10,000.00. The possible sentence for malfeasance in
office is imprisonment up to five years and/or a fine up to $5,000.00.
Felony theft carries a possible sentence of up to 10 years in prison
and/or a fine up to $3000.00.
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