February Newsletter - 21st Judicial District Attorney`s Office

ADAS HOST TRAINING
GILMORE FOUND GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER
Livingston- Assistant District Attorneys David Guidry
and Matthew Belser hosted a sexual assault
investigations training on February 15, 2013 at the
Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) in
Livingston, LA.
Amite- Shawn Gilmore, age 43, of Old Baton Rouge HWY,
Hammond, LA, was found guilty of Manslaughter on February 1,
2013.
Members from Child Advocacy Services, the
Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office, and DCFS
investigators and
caseworkers were in
attendance at the
training.
“We’re all on the same
team with the same
goal in mind,” Guidry told participants. “We want to
protect the child from the perpetrator, but also from any
further trauma in the courtroom.”
The prosecutors discussed topics such as the screening
process, the burden of proof, the importance of details
in an investigation, building a case, and various related
subjects.
Guidry noted that several
thousand cases are
reviewed each year in
Livingston Parish by only
seven Assistant District
Attorneys, with only 32 trial dates per year. “Child sex
abuse cases are the most difficult to prosecute,” he said.
"The district attorney's office will continue to assist all
investigative agencies in any way possible to build
successful cases," said DA Scott M. Perrilloux.
Gilmore was charged with the 2010 murder of Hammond resident
Alvin Collier. The 12-person jury deliberated for over 4 hours
before announcing the guilty verdict.
Assistant District Attorney Patricia Parker represented the State
with Judge Brenda Bedsole Ricks presiding.
According to Parker, Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Deputies
responded to a 911 call on November 26, 2011, at the home of
Shawn Gilmore. Upon their arrival, police discovered the victim,
Alvin Collier of Hammond, lying on the floor. Officers asked the
defendant if Collier had been shot and she informed them that she
had stabbed him. The deputies were unable to find any signs of life.
On January 29, 2010, Gilmore told police that she and Collier, her
live-in boyfriend, were arguing on the day of the incident. She
stated that the victim shoved her in the kitchen, at which point she
pulled a knife from the sink, said Parker. Gilmore maintained that
Collier was trying to take the knife from her when she fatally
wounded him during the fight. The defense claimed the act was in
self-defense.
The jury was allowed to listen to the 911 call during the three day
trial. Parker then explained that on the recording listeners can hear
both Gilmore and Collier, but the victim sounds muffled, as if he is
a reasonable distance away. Parker maintains that this proves they
could not have been struggling the entire time, because jurors
could not hear the victim clearly until Gilmore was close enough to
deliver the fatal strike.
The maximum sentence for Manslaughter is 40 years. Sentencing
is scheduled for March 12, 2013.
NOTABLE CONVICTIONS
KIEFER PLEADS TO NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE
Amite- 35-year-old Misty Hernandez was sentenced to serve
10 years with the department of corrections after pleading
guilty to Distribution of Schedule II Controlled Dangerous
Substances on February 5, 2013.
Amite- Jake Kiefer, age 26, of Browns Lane, Holden, LA,
pleaded guilty to Negligent Homicide and Hit and Run
Driving, and pleaded no contest to Obstruction of Justice on
February 4, 2013.
Livingston- On February 11, 2013, Clifton M. McMorris, age
34, of Livingston, LA, pleaded no contest to
Creation/Operation of a Clandestine Laboroatory,
Production/Manufacutre or Possession with Intent to
Distribute a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance,
and Cruelty to Juveniles. He was sentenced to 10 years in
prison for the first offense, five years for the second, and two
years for the third. All time is to be served concurrently.
He was sentenced by Judge Zorraine Waguespack to serve
five years with the department of corrections for Negligent
Homicide and 10 years with the department of corrections for
each additional offense, to be served concurrently. The
sentences were suspended and the defendant was placed on
five years of probation to be served on in-home incarceration.
He must also pay a $10,000.00 fine and $25,000.00 in
restitution.
Amite- Stephen Pea, age 51, of Ponchatoula, LA, was
sentenced to serve 10 years with the department of
corrections after pleading guilty to Possession of a Firearm
by a Convicted Felon.
The case was scheduled for jury trial on February 4 when
Kiefer chose to change his plea. “The defendant pleaded as
charged. There was no plea agreement or offer from the
district attorney’s office,” said Perrilloux. “Sentencing is
always a function of the Judge,” He explained.
Greensburg- On February 25, 2013, Benjamin White age 38,
of New Orleans, LA, pleaded no contest to Possession of
Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substances and Possession
of Schedule III Controlled Dangerous Substances. He was
sentenced to five years with the department of corrections for
each count, to be served consecutively. All but seven years of
the sentence was suspended.
Amite- On February 19, 2013, Howard Watkins, age 29, was
sentenced to 10 years with the department of corrections after
pleading guilty to Driving while Intoxicated (4th offense).
HAMMOND MEN TO SERVE 15 YEARS
According to Assistant District Attorney Angel Monistere, the
incident occurred on April 10, 2010, on Interstate 55 near
Ponchatoula. Witnesses observed a black Cadillac Escalade
crash into another vehicle. The driver of the Cadillac, later
identified by Louisiana State Police as the defendant, fled the
scene. Carl Vorenkamp and Carrie Vorenkamp, of Hammond,
were killed in the crash.
When Kiefer was arrested nine days later on April 19, 2010,
officers noted that the damage to the vehicle had already been
repaired. This resulted in the Obstruction of Justice charge,
said Monistere.
Greensburg- Roy Abron, Jr., and Lee Burton will both serve 15 years with the department of corrections after pleading guilty to
multiple burglary charges. Assistant District Attorney Richard McShan represented the State. Judge Ray Chutz handed down the
sentence.
On February 4, 2013, 39-year-old Roy Abron, Jr., of Lowes Lane Hammond, LA, pleaded guilty to 37 counts of Simple Burglary
of an Inhabited Dwelling. He was sentenced to 12 years with the department of corrections for each of 36 counts, to be served
concurrently. He was sentenced to 12 years with the department of corrections for the 37th count, with nine years to be served
concurrently and three years to be served consecutively for a total of 15 years.
Lee Burton, age 28, of Lowes Lane Hammond, LA, pleaded guilty to 36 counts of Simple Burglary of an Inhabited Dwelling and
one count of Illegal Possession of Stolen Things. He was sentenced to 12 years with the department of corrections for each count
of Simple Burglary of an Inhabited Dwelling, to be served concurrently, and three years with the department of corrections for
Illegal Possession of Stolen Things, to be served consecutively for a total of 15 years.
The maximum sentence for Simple Burglary of an Inhabited Dwelling is 12 years. Both men must serve their sentences without
the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence.