Virginia Bosworth Walker
March 17, 1935 - August 4, 2018
August 15, 2018
Former St. Tammany Deputy Pleads Guilty
District Attorney Warren Montgomery reports that former St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Kenneth Szalajeski (36) of Folsom, pleaded guilty Wednesday (August 15, 2018) to two counts of distribution of marijuana and two counts of malfeasance in office.District Judge Raymond S. Childress sentenced Szalajeski to ten years in prison with nine of them suspended on each of the distribution charges and five years with four of them suspended on each of the malfeasance charges. The sentences are to be served at the same time. In addition, Szalajeski was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and to serve three years of probation when he is released from prison.
While employed with the STPSO, Szalajeski seized marijuana, alcohol, and other contraband while conducting traffic stops on October 25, 2016, and May 28, 2016. But instead of handling the evidence properly, he distributed it to his girlfriend for personal consumption.
When the crime was discovered, Szalajeski was fired from the Sheriff’s Office, and he was later charged.
“As a law enforcement officer, this defendant was arresting citizens for the same conduct that he was personally engaged in,” District Attorney Warren Montgomery said. “This erodes the public’s confidence in the criminal justice system far beyond this one case. This will not be tolerated.”
Pups Available for Adoption
The Magnolia Chapter of the Humane Society of Louisiana recently posted these adorable pups for adoption. They have more!
The Magnolia Chapter does not operate a shelter. They are a "no kill" foster based rescue that currently has foster homes housing dogs, puppies, cats and kittens. They sponsor a high volume, low cost spay/neuter program as well.
Click here for their Facebook page and more information.
The Magnolia Chapter does not operate a shelter. They are a "no kill" foster based rescue that currently has foster homes housing dogs, puppies, cats and kittens. They sponsor a high volume, low cost spay/neuter program as well.
Click here for their Facebook page and more information.
Bogalusa City Jail Bookings August 14, 2018
Devin J. Gonzales was booked 08/14 on the charge of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Roderick K. Ramsdell was booked 08/14 on the charge of Failure to Appear (Bogalusa City Court)
Amy M. Landrum was booked 08/14 on the charge of Failure to Appear (Bogalusa City Court)
Koneisha L. Flot was booked 08/14 on the charge of Simple Battery
Timothy B. Holden was booked 08/14 on the charge of Failure to Appear (Bogalusa City Court)
Roderick K. Ramsdell was booked 08/14 on the charge of Failure to Appear (Bogalusa City Court)
Amy M. Landrum was booked 08/14 on the charge of Failure to Appear (Bogalusa City Court)
Koneisha L. Flot was booked 08/14 on the charge of Simple Battery
Timothy B. Holden was booked 08/14 on the charge of Failure to Appear (Bogalusa City Court)
Washington Parish Jail Bookings for August 14, 2018
Deonte McElveen was booked 08/14 on the charge of Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling
Lonzell Sims was booked 08/14 on the charge of Contempt of Court
Sharlontia Gatlin was booked 08/14 on the charges of License Plate Expired, Driving Under Suspension, Resisting Arrest by Providing False Booking Info, Failure to Appear (2 counts), Issuing Worthless Checks 0-100, Issuing Worthless Checks 300-500, and Fugitive Other Jurisdiction
Jonathan Gay was booked 08/14 on the charges of Contempt of Court and Failure to Appear
Michelle Yarbrough was booked 08/14 on the charges of Failure to Appear (2 counts)
Lonzell Sims was booked 08/14 on the charge of Contempt of Court
Sharlontia Gatlin was booked 08/14 on the charges of License Plate Expired, Driving Under Suspension, Resisting Arrest by Providing False Booking Info, Failure to Appear (2 counts), Issuing Worthless Checks 0-100, Issuing Worthless Checks 300-500, and Fugitive Other Jurisdiction
Jonathan Gay was booked 08/14 on the charges of Contempt of Court and Failure to Appear
Michelle Yarbrough was booked 08/14 on the charges of Failure to Appear (2 counts)
August 14, 2018
Bogalusa City Jail Bookings August 13, 2018
Daquandra O. Magee was booked 08/13 on the charge of Public Drunkenness
Jessie J. Ross Jr was booked 08/13 on the charges of 4 counts of Failure to Appear (Bogalusa City Court)
Amanda N. Sumrall was booked 08/13 on the charge of Failure to Appear (Bogalusa City Court)
Jonathan P. Gay was booked 08/13 on the charge of Fugitive from Washington Parish Sheriff's Department
Michael Busby was booked 08/13 on the charge of Theft
Jessie J. Ross Jr was booked 08/13 on the charges of 4 counts of Failure to Appear (Bogalusa City Court)
Amanda N. Sumrall was booked 08/13 on the charge of Failure to Appear (Bogalusa City Court)
Jonathan P. Gay was booked 08/13 on the charge of Fugitive from Washington Parish Sheriff's Department
Michael Busby was booked 08/13 on the charge of Theft
Washington Parish Jail Bookings for August 12-13, 2018
Steven Rice was booked 08/12 on the charge of Driving While Intoxicated
Travis Williams was booked 08/13 on the charges of Cruelty to a Juvenile(s) and Possession of Heroin
Calvin Martin was booked 08/13 on the charges of No License Plate, Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule 1 Drugs, Possession With Intent to Dstribute Schedule II Drugs, Possession of Schedule 1 Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Failure to Appear, and Contempt of Court (3 counts)
Tevondria Solomon was booked 08/13 In From Court
Travis Williams was booked 08/13 on the charges of Cruelty to a Juvenile(s) and Possession of Heroin
Calvin Martin was booked 08/13 on the charges of No License Plate, Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule 1 Drugs, Possession With Intent to Dstribute Schedule II Drugs, Possession of Schedule 1 Drugs, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Failure to Appear, and Contempt of Court (3 counts)
Tevondria Solomon was booked 08/13 In From Court
August 13, 2018
Lacombe Man Guilty of Raping a Juvenile
District Attorney Warren Montgomery announces that a St. Tammany Parish jury found James Matthew Cole (64) of Lacombe guilty Friday (August 10, 2018) of second degree rape, molestation of a juvenile, and sexual battery of a victim under 13. He faces 25 to 99 years in prison when he is sentenced by District Judge Scott Gardner.The charges involve a single victim, who was 9 or 10 years old when Cole first fondled her. The abuse continued for two years, despite the victim’s pleas for him not to touch her any more. The victim told authorities that Cole agreed to stop if she would do something sexual for him once a month. In September 2015, Cole went to the victim, told her it was his one time a month, and raped her.
The crimes came to light a few months later when the victim told her mother, who contacted police. The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office in Texas, investigated the case. The Dallas Area Children’s Advocacy Center also assisted.
In 1992, Cole pleaded guilty to indecent behavior with a juvenile in a separate case. Three prior victims also testified during the trial last week that he had abused them 30 years ago.
The jury deliberated about three hours before returning the guilty verdict. Assistant District Attorneys Casey Dieck and Holly McGinness prosecuted the case.
Train Crash in Slidell Causes No Serious Injuries
An early morning (August 13, 2018) train crash in Slidell caused roadways to be shut down for
several hours. Miraculously, no one was seriously injured in the crash.
Slidell Police responded to the intersection of Gause Boulevard and Front Street and determined that a 2014 Peterbilt truck, driven by Lee Henderson, Jr. (43) of New Orleans was stopped at a red light; however, the rear of the truck was stopped on the railroad tracks. A freight train approached the intersection, Henderson was unable to move the truck in time, and the train struck the rear of the truck, which was carrying hundreds of tires. The momentum of the crash caused the truck to spin, striking a Toyota Corolla.
The driver and passenger of the truck had minor injuries. The driver of the Toyota Corolla was uninjured. Henderson was cited for Failure to Obey Signal to an Approaching Train. The crash caused significant damage to the locomotive of the train.
Slidell Police responded to the intersection of Gause Boulevard and Front Street and determined that a 2014 Peterbilt truck, driven by Lee Henderson, Jr. (43) of New Orleans was stopped at a red light; however, the rear of the truck was stopped on the railroad tracks. A freight train approached the intersection, Henderson was unable to move the truck in time, and the train struck the rear of the truck, which was carrying hundreds of tires. The momentum of the crash caused the truck to spin, striking a Toyota Corolla.
The driver and passenger of the truck had minor injuries. The driver of the Toyota Corolla was uninjured. Henderson was cited for Failure to Obey Signal to an Approaching Train. The crash caused significant damage to the locomotive of the train.
Motorcyclist Killed in Four Vehicle Crash on I-55
Troopers from Louisiana State Police Troop L responded to a four vehicle fatal crash Saturday afternoon (August 11, 2018) involving two motorcycles on I-55 northbound south of LA 16. The crash has claimed the life of Slidell resident Earl H. Jones, Jr. (57).
Troopers determined that Jones and a second motorcycle rider, Ronald Cagler (60) of Picayune, Ms., were traveling together and were traveling at a higher rate of speed when they crashed into the rear of a vehicle driven by Amber Davis (43) of Mangham, La.
Following the impact, Jones’ motorcycle traveled off the left side of the roadway and he was ejected. Cagler’s motorcycle also ran off the roadway to the left, traveled into the grass median, traveled out of the median, back upon the roadway, and began to flip, ejecting the Cagler onto the roadway. Davis’ vehicle crashed into a pickup truck driven by Thomas Morgan (70) of French Settlement. Both Davis' and Morgan's vehicles came to rest off of the roadway.
Jones was pronounced dead on-scene, Cagler, Davis, Davis' 13-year-old juvenile passenger, and Morgan were all taken to North Oaks Medical Center.
Troopers determined that Jones and a second motorcycle rider, Ronald Cagler (60) of Picayune, Ms., were traveling together and were traveling at a higher rate of speed when they crashed into the rear of a vehicle driven by Amber Davis (43) of Mangham, La.
Following the impact, Jones’ motorcycle traveled off the left side of the roadway and he was ejected. Cagler’s motorcycle also ran off the roadway to the left, traveled into the grass median, traveled out of the median, back upon the roadway, and began to flip, ejecting the Cagler onto the roadway. Davis’ vehicle crashed into a pickup truck driven by Thomas Morgan (70) of French Settlement. Both Davis' and Morgan's vehicles came to rest off of the roadway.
Jones was pronounced dead on-scene, Cagler, Davis, Davis' 13-year-old juvenile passenger, and Morgan were all taken to North Oaks Medical Center.
Bogalusa Councilwoman Kates Responds to City Finance Issues
Bogalusa Councilwoman (District A) Gloria Kates provided a response to a Bogalusa Daily News click here to read), dated August 11, 2018, about the August 7, 2018 Bogalusa Council meeting. The Council approved resolutions to place three tax measures on the December 8, 2018 ballot to fund the retirement systems known as COBERS. Mayor Wendy Perrette is quoted as stating the Council “did not follow proper procedures and Tuesday’s actions will likely need to be rescinded.”article (
Below is Councilwoman Kates' unedited response to the article.
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