Mandeville Snowball Stand Owner Pleads Guilty To Paying Teen Girls for Sex Acts

District Attorney Warren Montgomery reports that Anthony Barton Fortune (57), owner of a Mandeville snowball stand, pleaded guilty as charged Monday (December 4, 2017) to paying four teenage girls money and drugs for sexual favors. District Judge Peter Garcia sentenced him to a total of 15 years in prison on the charges of Purchase of Commercial Sexual Activity of persons under 18 (5 counts), Production of Pornography,  Sexual Battery, Indecent behavior with a juvenile (6 counts), Distributing Xanax to persons under 18 (2 counts), and Distributing marijuana to persons under 18 (2 counts).
The crimes came to light when Mandeville police received a report that the snowball stand owner was paying teenage girls for sexual activities. Police later found about 40 photos of the girls posing nude and performing sex acts in the defendant’s apartment, which is connected to the back of the snowball stand. Two of the victims were 14 years old, one was 15, and another was 16 at the time of the crimes.
The victims supported the resolution of the case.

Son Arrested Following Fight with His Father

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s detectives are investigating an aggravated battery that occurred between a father and son Saturday night (December 2, 2017) in the Lacombe area. Responding to a 911 call in Lacombe, deputies found a 57-year-old man unconscious inside the home. A family member at the residence told deputies the victim had gotten in a fight with his son, Casey Melerine (27) who was arrested on the charge of Second Degree Aggravated Battery.
The father was transported to a south shore hospital, where he remains in critical condition with a head injury.

Washington Parish Jail Booking Information for December 1-3, 2017

Linda Clark was booked 12/01 on the charges of Failure to Appear (2 counts)

Herbert Brunet was booked 12/02 on the charges of Driving While Intoxicated, Improper Turn/Accident, and Improper Lane Useage
Roy Angelo was booked 12/02 on the charge of Theft of Goods
Patrick Smith was booked 12/03 on the charge of Convicted Felon in Possession of Firearm
Darryl Singleton was booked 12/03 on the charges of Disturbing the Peace, Resisting a Police Officer With Force or Violence (2 counts), and Battery on an Officer With Injury
Patrick Scott was booked 12/03 on the charge of Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule 1 Drugs

Mandeville Man Arrested in Homicide and Burglaries

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s detectives have arrested George Dargis (39) of Mandeville for a domestic related homicide that took place at Mandeville area residence and for four business burglaries that occurred early Saturday morning (December 2, 2017).
Responding to a report of a possible homicide on Smith Street in the Mandeville area, deputies found a deceased female. Dargis was quickly identified as the suspect. He was also a suspect in the burglaries of Eddie's grocery, the Dollar general in Lacombe, Lishman's in Lacombe, and the Lacombe Car Wash.
Later Saturday morning, detectives were notified that Dargis was in University Hospital after he had been involved in a car crash on the Twin Span bridge. The NOPD handled the crash.
Following his release from the hospital, Dargis was booked into Orleans Parish Prison as a fugitive and then transported to the St. Tammany Parish Jail where he was booked on the charges of Second Degree Murder, Simple Robbery, Simple Burglary (2 counts), and Unauthorized Entry of a Place of Business. 

Obituary

Vesta E. Sharp
June 12, 1922 - December 2, 2017

Obituary

Doyle Mizell
May 03, 1933 - December 02, 2017

Obituary

Linda C. Pascale
November 17, 1944 - December 1, 2017

Obituary

Richard Lane Holmes, II
March 12, 1977 - November 30, 2017

Three Grinch’s Caught Shoplifting Christmas Presents

Three New Orleans Grinch’s are behind bars for trying to steal three Razor Scooters and a 55” television from Walmart, but they didn’t stop there. The trio then decided to flee from Slidell Police.

Slidell Police responded to a report Thursday (November 30, 2017) of three females shoplifting at the  Walmart. As Slidell Police arrived, the three jumped into a car and sped away. They then jumped from the vehicle and ran from officers. After a brief foot chase, all three females were apprehended.
Officers located over $1,000 worth of merchandise in the trunk of the vehicle, all of which was believed to be Christmas presents.
Booked for Resisting an Officer by Flight and Theft Over $1000 were Deshante Thomas (19), Mikail Hardiway (20), and Andrelle Weaver (23), all from the New Orleans area.

Reminder: Christmas in the Park in Bogalusa

Christmas in the Park in Bogalusa reopens tonight, Friday December 1 and runs through Sunday, December 3. Drive-thru is 6-7pm and walk thru is 7-9, weather permitting.

D. A. Varnado Store Museum's Christmas Festival

Obituary

LaTisa Shanks Hinton
April 08, 1975 - November 28, 2017

Obituary

Robert John Duncan
August 28, 1930 - November 30, 2017

Washington Parish Jail Booking Information for November 29-30, 2017

Ricky Roach was booked 11/29 In From Court

Bruce Pierce was booked 11/29 In From Court
Adam Thomas was booked 11/30 on the charge of Contempt of Court
Whitney McNeese was booked 11/30 on the charge of Unauthorized Entry of an Inhabited Dwelling
Charles Westmoreland was booked 11/30 on the charges of Driving While Intoxicated (2nd Offense), Improper Lane Useage, Failure to Yield to Emergency Vehicle, and Failure to Appear
Justin Stafford was booked 11/30 In For Court and on the charges of Contempt of Court (2 counts) and Failure to Appear
Brett Smith was booked 11/30 on the charges of Criminal Damage and Failure to Appear
Kevin Hartfield was booked 11/30 on the charges of Failure to Use Turn Signal, Driving Under Suspension, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Heroin, Contempt of Court (2 counts) and Failure to Appear (2 counts)
Willard Dugas was booked 11/30 In From Court
Mary Young was booked 11/30 on the charges of Sale Distribution or Possession of Legend Drugs Without Prescription or Order (3 counts), Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Contempt of Court, Failure to Appear (2 counts), and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Help Locate Missing Twin Brothers from Slidell

One Arrested, Two Wanted for Slidell Armed Robbery

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s detectives have arrested James Johnson (26) of Slidell and are looking for Kendrick Wise (23) and Malik Crawford (20), both of Slidell, following an armed robbery that occurred in Slidell last weekend.

Deputies were dispatched to the J&K Apartments on Brownsvillage Road Saturday (November 25, 2017) in response to a Pearl River man's report that he had been robbed at gunpoint and beaten by three men while visiting a friend.
Arrest Warrants were obtained for Kendrick Wise, Malik Crawford and James Johnson. Johnson was located at his residence; while there, two stolen firearms were recovered and Johnson was charged with Armed Robbery, Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms (2 counts), Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Schedule II Drugs, Contempt of Court for Failure to Appear, and Illegal Carrying of Weapon During Crime of Violence. 
Anyone with information about this crime or the whereabouts of Wise or Crawford is asked to call (985) 898-2338 or 911.

Pioneer Christmas is This Weekend in Franklinton

Pioneer Christmas at Mile Branch Settlement begins Saturday, December 2nd and ends Sunday, December 3rd. A horse parade will kick off the festivities Saturday at 10 am and thereafter, enjoy the baking contests, cookie decorating, cotton candy eating contests, sack races, and entertainment like Joel Galloway all day both days!

Santa Claus is Coming to Mt. Hermon

Old Saint Nick will be making his way to the Mt. Hermon on Saturday, December 16, 2017 and is inviting everyone to attend the Mt. Hermon Community Christmas parade beginning at 10am. The parade will start at Rawl's Pharmacy on Hwy 38, will proceed east to Brooks' Store, then make its way back to Rawl's.
Santa Claus will be in front of the Mt. Hermon School and will be available for any pictures that families might like to take with their own cameras or phones.
For more information, please contact Mrs. Darlene Garcia at (985) 335-6050.

Obituary

Mary O'Brien Erwin Babington
September 26, 1922 - November 29, 2017

Obituary

Patricia Ann Bingham
October 01, 1947 - November 29, 2017