November 11, 2019
November 09, 2019
WPSO: Kidnapped Children Returned – One Kidnapper Arrested & One Still At Large
Last night (November 8, 2019), the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office located and arrested Joshua Michael Abelseth (33), who was being sought on four counts of simple kidnapping which occurred earlier this week. Jennifer Abelseth, a second suspect, remains a fugitive and her location is unknown. It is believed that she may be in Alabama, either in the Hoover or Tuscaloosa area or perhaps in the Mobile area, although she could be anywhere, according to the WPSO report. Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office investigators, with the assistance of the FBI, are searching for her and are optimistic that she will be located. Abelseth’s options are reportedly limited since she has no vehicle and is believed to have no money.The four children (identified as Alyssa Weathers, Noah Weathers, Cayden Abelseth and Lili Abelseth) were returned by Abelseth to the children's grandparents house in Washington Parish.
WPSO investigators had learned that Abelseth was back in Washington Parish and likely would take the children back to their grandparents’ house. WPSO detectives, patrol deputies and drug task force officers set up surveillance in the vicinity, spotted Abelseth drive up to the house, and saw him take the children inside. Once Abelseth drove away, officers made a traffic stop, arrested him and transported him to the Washington Parish Jail where he is being held on the simple kidnapping charges.
Joshua Abelseth and Jennifer Abelseth, who lost custody of their children through court order, took the children from their grandparents’ home in Washington Parish and were believed to have fled the state.
“Great arrest,” stated Sheriff Randy Seal. “Our investigators have been working on this non-stop and I am so pleased the children are back home and safe. Joshua Michael Abelseth is in jail where he belongs and I am confident that Jennifer Abelseth will be able to join him as soon as we locate her. Sooner or later, we will locate her, arrest her and put her in jail. Jennifer, if you are reading this, call us and let us know where you are. Make it easy on yourself.”
Woodlake Addiction Recovery Center Ribbon-Cutting is Tuesday
A major step in addressing our addiction crisis in Washington Parish will be the opening of the Woodlake Addiction Recovery Center in Bogalusa, Louisiana. The ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by Governor John Bel Edwards and other officials, will be on Tuesday, November 12th at 10:00 am at 400 Memphis Street in Bogalusa.
Woodlake Addiction Recovery in Bogalusa will offer addiction and recovery services at the old charity hospital facility that was recently vacated by Our Lady of the Angels.
The results of addiction are seen in the tragic losses of lives, destruction of families, and has impacted our criminal justice system. Treatment, not prison, should be a better alternative.
State Representative Malinda Brumfield-White has stated, in part, that “it’s been a long journey putting this partnership together between the State, Our Lady of the Angels and Woodlake Recovery Center but well worth the efforts. I am proud to announce we are getting the BEST holistic recovery center in the state . .. “
Woodlake Addiction Recovery in Bogalusa will offer addiction and recovery services at the old charity hospital facility that was recently vacated by Our Lady of the Angels.
The results of addiction are seen in the tragic losses of lives, destruction of families, and has impacted our criminal justice system. Treatment, not prison, should be a better alternative.
State Representative Malinda Brumfield-White has stated, in part, that “it’s been a long journey putting this partnership together between the State, Our Lady of the Angels and Woodlake Recovery Center but well worth the efforts. I am proud to announce we are getting the BEST holistic recovery center in the state . .. “
Washington Parish Bookings November 8, 2019
Joshua Abelseth was booked on the charges of Simple Kidnapping (4 counts)
Dustin Stein was booked on the charge of Contempt of Court
Lucas Luper was booked on the charges of Driving While Intoxicated, Speeding 21-30 Over Limit, and Failure to Appear (2 counts)
Dustin Stein was booked on the charge of Contempt of Court
Lucas Luper was booked on the charges of Driving While Intoxicated, Speeding 21-30 Over Limit, and Failure to Appear (2 counts)
November 08, 2019
Slidell Man Gets 15 Years For Crimes With Juveniles
District Attorney Warren Montgomery reports that Lenard “Andy” Turpin (52) of Slidell was
sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison Wednesday (November 6, 2019) for crimes that involved his coercing a group of juveniles to his home, providing them illegal drugs, and engaging in sexually inappropriate behavior with them.
District Judge Scott Gardner issued the following sentences: 10 years for attempted indecent behavior with a juvenile under 13, with two of the years to be served without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence; two years for possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance; 15 years for each of two counts of distribution of methamphetamine to persons under the age of 18; and six months for contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Gardner ordered all of the sentences to be served concurrently.
The crimes took place on June 1, 2017, when Turpin picked up multiple juveniles, almost all under the age of 13, under the pretense that they would be attending his son’s birthday party at his home. When the teens arrived to Turpin’s home in Slidell, they found that no birthday party was underway, and Turpin’s son was not even home. Turpin began indulging and providing alcohol and marijuana to the underage children while making lewd and inappropriate comments to the girls.
Turpin then brought two of the juveniles upstairs, where he coerced them to smoke methamphetamine and attempted to get them to perform sexual acts on one another. Later, Turpin also groped and touched one of the girls while making sexual comments about her body. Turpin then brought the same victim upstairs and had her smoke meth with him.
The victims were eventually picked up by one of their grandparents and soon afterwards, their parents and police were notified. One of the juveniles was taken to the hospital, where she tested positive for meth. When St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputies conducted a search at Turpin’s residence the next day, they found meth in his nightstand.
Assistant District Attorneys Casey Dieck and Luke Lancaster prosecuted the case.
District Judge Scott Gardner issued the following sentences: 10 years for attempted indecent behavior with a juvenile under 13, with two of the years to be served without the benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence; two years for possession of a Schedule II Controlled Dangerous Substance; 15 years for each of two counts of distribution of methamphetamine to persons under the age of 18; and six months for contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Gardner ordered all of the sentences to be served concurrently.
The crimes took place on June 1, 2017, when Turpin picked up multiple juveniles, almost all under the age of 13, under the pretense that they would be attending his son’s birthday party at his home. When the teens arrived to Turpin’s home in Slidell, they found that no birthday party was underway, and Turpin’s son was not even home. Turpin began indulging and providing alcohol and marijuana to the underage children while making lewd and inappropriate comments to the girls.
Turpin then brought two of the juveniles upstairs, where he coerced them to smoke methamphetamine and attempted to get them to perform sexual acts on one another. Later, Turpin also groped and touched one of the girls while making sexual comments about her body. Turpin then brought the same victim upstairs and had her smoke meth with him.
The victims were eventually picked up by one of their grandparents and soon afterwards, their parents and police were notified. One of the juveniles was taken to the hospital, where she tested positive for meth. When St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s deputies conducted a search at Turpin’s residence the next day, they found meth in his nightstand.
Assistant District Attorneys Casey Dieck and Luke Lancaster prosecuted the case.
MS. Men (Tylertown & Picayune) Indicted for Burglary
A St. Tammany Parish grand jury indicted Levi Lee (17) of Tylertown, Ms. and Lance Rouse (25) of Picayune, Ms., in the aggravated burglary of a Covington home last December.Lee and Rouse are accused of breaking into a home late one night in December 2018, entering the bedroom of a woman, and holding her at gunpoint while they stole her valuables, which included two shotguns.
Several days later, the men were arrested in connection with the robbery of a Bogalusa gas station and convenience store in which a clerk was shot with a shotgun matching the description of the one stolen in the Covington burglary. The clerk died days later from his injuries, and Lee and Rouse also face second degree murder charges.
(Click here for related story and video of their return to Washington Parish)
Assistant District Attorney Iain A. Dover presented the case to the grand jury.
13 Yr Old Arrested with Handgun at Mandeville School
This morning (November 8, 2019) just before 11 AM, acting on the tip from a fellow student,
Mandeville Jr. High Administration and the Mandeville Police Department School Resource Officer (SRO) recovered a handgun from a 13-year-old white male who is in the 7th grade. The 7th grader reportedly made threatening comments directed towards our SRO.
The weapon is recovered and there are no credible threats to any of the students, staff, or School Resource Officers at this time.
MPD Chief Gerald Sticker advises the juvenile has been charged with Carrying a Firearm on School Property/ Firearm Free Zone and will be booked into Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center.
The weapon is recovered and there are no credible threats to any of the students, staff, or School Resource Officers at this time.
MPD Chief Gerald Sticker advises the juvenile has been charged with Carrying a Firearm on School Property/ Firearm Free Zone and will be booked into Florida Parishes Juvenile Detention Center.
Three Indicted in Heroin Overdose Death
District Attorney Warren Montgomery reports that a St. Tammany Parish grand jury indicted Christopher Hickman (30) of Bogalusa and Raymond Magee (40) of Franklinton on a charge of second degree murder in the death of a 24-year-old woman from a heroin overdose.
The victim, Cheyenne Leonard, died of a heroin overdose on or about May 21, 2019 in Covington. Hickman and Magee also were charged, along with Hickman’s girlfriend, Leanna Stewart (25) of Mandeville, with Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin.
Detective Jessica Restel of the Covington Police Department led the investigation with the cooperation of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant District Attorney Tiffany T. Dover presented the case to the grand jury.
The victim, Cheyenne Leonard, died of a heroin overdose on or about May 21, 2019 in Covington. Hickman and Magee also were charged, along with Hickman’s girlfriend, Leanna Stewart (25) of Mandeville, with Conspiracy to Distribute Heroin.
Assistant District Attorney Tiffany T. Dover presented the case to the grand jury.
Covington Man Indicted on Sexual Battery and Rape of Juveniles
District Attorney Warren Montgomery reports that a St. Tammany Parish grand jury indicted Kenneth Certain (57) of Covington, on two counts of sexual battery on a victim under the age of 13 and one count of first degree rape of a victim under the age of 13.Certain is accused of sexually assaulting two juveniles under the age of 13 over the course of several months. He is scheduled for trial December 2, 2019.
Assistant District Attorney Holly McGinness presented the case to the grand jury.
Arrest Made in Franklinton Hit and Run With Injuries
Source: Press Release from FPD Sgt. James “Tiger” Folks
On Wednesday (November 6, 2019), the Franklinton Police Department responded to a hit and run
crash with injuries on Hilltop Dr. The victims were transported to Riverside Medical Center for treatment by relatives. Officers received information the suspect vehicle was described as a black Chevrolet Impala with heavy front end damage and that fled the area. This information was relayed to surrounding law enforcement agencies as well as posted to social media.
On Thursday (November 7, 2019), the Franklinton Police Department received numerous calls naming the suspected driver as Kendrick Brumfield (24) of Franklinton. Officers, with assistance from the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office and Bogalusa Police Department checked several previous addresses for the suspect without success in locating the vehicle or the suspect. At approximately 5:00pm Brumfield came into the Franklinton Police Department and notified Officers he was the driver of the hit and run vehicle.
During an interview, conducted by Sgt. Jared Stubbs; Brumfield told officers the location of the vehicle and that he was distracted, diverting his attention from the street. Brumfield further stated he panicked and fled the scene after striking the pedestrians with his vehicle.
Brumfield is charged with 2 counts of Negligent Injury, Hit and Run and Failure to report an accident.
Chief Justin Brown would like to thank the public for their assistance in solving this case. Without the continued support of our community, crimes such as this one may go unpunished. As always, the mutual support of the Sheriff's office and Bogalusa Police Department strengthens our ability to provide the best law enforcement possible. Thanks to the officers who worked expeditiously with the public to bring resolution to this case.
On Wednesday (November 6, 2019), the Franklinton Police Department responded to a hit and run
On Thursday (November 7, 2019), the Franklinton Police Department received numerous calls naming the suspected driver as Kendrick Brumfield (24) of Franklinton. Officers, with assistance from the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office and Bogalusa Police Department checked several previous addresses for the suspect without success in locating the vehicle or the suspect. At approximately 5:00pm Brumfield came into the Franklinton Police Department and notified Officers he was the driver of the hit and run vehicle.
During an interview, conducted by Sgt. Jared Stubbs; Brumfield told officers the location of the vehicle and that he was distracted, diverting his attention from the street. Brumfield further stated he panicked and fled the scene after striking the pedestrians with his vehicle.
Brumfield is charged with 2 counts of Negligent Injury, Hit and Run and Failure to report an accident.
Chief Justin Brown would like to thank the public for their assistance in solving this case. Without the continued support of our community, crimes such as this one may go unpunished. As always, the mutual support of the Sheriff's office and Bogalusa Police Department strengthens our ability to provide the best law enforcement possible. Thanks to the officers who worked expeditiously with the public to bring resolution to this case.
Washington Parish Bookings November 7, 2019
Dustin Oubre was booked on the charge of Theft Less Than 1000
Kendrick Brumfield was booked on the charges of Hit and Run, Failure to Report Accident, Negligent Vehicular Injuring (2 counts), Failure to Appear, and Contempt of Court
Joshua King was booked on the charges of Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule 1 Drugs (3 counts), Drug Free Zone Violation of Uniform CDS (3 counts), and Failure to Pay Fine
Chad Goutierez was booked In For Court
Christopher Black was booked on the charge of Self Mutilation
Melissa Magee was booked In From Court
Kendrick Brumfield was booked on the charges of Hit and Run, Failure to Report Accident, Negligent Vehicular Injuring (2 counts), Failure to Appear, and Contempt of Court
Joshua King was booked on the charges of Possession With Intent to Distribute Schedule 1 Drugs (3 counts), Drug Free Zone Violation of Uniform CDS (3 counts), and Failure to Pay Fine
Chad Goutierez was booked In For Court
Christopher Black was booked on the charge of Self Mutilation
Melissa Magee was booked In From Court
November 07, 2019
Jury Convicts Slidell Man of Distributing Heroin
District Attorney Warren Montgomery reports that a St. Tammany Parish jury convicted Anthony J.
Chaney (33) of Slidell on Wednesday (November 6, 2019) of two counts of Distribution of Heroin. Chaney faces from five to forty years in prison on each count, but as a multiple offender, he could face more time. He is scheduled to be sentenced December 3, 2019 by District Judge Raymond Childress.
Chaney was the target of a narcotics investigation by the Louisiana State Police in August 2017, and an undercover trooper conducted two buys from Chaney.
Chaney has multiple prior convictions, including Attempted Disarming of a Police Officer, Simple Burglary, a domestic violence case from Texas, as well as multiple possession of marijuana convictions. He also has a new pending felony charge in Orleans Parish for Second Degree Battery and Domestic Abuse Battery Involving Strangulation.
Assistant District Attorneys Blake Peters and Luke Lancaster prosecuted the case. The trial lasted two days.
Chaney was the target of a narcotics investigation by the Louisiana State Police in August 2017, and an undercover trooper conducted two buys from Chaney.
Chaney has multiple prior convictions, including Attempted Disarming of a Police Officer, Simple Burglary, a domestic violence case from Texas, as well as multiple possession of marijuana convictions. He also has a new pending felony charge in Orleans Parish for Second Degree Battery and Domestic Abuse Battery Involving Strangulation.
Assistant District Attorneys Blake Peters and Luke Lancaster prosecuted the case. The trial lasted two days.
Two Arrested in Franklinton Burglary – Thousands of Items Recovered
On Tuesday (November 5, 2019), the Franklinton Police Department received a complaint regarding a possible burglary at a residence on Main Street. When Officers arrived at the abandoned house, they observed a small SUV parked behind the home but were unable to locate anyone in the residence or immediate area.The vehicle, which was parked on private property, had containers with numerous items that appeared to have been taken from the residence. Officers called for a tow truck to remove the vehicle and secure the contents. Shortly after the tow truck arrived, a female, later identified as Ashley Wright (34) of Monticello Ave., New Orleans, appeared and stated that she had been using the SUV, which belonged to her mother. Wright reportedly gave several explanations as to why the vehicle was parked behind the house, but no explanation as to the items located inside the SUV.
Wright was transported to the Franklinton Police Department for questioning. Officers learned that another female had also been in the area and had walked into the wooded area behind the house. Officers continued to search the area and eventually made phone contact with Sara Katherine Hill (AKA: Kat Brooks) (43) of Folsom. Hill initially refused to come out of the woods, but after several hours she emerged and was taken to Riverside Medical Center for medical evaluation. Upon her release, Hill was transported to Franklinton Police Department by her family¸ and was interviewed regarding her connection to the burglary.
According to the FPD Press Release, both Wright and Hill admitted to taking several items from the residence and selling them online.
On November 6, 2019, Detectives contacted the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office and a search warrant was served on a residence near Folsom. Franklinton Police Department Officers along with St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Detectives worked over seven hours to recover thousands of stolen items. It is estimated that the value will exceed $100,000 in recovered property.
During the investigation, Hill (Kat Brooks) continuously alluded to the fact she was a movie producer and worked in the film industry. Detectives verified Hill’s claims. She further stated some of the items were used as movie props.
Wright and Hill were both charged with Burglary and Trespassing and turned over to the Washington Parish Jail. This investigation is ongoing.
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