NEW ORLEANS METRO CRIME AND COURTS NEWS

Tracking local crime, criminal justice and courts news in metro New Orleans, Louisiana

A man accused of killing his girlfriend's grandfather in a Bucktown apartment and, with her help, driving the body to West Virginia nearly five years ago has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Shawn Cole, 34, formerly of Martinsville, W.Va., faces up to 40 years in prison in the death of Henry Ramirez, 81, of LaPlace. Cole's plea before Judge Robert... Full story »

 Judge Joan Benge made a last pitch to retain her seat with the 24th Judicial District to the state Supreme Court on Friday, urging justices to review critical information they overlooked in deciding to oust her from office. Justices unanimously called for Benge's removal Nov. 6, finding she threw a civil case in 2001 based on relationships with a... Full story »

A Baton Rouge man is in jail for allegedly having sex with his stepdaughter over an 8-year period starting when she was 12 years old. Kevin S. Perkins Sr., 50, remained Friday in the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center after he was arrested Wednesday of sexual battery, oral sexual battery, aggravated incest and aggravated rape of a victim under 13.... Full story »

Kenner police have video footage of a man whom authorities believe stole two purses from office buildings and used the stolen credit cards before the owners had time to report the cards missing. Since Nov. 4, the man stole purses from two women, one in Kenner and one in Metairie, according to detective Brian McGregor, spokesman for the Kenner Police Department. The... Full story »

A 17-year-old Killona boy who allegedly shot at six people walking down Schoolhouse Road Thursday night faces attempted murder charges. One of the victims, a 14-year-old boy, suffered a bullet wound to the calf. He was treated at St. Charles Parish Hospital. Darryl Davis, 17, 136 Schoohouse Lane, was booked with six counts of attempted first-degree murder, after he allegedly... Full story »

A Westwego man shot in Harvey last week while trying to purchase crack died Thursday night. Joey Bullock, 31, died at about 10 p.m. from injuries he received when he was shot once in the abdomen near the intersection of Crape Myrtle Drive and Tallow Tree Lane in the Tallow Tree community of Harvey, said Col. John Fortunato, a... Full story »

A Jefferson Parish correctional officer has been arrested and booked with theft after authorities say she stole bond money while working in the intake center at the jail. Cecelia Mani, 41, of 516 Blanche St., Metairie, was booked with one count of theft Thursday after investigators claimed that she stole $60 while working at the Gretna jail, said Col.... Full story »

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten will hold a news conference this afternoon to announce "developments in a major financial fraud investigation," his office announced Friday morning. A news release stated that no additional details would be available until a 2 p.m. news conference at the federal courthouse.  Full story »

Several investors are claiming they have been bilked by New Orleans event promoter Marcel Morton after ponying up money for several concerts and sporting events, according to a report by WWL-TV's Dennis Woltering. Investors accuse Morton and his firm, Down South Entertainment, of short-changing them on profits he "guaranteed" in signed contracts -- including profits earned from a Mary J. Blige concert... Full story »

Matthew Scoggin, known for playing the piano at debutante balls and other high society events, was convicted Thursday of sexually abusing his 9-year-old niece. After deliberating for four hours, an Orleans Parish jury returned a guilty verdict on a charge of indecent behavior with a juvenile under the age of 13, which carries a minimum sentence of two years... Full story »

Minister Jarvis James will never again preach to the flock at Elysian Fields Church of Christ. He has come to terms with that, he said. But he leaves behind a church saddled with thousands of dollars in legal bills. And its members, who sought weekly solace at the small Gentilly building as they rebuilt their homes after Hurricane Katrina,... Full story »

Refusal to file assault complaint is cited Full story »

Amid a flock of supporters in delicate scarves and pearls, mother and son art dealers were sentenced Thursday to jail and ordered to pay nearly $1 million in restitution for passing off Chinese wholesale paintings as valuable Southern-homespun artwork. Constance "Connie" Breithoff, 60, and Christopher Breithoff, 35, both of Covington, would buy inexpensive Chinese paintings from wholesale distributors and... Full story »

A pedestrian was killed in Kenner Thursday night after he was hit by a vehicle on Airline Highway. The accident occurred about 6 p.m., said Kenner Police Department Detective Shaun Watson.  The man was crossing Airline Highway and was struck by a sport utility vehicle traveling east on the thoroughfare, Watson said. "There was no crosswalk where the pedestrian was attempting to... Full story »

Five people were indicted in three separate crimes by a Jefferson Parish grand jury Thursday, including two New Orleans men accused of killing a patron near a Gretna nightclub. Eric Bone and Shawn Flot Jr., both 21, are charged with second-degree murder in the death of Demetrius Jackson, 19, of New Orleans, who was gunned down July 25 near... Full story »