Carnival parades are ramping up with Mardi Gras now less than two weeks away. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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A new trial was granted in a sexual battery case in Calcasieu Parish after the verdict was thrown out after an incident involving a CPSO captain. Sean Richardson has more.
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A man is convicted in a murder-for-hire in Terrebonne Parish. Colleen Crain reports.
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Carnival parades are reaching a crescendo this weekend with Mardi Gras now less than two weeks away. This Sunday evening, Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser will be aboard one of the floats in the Krewe of Bacchus parade. Nungesser says the theme of Bacchus’ parade is the fairs and festivals that Louisiana is famous for.
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Nungesser says the floats pay tribute to those fairs and festivals.
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Another big name – emphasis on the word “big” – in Bacchus’ parade is Shaquille O’Neal. Nungesser says Shaq will be on float in front of his – and that’s a good thing, because he says he cannot compete with the NBA Hall of Famer and former LSU star.
Cut 6 (08) “…is for Louisiana.”
The Krewe of Bacchus parade will roll along St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans’ Garden District at 5:15 Sunday evening.
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A suspect in turned himself in to the Monroe Police Department in connection with gang-related fights at Pecanland Mall and Hibbett Sports. 24-year-old Rayshawn Hollins was booked into the Ouachita Correctional Center and charged with rioting. Monroe Police Chief Victor Zordan (rhymes with Jordan) says it was due to a shoe release.
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The fights occurred on February 8th. At Hibbett Sports, two victims sustained gunshot wounds and were transported to hospitals. Zordan says no one was killed in the incident.
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Surveillance and Facebook Live footage confirmed all parties engaged in mutual combat, and Zordan says its strong in their gang-culture to post to social media and have the technology to monitor those outlets.
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Zordan says five individuals are still wanted in connection to these incidents.
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A Lake Charles man’s sexual battery conviction was thrown out and the judge declared a new trial after an incident during jury deliberations involving a Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s captain. Sheriff Stitch Guillory says this throws out the conviction of 42-year-old Joshua Boyd.
Cut 10 (10) “…uphold the conviction.”
The actions of Captain Todd Ory, who was on-duty as courtroom security, led the judge to declare a new trial. Guillory was not at liberty to specify Ory’s actions, since an internal affairs investigation is ongoing, only saying that he strongly disagreed with them.
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Guillory reaffirmed his support for the CPSO SVU detectives, emphasizing that physical evidence was collected and presented, and the jury’s unanimous guilty verdict was justified. He acknowledged the distress caused to the victim and their family, stating the department remains committed to accountability and transparency.
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A Kaplan man is convicted in a murder-for-hire plot in Terrebonne Parish. Beaux Cormier (korm-ee-AY) was found guilty of multiple counts of murder and attempted murder in connection with the 2021 murder-for-hire deaths of his sister and her neighbor. Terrebonne Parish Assistant District Attorney Dennis Elfert says it started with an accusation in 2019.
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So Elfert says Cormier hired Dalvin Wilson of Rayne and Andrew Eskine of Carencro to kill his niece; but they killed the two women instead. Wilson was previously convicted, while Eskine confessed and took a plea deal in exchange for testimony against the other two. Elfert says Cormier will in all likelihood spend the rest of his life behind bars.
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Elfert says they decided not to seek the death penalty.
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Cormier will be sentenced following a post-trial hearing in May.
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Tonight marks the final time ULM’s Keith Richard (REE-shard) will coach his team in Fant-Ewing Coliseum. Richard is retiring at the end of the season, following 15 years as a head coach at his alma mater. Richard also played at ULM, was a grad assistant and an assistant coach….
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ULM is suffering through a difficult season as the Warhawks are 7-and-23. Richard says he plans to still be around after he coaches his last game…
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ULM hosts Arkansas State
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Louisiana Tech men’s basketball is looking for more scoring from Daniel Batcho. The six-foot-11 senior from France has scored just 10 points in each of the last two games. Coach Talvin Hester wants Batcho to crash the glass more….
Cut 18 (17) “…take shots.”
Tech is at Sam Houston on Saturday.
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The second ranked LSU baseball team will spend the weekend in Frisco, Texas playing three different teams. Kade Anderson is set to start today for the Tigers. The left-hander is 2-and-0, but was upset he gave up two runs in his last start. Coach Jay Johnson says Anderson expects a lot out of himself…
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The Tigers will face Kansas State at 2 PM today. The Wildcats are 4-and-4, but won three games last week, two of the victories were against ranked opponents, Arkansas and TCU. Johnson is looking forward to another tough test for his team…
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