Shreveport Criminal Law Blog

Arson is a serious crime in Louisiana that can carry a substantial prison sentence. The seriousness of the punishment is distinguished by the level of damages that are caused. If the damages are less than $500, the punishment carries a fine and a sentence of imprisonment up to five years without hard labor. If the damage is more than $500, the fine can be much higher and sentence of imprisonment can reach as high as 15 years with or without hard labor. Presenting a criminal defense to a charge of arson requires strong representation by a defense attorney as soon as practically possible.

Sometimes arson crosses paths with domestic violence crimes. Domestic disputes occasionally result in a person in the relationship setting fire to the mutual residence. Authorities in Avoyelles Parish recently arrested a 27-year-old male for simple arson, domestic abuse battery and criminal property damage. Arson requires proof of specific criminal intent by the accused.

In all states, including Louisiana, the punishment for conviction of a DWI offense will be increased if an accident is caused by the accused during the commission of the offense. The punishment for conviction of drunk driving goes up significantly if the accident is accompanied by property damages. It increases further if the accused causes personal injury or death as a result of the accident.

A truck driver accused of drunk driving will face enhanced punishment after being arrested on Sept. 22 on Interstate I-10 in Prairieville. Louisiana State Police accuse the 55-year-old tractor-trailer driver of driving drunk and causing an accident in which his truck struck concrete construction barriers and a guard rail. The collision resulted in a rupture to the fuel tank of the truck. Police say the accused kept driving after the collision until it was clear that there was a substantial fire that would destroy most of the vehicle.

Louisiana continues to have serious problems with drunk driving offenses and the weight of destruction that they leave in their path. When a driver is severely impaired with alcohol, members of the public and law enforcement officers often do not know what to expect. For example, the police in Calcasieu Parish recently responded to a drunk driving call regarding a man who was allegedly sitting in the driver's seat of a car, slumped over on the steering wheel and pressing on the horn. The car was outside a grocery store in Lake Charles, and the man was also reportedly vomiting at the same time. 

If true, the spectacle is consistent with drunk driving behavior. The police say that, when they arrived, they shut off the engine. They allege that the man admitted to drinking a bottle of Vodka, which was supported by their purported finding of an empty Vodka bottle in the car. The deputy who conducted the investigation reports also that he smelled alcohol on the suspect.

The Louisiana State Police announced an undercover operation called "Operation Summer School" that began on June 20 and ended on Aug. 27. The primary mission of this operation was to detect and combat criminal violence in areas of New Orleans that have been experiencing an increase in violence, the police say. The result, according to the State Police, was 207 non-drug charges and 107 drug charges made on 136 arrests.

The LSP also report seizing 42 illegal weapons, recoveries of 25 stolen vehicles, narcotics worth about $59,000 and 213 citations. There were also a number of other arrests based on referrals to other police agencies. They say that they partnered with the New Orleans Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.