Spoke too soon

Another bike bandit: A 27-year-old white man walking in the 1700 block of Pauger Street (between N. Rampart Street and St. Claude Avenue) last Tuesday (7.13.10) around 11 p.m. was robbed of his wallet at gunpoint by a black hoodlum on a red and white mountain bike.

The victim described the robber as in his mid-20's, 5'10" tall, wearing a dark shirt and tan shorts.

The robber is believed to be the same one who struck this morning (7.16.10) around 2:20 a.m., robbing a white woman walking in the 1000 block of Ursulines Avenue (between N. Rampart and Burgundy streets). He too was on a bike and pulled a gun on his victim.

She described him as in his 20's, with short hair, wearing a white polo shirt and black shorts.

Violent robberies: A white couple walking near Barracks and Dauphine streets were robbed just after midnight Wednesday (7.14.10) morning by 2 black thugs who jumped out of a SUV, brandishing pistols.

The 22-year-old man gave up his wallet, but the robbers pistol-whipped the 24-year-old woman, striking her in the face with their guns. The assailants then fled down Barracks toward N. Rampart Street.

The next night, Thursday (7.15.10), a white guy walking in the 500 block of St. Louis Street (between Decatur and Chartres streets) just after 10 p.m. was accosted by a black crook who demanded his money. When the victim refused to give it up, the black guy struck him and fled on foot on toward N. Rampart Street.

Police, aided by a witness, apprehended Alan Cousin, 27, who has a history of prostitution arrests, and charged him with attempted simple robbery and negligent injuring.

Last weekend, Saturday (7.10.10), a guy (had to be a tourist) came out of Harrah's Casino and several other bars in the French Quarter in a very inebriated state (imagine that). He accepted a ride in a white SUV with a black dude and 2 black chicks.

Then the black guy, a passenger in the front seat, demanded the victim's wallet. When he refused, the guy hopped into the back seat and, along with the black woman passenger in back, began punching the victim. The victim managed to jump out of the vehicle in the 1200 block of S. Saratoga Street (the other side of Calliope Street) with the black man and woman right behind him. They resumed punching and kicking the victim before finally fleeing in the SUV.

When all was said and done, "the victim was able to keep all of his possessions," according to the police report.

Finally after 5 years: A case sordid even by New Orleans standards--involving a gay man of arts-and-letters, a shady lady, and a male dancer at a club that advertises "world famous love acts"--came to a conclusion this week.

Cleveland Moore, 43, was convicted of manslaughter and aggravated battery, after originally being charged with murder and attempted murder.

The charges stem from a night of untold horror on 11.14.05 inside the home of Jon Newlin, a well-known clerk at a bookstore on Chartres Street in the French Quarter. In the course of the night in the residence on Marigny Street in Faubourg Marigny, Moore is alleged to have clobbered Newlin so hard on the head with a wine bottle that it shattered and knocked him out; then Moore is said to have used the same bottle to stab and slash the throat of Joyce Rader, 36, who reportedly had a history of drug and prostitution arrests.

She was he first known homicide in the city committed by a civilian after Katrina. The attack left Newlin paralyzed on his left side; he testified at the trial while strapped to a gurney.

Moore, who fled to Florida after the mayhem, was finally found and arrested in 2007 and returned to New Orleans.

A jury found Moore guilty of the lesser charges on Wednesday (7.14.10). He would have faced a mandatory life in prison sentence if convicted on the second-degree murder charge, but now is subject to a 40-year sentence. He is to be sentenced 8.16.10 by Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson.

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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com

Thom Kahler

Almost, not quite

Crimes last week in the 8th District

(click on the crime map to enlarge it)

Sunday (7.4.10)

Aggravated Battery: 934 Canal
Simple Burglary: 1130 N Rampart
Auto Theft: Convention Center & S Diamond
Auto Theft: Bienville & N Rampart
Auto Burglary: 700 Baronne
Theft: 221 Carondelet
Theft: 721 Iberville
Theft: 333 Poydras
Theft: 900 Convention Center

Monday (7.5.10)

Shooting: 1000 Canal
Auto Burglary: Annunciation & Poeyfarre
Auto Burglary: 800 Magazine
Auto Burglary: 301 Camp
Auto Burglary: Dauphine & Gov Nicholls
Auto Theft: Elysian Fields & Royal
Auto Theft: 2100 Burgundy
Auto Theft: 821 Gravier
Theft: 344 Camp
Theft: 344 Camp
Theft: 400 N Rampart
Theft: 711 Canal
Bicycle Theft: 222 N Rampart
Shoplifting: 729 Canal

Tuesday (7.6.10)

Theft: 214 Royal
Auto Theft: Canal & Convention Center

Wedesday (7.7.10)

Auto Burglary: 1010 Common
Auto Burglary: John Churchill Chase & S Peters
Auto Burglary: Camp & Poydras
Auto Theft: N Diamond & Tchoupitoulas
Shoplifting: 145 Elk
Bicycle Theft: 201 St Charles
Bicycle Theft: 600 Baronne
Bicycle Theft: 1000 St Charles
Theft: 623 Frenchmen

Thursday (7.8.10)

Auto Burglary: 100 Burgundy
Auto Theft: 416 Gravier
Theft: 100 Conti
Shoplifting : 410 Bourbon

Friday (7.9.10)

Auto Burglary: 900 Tchoupitoulas
Theft: 900 Convention Center

Saturday-7/10/2010

Armed Robbery: 440 N Rampart
Simple Robbery: 1000 Decatur
Theft: 333 Canal
Theft: 600 Bourbon
Auto Burglary: Perdido & S Rampart
Auto Theft: 400 Dauphine

Last-minute robberies: It was such a quite week, I was almost lulled into thinking we might actually get through a whole week with no robberies--a feat unheard of in the past few years. But on Saturday (7.10.10)--the last day of the crime reporting week--there were 2 to mar the tranquility:

• 2:59 a.m.: The 58-year-old man working the parking lot at 440 N. Rampart (between Conti and St. Louis streets) was held up by an armed black guy who fled on foot on Conti into the French Quarter.

Police quickly caught up with Eddie Bush, 28, and charged him with armed robbery with a firearm. He is in OPP on $100,000 bond.

• 5:15 a.m.: A 27-year-old guy walking in the 1000 block of Decatur Street (between Ursulines Avenue and St. Philip Street) was accosted by a gang of 3 scrawny white punks-- of the gutter variety?--who grabbed his wallet and fled on foot toward Jackson Square.

All were described as 18 years old, one 5'10" tall, weighing 145 pounds, with a think build and short brown hair, wearing a black T-shirt and dark pants; the second, 6'2" tall, weighing 165 pounds, with short blond hair, wearing a black T-shirt and black shorts; and the third, 5'10" tall, weighing 150 pounds, with a thin build and short brown hair, wearing a black T-shirt and dark shorts.

Tackling crime head on: Perhaps one of the major reasons crimes are down is the vigorous use of traffic stops by 8th District cops, targeting particularly Dauphine, Burgundy and N. Rampart streets in the Lower Quarter and interviewing drivers and passengers and making arrests.

In a recent week, police entered 370 names into their computers, based on 252 traffic stops. The efforts of the regular uniformed car patrols and task force officers in plain clothes are on-going in all parts of the French Quarter.

Capt. Edwin Hosli, commander of the 8th District, credits the stepped up patrols for reductions in robberies--particularly the cellphone thefts that were plaguing the Quarter.

But sometimes you just can't win: One late-nigh business proprietor complained to Capt. Hosli that police stopping cars in front of his business was chasing away customers.

Murderer roaming CBD?: Louisiana State Police have issued a bulletin that a suspect wanted for murder, kidnapping and aggravated robbery in Arkansas may be somewhere in the CBD.

Kendell Nickelson, 26, was reported in the Luling area late last week where he has family and friends. When State Police learned his cellphone number from his mother, they traced a call to a cellphone tower near Lee Circle. Hotel security personnel in and around the French Quarter and CBD have been alerted.

Nickelson is described at 5'11" tall, weighing 160 pounds. He is said to be driving a black Chevy Silverado with Mississippi license plate LP1825.

Storming Jackson Square: The French Quarter Business Association and its cohorts are declaring war on graffiti on Wednesday (7.14.10).

Gene Saussee, a FQBA board member, is leading the campaign against what he calls an "out-of-control" problem in the Vieux Carre. He is calling on as many volunteers as possible to join at 3 p.m. that day to use a new product to eradicate graffiti from the walls of buildings in the Quarter.

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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com

Thom Kahler

COURT REPORT: Why aren't these convicts in jail?

Guilty, but no jail time: We've got a new District Attorney. We've got a new police chief. Now the weak link in New Orleans' criminal justice system is the criminal court judges.

The cops work hard to figure out who did the crime. The assistant DAs work hard to get a conviction. Then it's up to the judges to sentence the culprit--but they seem to be the least interested in justice.

Often after the long process (the judges are to blame for this too) the convict gets a suspended sentence, allowing him to go free on probation, to wander our streets again.

So the only time the guy serves in jail is between his arrest and when he's able to post bond. Where's the deterrent value in that?

You've read about their crimes, now here's what happened to them--most of which involved no, or little, jail time:

• Daniel Edwards, 21, slashed a couple guys last year in the House of Blues and after the case drug threw the courts for nearly 8 months, he pled guilty to 2 counts of aggravated battery.

Judge Benedict Willard sentenced him to 5 years in prison on each count, but then suspended the sentence. He did put Edwards on 5 years of probation--and, oh yeah, he's got to stay away from the House of Blues.

• Samuel L. Duncan Jr., 21, held up a parking lot attendant in the 1000 block of N. Peters Street last year and then fought a security guard when he tried to prevent the robbery. Duncan was originally charged with armed robbery with a firearm and simple battery, but that was bargained down to simple robbery and he pled guilty.

Judge Robin Pittman sentenced him to a suspended sentence of 7 years and set him free on 5-years probation and fined him $800, with the stipulation he must stay in school or be employed.

• Denira Labat, 23, got into an argument in a bar in the 300 block of N. Peters Street with her boyfriend. When he left the bar, she followed him outside and stabbed him. She was charged with aggravated battery but it was reduced to simply battery.

Judge Laurie White gave her a 6-month suspended sentence and required her to take anger management counseling.

• Rickie Dufrene, 56, was busted with dope paraphernalia and marijuana last summer at Dauphine and St. Philip streets, but Judge Karen Herman allowed him to plead guilty to the misdemeanor charge of possession rather than the felony of possession with intent to distribute.

Then, showing she had little regard for drug laws, gave him a 6-month suspended sentence.

• Sylvester Renthrope Jr., 34, was arrested late last summer, charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute and resisting a police officer with force in the 500 block of Dauphine Street. He was allowed to plead guilty to possession of cocaine.

Judge Frank Marullo gave him a 5-year suspended sentence and a 1-year suspended sentence for resisting arrest, and ordered him to drug court.

Though Renthrope avoided jail under Marullo, twice since the first of the year in drug court, Judge Lynda Van Davis found him in contempt of court for testing positive for drugs. She sentenced him the first time to 3 days in jail, and the second time to 7 days.

• Robert Jage, 29, got off with a 3-month suspended sentence from Magistrate Rudy Gorrell after pleading guilty to 2 counts of aggravated assault after slashing a young couple with a knife during a skirmish in Jackson Square last October.

But he failed to pay fines of $448 as of March and a warrant for his arrest has been issued with a bond of $20,000 when he's captured.

• Herbert Brown III (top), 18, and Keith McCrary (bottom),18, might be 2 of the few success stories that come out of the courts. Last August--on the "Night Out Against Crime" no less--they robbed Adam Shipley and Ben Jaffe by Washington Park in the Marigny Triangle. Initially each defendant was charged with armed robbery and attempted armed robbery.

During trial in March, they were allowed to plead guilty to 2 counts each of simple robbery. In a plea deal recommended by the DA's office and agreed to by the victims, Judge Robin Pittman sentenced them to a 7-year suspended sentence with 5 years of active probation, plus the requirement that they be enrolled in high school or pass the GED test.

On 6.4.10, Brown brought proof to court that he had graduated from high school. On 7.2.10, McCrary brought his GED diploma to court.

• Nelson Segura, 25, who has a long history of criminal activity--mostly for prostitution--was spared a 1-year jail sentence imposed by Judge Karen Herman after he made restitution to his victim in a robbery last October.

Dressed as a female, Segura accosted a white man in the 400 block of Bourbon Street and reached into his pocket and relieved him of his money. Originally charged with simple robbery, the charges were dropped to attempted theft over $500 and he pled guilty.

• Corey Massingill, 21, a Florida fellow having too good a time at the Old Opera House, 601 Bourbon St., on New Year's Eve, didn't even have to come back to the Big Easy to plead guilty to a charge of aggravated assault resulting from his escapade.

He was asked by the bouncer to leave the club, but then tried to re-enter several times and was escorted out. He then allegedly pulled a knife and lunged at the bouncer, who managed to subdue him.

Massingill was allowed to plead guilty in absentia and Judge Frank Marullo gave him 1 year of unsupervised probation and $600 in fines.

• David Forley, 27, and David Guidry, 27, were charged with aggravated battery after they got into a fight with a guy last August in the Red Eye Grill, 852 S. Peters St. and conked him with a beer bottle.

Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson allowed them to plead guilty to lesser charges: Forly to simple battery in exchange for a 6-month suspended sentence, and Guidry to 2nd-degree battery for a 2-year suspended sentence.

• Steve Hollins (left), 19, and Darrien Johnson (right), 18, pled guilty to simple robbery after snatching a wallet last September in broad daylight from a tiny Asian female in the 600 block of Toulouse Street. Johnson got a 4-year suspended sentence from Judge Camille Buras and was ordered to pay $5 restitution.

Hollins was given one year in jail, but he'll sit there for some time yet--he's also charged with attempted murder in the shooting of 2 boys in New Orleans East a month earlier.

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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com

Thom Kahler

Fireworks of the wrong kind

Report it NOW: Got an email the other day from a NOcrimeline.com reader complaining about how terrorized a friend of hers was after he was robbed that he didn't report the crime to police until 2 days after the incident. Then she had the nerve to ask what it was going to take to get "my neighborhood back"?

Gee, for starters, how about telling your friend to man-up and report crimes when they happen. You get no sympathy from me when you won't report crimes that affect your safety.

Look at these robberies, all in the early morning last Friday (6.2.10):

• A 32-year-old white woman walking in the 700 block of Iberville Street (between Royal and Bourbon streets) around 1:30 a.m. was targeted by a black thug who pulled a pistol and demanded her purse.

She refused to give it up and started to walk away. The gunman followed her and grabbed the purse from her shoulder. The victim and her brother tailed the robber until he handed the purse to another black guy and fled on foot. The second guy gave the purse back to the victim.

But after all this, the woman waited 12 hours to report the crime to the police!

The armed robber in those lapsed 12 hours could have robbed all these people:

• At 2:30 a.m.--just an hour later--a 27-year-old man walking in the 500 block of St. Louis Street (between Decatur and Chartres streets) was accosted by a black man armed with a pistol who demanded his money. He said he didn't have any and attempted to flee. The perp fired once, hitting the victim in the butt with a .38-caliber slug. The shooter fled and the victim was hauled to Tulane University Hospital.

• At 5:50 a.m.--just over 3 hours later--a 23-year-old white woman walking near Burgundy and Conti streets was held up by a robber who said he had a gun. She gave it up and he fled on foot.

• At 5:55 a.m.--only 5 minutes later--a 44-year-old woman walking in the 1000 block of Toulouse Street (just 2 blocks away, between Burgundy and N. Rampart streets) was struck by a black thug who attempted to pull her purse from her grasp. She resisted and he fled on foot.

As it turned out, 8th District cops apprehended Darren Cole, 25, and he was positively identified by the victims in all 3 of these robberies that occurred within a few hours after the first one that morning.

The victim in the first robbery still hadn't reported the crime at the time Cole was arrested. When she did, she described the robber as 20 to 25 years old, 5'5" tall, weighing 145 pounds, with a dark complexion and dreadlocks pulled back in a ponytail, wearing an oversized T-shirt and baggy blue jeans.

The description did not fit Cole. But had the first victim reported the crime against her as soon as it happened (isn't there an app for that?), the police might have been out hunting for her assailant and been able to prevent the robberies Cole is alleged to have committed.

Cole is sitting in OPP on $330,000 charged with 2 counts of attempted simple robbery, 1 count of armed robbery, and 1 count of aggravated 2nd-degree battery. (I don't know if it's a religious ritual or what, but Cole, who wears a Muslim-type beard, has been arrested 9 times in early July over the years: 7.10.2003, 7.3.2004, 7.4.2008, 7.2.2010.)

The wild bunch: While attendees at the Essence Fest were out setting a good example, their younger counterparts must have missed the message:

• Sunday (7.4.10) 11:05 p.m.: A 31-year-old black woman inside of McDonald's, 934 Canal St. (between Baronne Street and University Place) got into an argument with a young black chick that turned into a brawl. The younger girl and several of her friends jumped into the fray and allegedly inflicted lacerations to the older woman's abdomen and head.

Police booked Dajene Jefferson (top), 17, and Kenisha McNeal (bottom),17, with aggravated battery. The police report didn't indicate what type of weapon was used.

• Monday (7.5.10) 1:10 a.m.: A 17-year-old black kid in the 1000 block of Canal Street (between University Place and S. Rampart Street) heard several gunshots and then realized he'd been shot in the ankle.

Police apprehended a suspect, a 14-year-old black boy whose name could not be released, and recovered a firearm.

Fourteen-years-old?! Yes, it is fair to ask why kids were roaming the streets at this hour.

Rounding up drugs and guns: Capt. Robert Norton, commander of the 1st District (that hell known as Treme), is getting lots of kudos from Chief Serpas for his efforts in taking drugs and guns off the streets.

How's he doing it? With one of the Chief's favorite tactics--traffic stops. Serpas was criticized when he was in Nashville for the number of traffic stops that his officers made, though they were highly effective. But as he explained then (in effect), "There are no walk-by shootings--they're drive-by shootings."

So using that tactic, Norton and his men in the last few weeks have been targeting cars with tail lights out, improper tags, careless driving, etc. to stop drivers and passengers. In the process, they've rounded up any number of illegal firearms, concealed weapons, fugitives wanted on warrants, and drugs of all sorts.

But it might be argued that in the 8th District (the French Quarter and its environs) the problem IS walk-bys.

Once in a while a vehicle--or bicycle--is used. But most of the miscreants on this side of N. Rampart Street are on foot. So how do you legitimately stop them and check for weapons, drugs, or outstanding warrants?

Considering how young most of the robbers are here, maybe the place to start is to check for curfew violations--stop anyone who looks the least bit young.

They're kidding, right?: Did you see where the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame is going to induct former NOPD Chief Warren Riley as a member?

To avoid any embarrassment, they ought to wait until the feds get done with their investigation into the NOPD's shenanigans during Katrina. Riley was chief of operations when Katrina began and thus boss of the officers who've been indicted.

Ultimately, he may not escape blame. Even if he does, he'll still be remembered as the worst chief this city has ever had.

Crimes last week in the 8th District
(click on the crime map below to enlarge it)

Sunday (6.27.10)

Homicide: 400 Bourbon
Attempted Homicide: 1630 Canal
Auto Theft: 618 Magazine
Auto Theft: 334 Royal
Auto Burglary: 300 N Rampart
Theft: 600 Magazine

Monday (6.28.10)

Simple Robbery: 800 Gov Nicholls
Auto Burglary: 365 Canal
Auto Burglary: 900 Gravier
Theft: 830 Royal
Shoplifting: 301 Canal

Tuesday (6.29.10)

No crimes reported

Wednesday (6.30.10)

Theft: 1500 Poydras
Theft: 301 Canal
Theft: 1001 St Peter
Bicycle Theft: 333 Julia
Auto Theft: 1000 Constance
Auto Theft: 821 Gravier
Auto Burglary: 701 O'Keefe
Auto Burglary: 145 University

Thursday (7.1.10)

Auto Burglary: 600 Poydras
Auto Burglary: 210 N Rampart
Auto Burglary: 300 Canal
Auto Burglary: 333 Canal
Theft: 135 St Charles
Theft: 900 Convention Center

Friday (7.2.10)

Armed Robbery: 700 Iberville
Armed Robbery: 500 St Louis
Armed Robbery: Burgundy & Conti
Simple Robbery: 1000 Toulouse
Auto Theft: 350 St Joseph
Auto Theft: Canal & Royal
Auto Theft: 852 S Peters
Theft: 444 St Charles
Theft : 1010 Common
Theft: 900 Convention Center
Theft : 900 Convention Center
Shoplifting: 406 N Peters

Saturday (7.3.10)
Theft: 228 Poydras
Auto Theft: Andrew Higgins & Constance
Auto Theft: 900 Canal
Auto Burglary: 800 Baronne
Pickpocketing: 500 Bourbon
Shoplifting: 333 Canal

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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com

Thom Kahler

Some serious stuff

Crimes last week in the NOPD 8th District:
(click on the crime map below to enlarge it)

Sunday (6.20.10)

Aggravated Assault: 1 Poydras
Theft: 941 Bourbon
Theft: 1940 Dauphine
Auto Theft: Chartres & Esplanade
Auto Theft: 334 O'Keefe
Auto Burglary: 1027 Bienville
Auto Burglary: 342 N Rampart
Auto Burglary: Poydras & Tchoupitoulas

Monday (6.21.10)

Simple Robbery: 500 Burgundy
Theft: 823 Decatur
Theft: 316 Chartres
Shoplifting: 1015 Canal
Auto Theft: 700 Constance
Auto Burglary: 833 Magazine
Auto Burglary: 1000 Bienville
Auto Burglary: 600 John Churchill Chase

Tuesday (6.22.10)

Armed Robbery: 1200 Bourbon
Theft: 818 Royal
Pickpocketing: 544 Bourbon
Auto Theft: 900 Esplanade
Auto Theft: Chartres & Toulouse
Auto Burglary: 519 Conti
Auto Burglary: 901 Convention Center

Wednesday (6.23.10)

Simple Burglary: 735 Camp
Theft: 318 N. Rampart
Theft: 400 Poydras
Auto Burglary: 500 Bienville

Thursday (6.24.10)

Simple Burglary: 725 Camp
Theft: 618 Frenchmen
Theft: 901 Bourbon
Shoplifting: 416 N Peters
Shoplifting: 1020 Canal
Pickpocketing: Bourbon & St Ann
Auto Theft: Bienville & Dauphine
Auto Theft: Orleans & Royal
Auto Theft: 700 Dumaine
Auto Burglary: 342 N. Rampart
Auto Burglary: 1912 Dauphine

Friday (6.25.10)

Theft: 800 Decatur
Auto Theft: Clinton & Iberville
Auto Theft: Lafayette & S Peters
Auto Burglary: 100 University
Auto Burglary: 700 St Ann
Auto Burglary: 936 St Charles
Auto Burglary: 833 Camp

Saturday (6.26.10)

Rape: Camp & Canal
Theft: N. Rampart & St. Anthony
Theft: 1608 Pauger
Theft: 945 Magazine
Rape: Camp & Canal
Shoplifting: 715 Bourbon

Maybe just a coincidence, but...: On Sunday (6.27.10)--the day major changes in the NOPD were due to take place--all hell broke out in the 8th District:

• First, there was the murder of a 28-year-old Gretna police officer around 4 a.m. in the 400 block of Bourbon Street (between Conti and St. Louis streets).

When 8th District officers arrived on the scene, they found the victim, Brett Thomas, laying motionless in the middle of the street. He was transported by ambulance to Tulane University Hospital, where he died at 4:49 a.m.

Detectives later determined that Thomas, who was off-duty at the time, and a group of friends got into an argument with a gang of unidentified men, one of whom clobbered Thomas behind the head, causing him to fall to the street.

Police have not been able to put together video surveillance photos that clearly show the suspects, who remain at large.

• Then, later in the day at 2:47 p.m., a 28-year-old Hispanic woman was brought into the emergency room at Tulane University Hospital, riddled with gunshot wounds.

When officers from the 8th District showed up at the hospital, they encountered Jose Hernandez, 25, who told them he didn't know what had happened but he had brought the victim, his girlfriend (no name given), to the hospital.

He told them he had been living with her at the notorious Canal Street Hotel, 1630 Canal St.--the scene of numerous shootings and murders in the last few years--while he worked on renovations there.

When detectives went to Room 305 of the hotel where the couple were living they found what the said was evidence that the shooting had taken place there. They also learned that there had been a disturbance earlier in the room between Hernandez and his girlfriend.

Detectives charged Hernandez with domestic battery and disturbing the peace by fighting. The victim was in critical condition in the hospital and has yet to make a statement to the police. Hernandez is being held on $85,000 bond in OPP and is also being detained for immigration authorities.

Bike bandit bagged: Seems like bicycles are the vehicle of choice for pursesnatchers these days.

First there was the bike bandit who was terrorizing the French Quarter and CBD back in the Spring; police hauled in a suspect, but Judge Laurie White reduced his bond and he slipped out of jail in May. Then later in May, another bike bandit began targeting women in the Quarter.

Finally last Saturday (6.26.10), 1st District cops arrested Horace L. Price Jr., 36, and booked him with robbery in 2 separate incidents, one on Bourbon Street last week and another just across N. Rampart Street in Treme.

According to investigators, at approximately 10:50 a.m. Saturday, a woman walking in the 1100 block of Kerlerec Street was approached by a black man riding a bicycle. He implied he had a weapon and demanded money. After the victim complied, the suspect slapped the victim on the cheek and fled on his bicycle.

Det. Steven Keller was the first on the scene and immediately dispatched a description of the suspect. Sgt. Barry Marquez while on patrol observed a man who fit the description of the suspect riding a bike. When Marquez attempted to stop the bicyclist, he fled on his bike. After a short pursuit, Ofc. Edgar Baron and Ofc. Rhett Charles assisted Marquez in apprehending the suspect.

Keller conducted the investigation and Price was identified as the perpetrator of the robbery and provided a taped statement of the incident. He was booked for armed robbery, simple battery, a warrant from Jefferson Parish, and a parole violation.

Then Keller remembered a similar incident that occurred in the French Quarter and contacted 8th District Det. Jerusha Hillman.

Hillman conducted her own investigation and the suspect provided her with a taped statement of the incident. She also identified Price through surveillance video as the suspect who allegedly held up a 28-year-old white woman around noon on 6.22.10 in the 1200 block of Bourbon Street using the same modus operandi as used in Treme.

She booked Price for 1st-degree robbery on Monday (6.28.10). He's now in OPP on $185,000 bond.

What is puzzling is this: Back in 1991--when Price was 17--he was convicted of 2 counts of armed robbery. The judge sentenced him to a 30-year term in prison "without the benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence." By my count, he should have still been in Angola for another 11 years--to 2021. So what was he doing out?

Still another bike bandit?: It couldn't have been Price (see above) since he was taken into custody Saturday (6.26.10) morning, so who was the black guy who rode up to a 40-year-old white man Saturday night around 10 p.m. on a bicycle and robbed him?

The incident occurred in the 800 block of Gov. Nicholls Street (between Bourbon and Dauphine streets). The robber knocked the victim to the ground and took the wallet out of his pants pocket.

It didn't help that the victim didn't bother to report the crime until Monday (6.28.10) and then couldn't give the police a description of the suspect. Police said they will interview the victim again at a later date. Ask him how he could be so screwed up so early in the evening that he didn't know what happened to him.

* * *

As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com

Thom Kahler

COURT REPORT: Justice, in various forms

Murderers get theirs: Maybe it looks more like justice if it's drug out in court for a long time, as in these 2 cases:

• Roy J. Parker Jr., 26, was sentenced 5.28.10 to life without parole for shooting dead his wife and wounding a male friend of hers in the Erin Rose bar, 811 Conti St., in the wee hours a little over a year earlier on 5.2.09.

A jury found him guilty of 2nd-degree murder and attempted murder the month before. There wasn't much doubt he did it after he burst into the popular Irish pub just after 4 a.m. and ripped off 5 shots; it was witnessed by the bartender, several customers, and video surveillance cameras.

But now he's wasting more of the public defender's time, appealing his conviction in a hearing set for 8.12.10. Most think the killer of his 23-year-old wife, Veronica, and the mother of his children should rot in hell.

• Dale Pigford, 60, got the same sentence--life without parole--in another case that dragged through the court for over a year.

He got into a tiff with a homeless guy at Tulane and S. Claiborne avenues and wound up stabbing him on 1.30.09. The victim, Gary Sing, 44, didn't appear that seriously wounded as he checked himself into nearby University Hospital; he died there 2.6.09 and the coroner ruled it a homicide.

Pigford, 2415 Columbus St., was arrested shortly thereafter. A jury found him guilty 3.9.10 and he was sentenced 3.23.10. The Loyola Law Clinic is trying to get him a new trial but his lawyer keeps missing court dates.

Murder by another name: You might call Nathaniel Payton, 28, the "Teflon Triggerman" since criminal charges just don't seem to stick to him. Almost 2 years ago (in the early morning hours of 8.2.08) he allegedly pumped 7 or 8 gunshots into a guy at Bienville and Decatur streets; he was apprehended right away and police initially charged him with aggravated battery.

Citizens in the neighborhood were outraged--emptying a clip into a guy and treating it like an accident? Whoa! Police changed the charge to attempted murder but the judge let him out on a mere $75,000 bond--chicken feed for a big time drug dealer like Payton. So a thug who gave a whole new meaning to the word "ruthless" continued to run the streets.

That is, until his victim, Cyril Roussell, 34, up and died at LSU Public Hospital on 2.9.09, a little over 6 months after Payton filled him full of lead; the coroner ruled it homicide. The police rebooked him, charged with murder, and the judge set his bond at $1.5 million.

When the case finally went to trial in March, the best the jury could do is find him guilty of manslaughter, not murder--another "excuse me" charge; he had wiggled out of more serious trouble again. The most Judge Lynda Van Davis could give him was 40 years, which she did on 4.9.10.

Now the Louisiana Appellate Project is trying to get this scumball a new trial; a hearing is set for 7.7.10.

Robbers go down: As you might suspect, most of the crimes have to do with robberies. And as with most court cases, they go on way too long--with the bad guy pleading guilty, just as he could've on Day One when he was arraigned. Must be that sitting in OPP is preferable to being locked up in Angola. Take these cases for instance:

• Bryan Gray, 22, was arrested in May last year for a number of armed robberies in the preceding month, including one in the 300 block of Tchoupitoulas Street on 4.10.09 and another in the 400 block of Gravier Street on 4.2.09.

When all was done, 8th District detectives charged him with 6 robberies. His case dragged through the court until he pled guilty 5.14.10 to all 6 counts and was sentenced by Judge Camille Buras to 15 years in prison without probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

• Michael A. Lewis Jr., 23, seemed on his way to setting some record for the length of legal proceedings against him. He was arrested in January, 2008 and charged with 3 armed robberies.

He finally pled guilty to all 3 last Tuesday (6.22.10) and was sentenced by Judge Terry Alarcon to 10 years in prison without probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

He previously beat 2 armed robbery raps in 2004 when the DA refused the charges. This time he was first arrested for an Uptown robbery, then an 8th District detective noted the similarity and arrested him for robbing a man in the 700 block of S. Peters Street on 1.24.08.

• Kerry J. Paul, 29, was suspected in 4 bar robberies in the French Quarter and Marigny Triangle last summer, charged for 2 of them, and convicted of only 1. But you aren't likely to see him around here for a long time after Judge Keva Landrum-Johnson threw the proverbial book at him.

Paul was convicted by a jury of robbing one of the bars. On the second charge, the jurors could not decide on a verdict and a mistrial was declared; the DA decided not to try the case again. He didn't need to; instead he charged Paul as a "multiple" offender.

Paul, with a long criminal record, admitted to the charge when he appeared for sentencing 10 days ago (6.16.10). The judge gave him 70 years in prison as a career criminal and then slapped another 25 years on for the one robbery he was convicted of.

Among the bar robberies in which Paul was a suspect were: 6.25.09 Donna's, N. Rampart and St. Ann streets; 6.29.09 The John, Burgundy and Frenchmen streets; 7.3.09 The R Bar, Royal and Kerlerec streets; and 7.4.09 Melvin's Bar, 2112 St. Claude Ave.

Others guilty of robbery with less notoriety:

• Gregory Garmany, 43, pled guilty on 5.12.10 to attempted armed robbery and was sentenced by Judge Laurie White to 4 years in prison.

He was arrested 12.5.09 after he pulled a knife on a Lucky Dog vendor at Royal and Iberville streets. What he didn't know was that the dog man was an ex-Marine who beat the crap out of him.

• Jamal Jackson, 26, pled guilty to armed robbery on 3.19.10 and was sentenced by Judge Frank Marullo to 18 years in prison without parole. That sentence will also cover 2 other armed robberies Jackson pled guilty to, plus a charge of domestic abuse.

He was one of 2 black thugs who robbed 2 other black men in their 20s at gunpoint who were walking in the 1000 block of St. Louis Street on 2.28.09.

• Jerome M. Jones, 20, was found guilty of armed robbery on 4.8.10 by Judge Camille Buras and sentenced to 10 years in jail.

Jones was charged with armed robbery after he and a buddy carjacked a black guy at Natchez and Camp streets on 1.20.09 after first failing in another carjacking attempt down the street.

• Tre King, 18, finally pled guilty 5.12.10 to a carjacking in the Marigny Triangle on 12.22.08 after the charge was reduced from armed robbery to attempted armed robbery and the DA's office withdrew its intent to seek a firearms sentencing provision. He was sentenced by Judge Arthur Hunter to 6 years in prison.

King was charged with stealing a 2000 Mercury Cougar in front of 723 Touro St. at gunpoint.

• Darrell B. Bell (top), 41, and Rene Metoyer (bottom), 42, pled guilty to lesser charges after initially being charged with attempted armed robbery in a case that had the earmarks of a "Chinese Fire Drill."

In March, after a jury was sworn in just before lunch, the 2 defendants had a change of heart during the lunch break. Bell pled guilty to attempted simple robbery and Metoyer pled guilty to simple battery.

Judge Camille Buras sentenced Bell to 12 months in jail and Metoyer to 6 months in OPP, with credit for time served since his arrest, so he was gone immediately.

Here's the caper that got the 2 arrested in May last year; see if you can follow it:

A white guy got into a car with a black man he knew at St. Louis and Dauphine streets and asked for a ride to N. Rampart Street and Esplanade Avenue. Enroute, the driver stopped to pick up another black man he knew. He no more than got in the car when he pulled a knife and demanded the white guy's money. The white overpowered the 2 black dudes, stabbing both of them with their own knife. He got out of the car and flagged down a passing police cruiser and the cops arrested Bell and Metoyer.

Nothing simple about these robberies: They call them "simple" robberies when the crook is not armed with a weapon. But in truth, they are usually more violent than when a robber pulls a gun.

• Toarrius Carter (left), 29, and Maurice Charles (right), 28, each pled guilty to simple robbery in March for an incident last August. They each received an 18-month sentence in jail from Judge Frank Marullo.

But here's what they did: Two 8th District officers on patrol came upon Carter and Charles who were beating a white man lying on the ground in the 400 block of Dauphine Street and going through his pockets. Both perps were arrested.

• Wardell Dennis (right), 21, and his sister, Dominique Dennis (left), 18, pled guilty in March to a pursesnatching they pulled off last August in the 300 block of Burgundy Street, only after the DA agreed not to charge them as "multiple" offenders, which would have added substantially to their sentences because of their past criminal records. As it was, Judge Julian Parker sentenced each of them to 5 years in prison.

• Ashley Fleming, 23, pled guilty 2.24.10 to simple robbery and possession of Ecstasy after she snatched the purse of a white woman last June near St. Philip and Dauphine streets. Judge Julian Parker gave her 2 years in prison, lumping in a 6-month sentence for possession of marijuana.

With credit for time served since her arrest, she was back on the street on 3.16.10. Watch your purses!

• Ronald Haynes, 55, who had a long history of criminal offenses, pled guilty to simple robbery on 6.22.10 and was sentenced to 10 years in prison as a multiple offender by Judge Lynda Van Davis.

He was charged 9.26.09 after grabbing money from the pocket of a white guy walking in the 600 block of Bourbon Street and smashing the victim in the face when he resisted.

• Steve Hollins (top), 19, and Darrien Johnson (bottom), 18, both pled guilty in May to simple robbery for grabbing the wallet of an Asian woman walking in the 600 block of Toulouse Street.

Judge Camille Buras sentenced Hollins to only 1 year in jail; she gave Johnson 4 years (even though he also pled guilty to possession of a stolen auto) but suspended the entire sentence--though she did order him to pay $5 restitution.

These are no choirboys who were being given a break. Less than a week after this incident, Hollins was charged with attempted 1st-degree murder for shooting 2 teenage boys in New Orleans East.

• William Mozingo, 30, pled guilty to pursesnatching on 5.20.10 after he roughed up a woman walking in the 700 block of St. Philip Street near Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop and took her purse on 3.2.10.

Judge Robin Pittman sentenced him to 2 years in prison. Now that's the way to move a case through the courts!

• Kenneth Wiley, 51, pled guilty to simple robbery in April this year for robbing a guy of his wallet in the 400 block of Bourbon Street in April last year. Judge Robin Pittman sentenced him to 3 years in prison.

• Darrell M. Smith, 45, pled guilty in February to 2 counts of theft under $300 and one count of attempted theft under $300.

Then he got a sweetheart sentence from Magistrate Harry Cantrell: a total of 52 days with credit for time served since his arrest on New Year's Eve. Smith was back on the street on 2.24.10. (Ironically, Cantrell was the only magistrate to survive the shake-up last week in Criminal District Court where 3 magistrates were ousted.)

Smith was charged after he tried to make off with a woman's wallet at the Bourbon Street Blues Company, 441 Bourbon St., on New Year's Eve 2009.

And finally...: A Baton Rough high school teacher, who allegedly tried to torch the hotel where he was staying last summer, finally got enough of a break in May that he pled guilty to a reduced charge of simple criminal damage under $500.

Then he got an even bigger break: Judge Karen Herman sentenced him to only 2 days in jail and $10,000 restitution to the hotel. (Now tell me, if he was charged with damage under $500 why is he being ordered to pay back 20 times that amount to the hotel?)

Kelly Messenger, 34, was captured on video surveillance cameras at the Westin Hotel in Canal Place setting fire to a sofa in the lobby on 7.11.09 just after 5 a.m. before getting on the elevator to the 11th floor where he was staying. Initially, he was charged with aggravated arson, then the charge was dropped in court to simple arson, and finally to the criminal damage charge.

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As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at NOcrimeline@gmail.com

Thom Kahler