Haynesville officer under investigation
The Guardian-Journal
A
Haynesville Police Officer is under investigation by the Claiborne Narcotics
Enforcement Team (CNET) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for allegedly
buying prescription drugs off the streets.
According
to Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey, his office received a call in regards
to Officer Ricky Goode. At that time, an investigation was launched by CNET,
and the FBI, Bailey said. A CNET press release states through a coordinated
effort between the two agencies resulted in the seizure of Schedule III
narcotic Hydrocodone and a .40 caliber Glock semi-automatic pistol.
On the
afternoon of Thursday, July 19, federal agents and CNET personnel conducted a
sting operation during which Goode purchased a quantity of the hydrocodone.
Goode made this purchase while on duty, in uniform, and armed with his service
weapon.
After
making this purchase, Goode was dispatched just south of Haynesville on U.S. Hwy.
79, where he was detained by the two agencies without incident. The FBI then
seized the hydrocodone that Goode had purchased illegally as well as his
personally owned duty weapon that he was carrying at the time of the purchase.
Goode was later transported to Shreveport for booking on federal charges;
however, the U.S. Attorney requested that Goode be released pending
presentation of the facts to a federal grand jury.
According
to court procedures, the grand jury can hear investigations without arrests to
decide whether to render an indictment or issue a directive to order further
investigation.
Haynesville
Police Chief Anthony Smith advised that he met with Officer Goode on Friday,
July 20, at 2:30 p.m. in reference to this incident. Smith stated that during
this meeting, Goode resigned from the police department, effective immediately.
Smith
expressed many thanks for the professional way CNET and the FBI handled this investigation. Smith stated that on one
hand, the Haynesville Police Department is saddened and disappointed by this
incident, but on the other hand is thankful, because any illegal activity by
law enforcement undermines all of the good that “we do each and every day.”
According
to the FBI’s website, www.fbi.gov, this agency can get involved in
investigations at the local level when it involves law enforcement corruption,
which include drug violations. The FBI also works in conjunction with several
agencies and task forces from the national to the local level. Historically,
the FBI works on these task forces, investigating public matters under federal
law, also including violent crime, drugs, joint terrorism task forces, white
collar crime, organized crime and many other federal violations.
Bailey,
Smith and Homer Police Chief Russell Mills encourage the public to notify area
law enforcement agencies of any suspicious or illegal activity that is going on
in their neighborhoods.
Concerned
citizens can call CNET at 318-927-9800, the Homer Police Department at
318-927-4000, the Haynesville Police Department at 318-624-1355 or the
sheriff’s office at 318-927-2011.
Any and
all information is considered confidential and is greatly appreciated.
Boy dies in accidental shooting
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
A
tragic shooting on Wednesday has been ruled accidental, Claiborne Parish
Sheriff Ken Bailey said.
Around
6 p.m., Wednesday evening, a six-year-old boy was accidentally shot and killed
by another juvenile family member, he said. The incident occurred on Kemp Road,
off Hwy. 518 about five miles west of Athens.
First
responders and ambulance personnel were dispatched to the scene. The boy was
airlifted by Life Air to Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
where he was pronounced dead. Social Services were called in, as required by
law, Bailey said, and at this time no other information is being released.
“Our
investigation is complete, and this is just a tragic, horrible accident,” Bailey said. “No charges will be filed in this case.”
An
account has been set up at Citizens National Bank to help the family with any
expenses since his death. To donate, please donate to the Caden Parham Benefit
Account. For more information, please call 318-927-1099. Donations may be made
at any Citizens National Bank location.
Fundraiser helps family in need
The Guardian-Journal photos/Michelle
Bates
Pictured above are the Burham family
during a fundraiser held Friday, July 20 to help Bryon Burham with expenses
following a motorcycle accident that left him with serious injuries. From left
are Burham, his wife, Cindy, and his children, Searra, 10, and Andrew, 8.
During the fish fry fundraiser held for
Bryon Burham, his children, Searra and Andrew, run a lemonade stand to help
out. Bryon was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, which nearly cost
him his leg. With growing medical expenses, Burham has undergone nine surgeries
to date to save his leg. Each week, he travels from Claiborne Parish to
Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center for treatment while he
recovers from his last surgery.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
The
citizens of Claiborne Parish have once again come together to help one of its
own.
On
Friday, July 20, a fish fry fundraiser was held to help Bryon Burham and his
family following a serious motorcycle accident that nearly cost Bryon his leg.
An employee of the Claiborne Parish Highway Department, Burham has undergone
extensive surgeries, nine so far, to save his leg.
Co-sponsored
by Burham’s friends and coworkers, the fundraiser brought in approximately
$4,300 to help the Burham family cover growing medical and travel expenses
during his recovery.
Recently,
Bryon’s coworkers, through a resolution from the Claiborne Parish Police Jury,
donated some of their own sick leave and vacation time to allow Burham to
continue bring in some income as he goes through a long recovery.
“The
parish has been really wonderful, and I’m thankful,” Burham said. “I can’t
thank them enough. They’ve been so awesome.”
The
last surgery Burham had was a skin graft from knee to ankle, and within another
month or so is expected to have another surgery on his knee. He has traveled
back and forth from Claiborne Parish to Louisiana State University Health
Sciences Center (LSUHSC) for weekly visits to follow the healing process of the
skin graft.
He’s
also in physical therapy, and while he still has some pain in his leg, he is
able to walk on crutches and can put some weight on his leg.
Following
the wreck, Burham suffered several injuries to his leg including a broken
femur, broken toes, and a shattered ankle. He also suffered compressed
vertebrae in his back. So far, surgeons have fused his ankle back together and
done the skin graft.
Burham
has a very positive attitude and attributes this to the support of the parish
and his family.
“I’m
blessed that I’m still here and I have my leg,” he said. “I want to thank my
wife and my kids for everything they’ve done. If it wasn’t for them, I’d still
be laying in a hospital bed.”
Burham
is married to Cindy, and they have two children, Searra, 10, and Andrew, 8.
And
although he has a long recovery ahead of him, he’s feeling good and takes his
recovery day by day.
Road Superintendent
Tommy Durrett wanted to say a special thanks to David Nokes of Homer Seafood
for donating all the paper products and Dixie Paper who donated the dessert.
The fish plates included fried catfish, french fries, coleslaw, hush puppies,
dessert and sweet tea.
There’s a stop sign there!
New stop sign installed in Haynesville
Submitted photo
A new stop sign was installed Monday,
July 16 at the intersection of Watters and McDonald Streets. The Town of
Haynesville is informing the public about the sign, saying a grace period is
being granted until school starts before citations will be issued for running a
stop sign.
MICHELLE BATES, Editor
Haynesville
Mayor Sherman Brown wants the public to know that a new stop sign has been
installed at the intersection of McDonald and Watters Streets.
Two
Haynesville residents came to Haynesville’s monthly town council meeting,
concerning the stop sign that was installed on Monday, July 16, with one saying
he didn’t see the purpose of the stop sign.
Marie
Bailey, a resident of Haynesville, said she’s been going through that way to
work for at least the last 12 years, and she sees no reason for putting a stop
sign right there.
Charlie
Buford said he felt the new stop sign would create more of a traffic hazard
more than anything else and gives people a false sense of security in that
people will think others will stop.
District
5 Councilwoman Carla Smith said she requested the sign because she noted
several people “zooming” through there, and there are a number of kids who walk
through there to go to school. Brown reiterated that statement, saying the
purpose of the stop sign is because of speeders and the fact there are several
small children on that block.
“That
was the primary purpose of putting that stop sign there,” Brown said. “We
realize it will take a while to get used to, but you will. I’d much rather err
on the side of caution, in particular children, as far as slowing down
speeders.”
A grace
period has been granted to allow people to get used to it, at least until
school starts on August 22.
In
other news, Michael Hamilton, a resident on Spring Drive, approached the
council concerning a sewer leak on that street, saying it’s become a hazard for
those living on that street. He said the town had been contacted about it but
as of yet, nothing has been done.
The
leak is located between 2013 and 2008 Spring Drive, of which the sewer lines
service at least two homes, he said.
According
to a handout he passed out to council members and members of the media, the
leak has been reported to the town on two different occasions with the original
work order dated on April 28.
“There
are a number of diseases that human beings can get from simple things like
diarrhea, cholera, dysentery and typhoid fever,” Hamilton
said. “All it takes is somebody walking through this, going home, walking on
the floor, getting down on the floor with it and handle their shoes, rub their
face and now they have a disease.”
While
he wasn’t there to cause trouble, he expressed his concerns about it because of
what he feels is an untimely response to this issue.
“There’s
enough moisture there that it’s staying all the time and it’s starting to grow
algae,” he said. “It’s just getting progressively worse.”
Brown
said he would do another follow up on it.
Also on
the agenda was an update on ordinance enforcement concerning curfew, sagging
pants and loitering. While Haynesville Police Chief Anthony Smith was unable to
be at the meeting, Brown did say they have not had near the problems they did
last year with these issues. Brown emphasized that these ordinances are not for
punishment, because for the most part, the kids in Haynesville are decent kids.
It’s just those few “bad apples” force “us to take these actions.”
And while
the Citizens Advisory Committee will not meet again until September, CAC Member
Bob McDaniel updated the council on some things that have occurred and been
discussed since their last meeting. With the funds from the potluck fundraiser,
he said they are looking at installing new fans in the larger room of the
Claiborne Parish Fair Complex building, which would include four large 30-inch
fans mounted to blow over people’s heads but to oscillate.
Also,
three ceiling fans would be installed in the upper area of the stage, because
it gets hot in that area and air does not circulate. The cost of all the fans
will be approximately $1,200.
Also,
Kenneth Cooper will install a contactor so that all lights in the building can
be turned on at the same time. Included in this will be speed controls for the
fans.
McDaniel
said also being discussed is the replacement of the insulation of the building
because the current insulation is aging.
In
other news, the council also approved:
•
Tentatively approved a hazard mitigation plan, which is something all
municipalities must do. However, it has not been formally approved until all
the municipalities adopt a resolution in support of it.
• Two
millage rate resolutions: one for the general fund at 9.410 mils and another
for streets. Both passed unanimously by roll call vote with one absent.
• C.W.
Williams was also recognized by the Town of Haynesville for 15 years of service
to the town.
In the
mayor’s FYI, the $35,000 LGAP grant to replace the air conditioning at the
Claiborne Parish Fair Complex building has been approved, but they are waiting
on the written approval. This project will not have to be bid out because it
falls under public works.
The
town was also approved for a $30,000 CWEF grant to go towards the replacement
of water meters. The town is in its second year of replacing water meters. So
far, out of 1,100 meters, they have replaced 100 or 200.
Ray
Killgore also started work on the exterior of the old schoolhouse building.
Also,
Brown announced the 12th Annual “Collaboration is the Key” Conference to be
held on Thursday, August 9 at the Ruston Civic Center from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
There will be training on “Violence in the Workplace,” which is open to all
professions -- local businesses, social workers, advocates, counselors,
lawyers, domestic violence advocates and others. Registration is free and lunch
will be provided. For more information on the conference, please contact Wanda
James at 318-513-9373 or .
Also,
at the beginning of the meeting, following invocation and the Pledge of
Allegiance, a moment of silence was held for the following who have passed away
since the last town council meeting: Billie Prestidge, James Hudson and Peggy
Hines.
The
next meeting of the Haynesville Town Council will be at 6 p.m., Thursday,
August 16, in council chambers located behind City Hall. For more information,
or for questions, please call their office at 318-624-0911.
Sentencing reset in international porn
ring case
The Guardian-Journal
Sentencing
for a Claiborne Parish man involved in an international porn ring has been
reset for Wednesday, August 1.
Edward
Oedewaldt, aka “twelvish,” aka “Legend,” pled guilty to charges of engaging in
a child exploitation enterprise and possession of child pornography on January
19, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of
Louisiana.
He was
arrested in April 2010 and originally charged with one count of conspiracy to
advertise child pornography, one count of conspiracy to distribute child
pornography, 13 counts of advertising child pornography and two counts of
distributing child pornography.
In an
earlier report from The Guardian-Journal, Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey
said his office assisted in his arrest with Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) taking the lead on the case. Also involved were the SWAT team and the
Louisiana State Police.
“We
arrested him without incident and they (ICE) took it from there,” he said. “He
was arrested at a residence on Hwy. 519 in the southeast corner of Claiborne
Parish, close to the Bienville/Claiborne line.”
The
investigation stemmed from the seizure of Oedewaldt’s computer, according to
some reports, which allegedly contained child pornography. Oedewaldt was the
last of 26 individuals arrested in Operation Nest Egg – a joint investigation
which included the Southern District of Indiana – which set off Operation
Delego.
To
date, 42 out of 72 individuals have been convicted for their participation in
an international criminal network, known as Dreamboard, which was dedicated to
the sexual abuse of children and the creation and dissemination of graphic
images and videos of child sexual abuse throughout the world.
The
charges against these defendants were a result of Operation Delgado, an ongoing
investigation that was launched in December 2009 that targeted individuals
around the world for their participation in Dreamboard. Dreamboard was a
private, members-only, online bulletin board that was created and operated to
promote pedophilia and encourage the sexual abuse of very young children in an
environment designed to avoid law enforcement detection. Operation Delgado
represents the largest prosecution to date in the United States of individuals
who participated in an online bulletin board conceived and operated for the
sole purpose of promoting child sexual abuse, disseminating child pornography
and evading law enforcement.
All 72
of the defendants were charged with conspiring to advertise and distribute
child pornography, and 50 of them were also charged with engaging in child
exploitation enterprise, including Oedewaldt. Out of the 72 charged defendants,
55 have been arrested in the United States and abroad. Forty-one individuals
pled guilty and one defendant was convicted after a four-day jury trial.
Twenty-eight of the 41 individuals who pled guilty for their roles in the
conspiracy have been sentenced to prison and have received sentences ranging
between 15 years and life. Thirteen of the 72 individuals charged remain at
large and are known only by their online identities. Efforts to identify and
apprehend these individuals continue.
Operation
Delgado involved extensive international cooperation to identify and apprehend
Dreamboard members abroad. Through coordination between ICE, the Department of
Justice, Eurojust, the European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit, and dozens
of law enforcement agencies throughout the world, 20 Dreamboard members across
five continents and 14 countries have been arrested to date outside the United
States, including two of the five lead administrators of the board. Those
countries include Canada, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, Guatemala,
Hungary, Kenya, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Qatar, Serbia, Sweden and
Switzerland.
Numerous
foreign investigations related to Operation Delgado remain ongoing. The
location and arrest of Dreamboard members abroad have led to the capture and
investigation of other global targets.
Evidence
obtained during the operation revealed that at least 38 children across the
world were suffering sexual abuse at the hands of the members of the group.
Operation
Delgado is a spinoff investigation from leads developed through Operation Nest
Egg, the prosecution of another online group dedicated to the sharing and
dissemination of child pornography. Operation Nest Egg was a spinoff
investigation developed from leads related to another international
investigation, “Operation Joint Hammer,” which targeted transnational rings of
child pornography trafficking.
“These
defendants and people like them, who advertise, participate, distribute or
exploit children to access child pornography work hard to evade law enforcement
and disguise what they are doing,” U.S. attorney Stephanie A. Finley said.
“Their sole purpose is to view children hurting for their own sexual
satisfaction.
“We
want people who get engulfed in this type of disturbing behavior to know that
they will face serious consequences for their actions,” she continued. “Our office will continue to vigorously
prosecute this type of criminal activity to the fullest extent of the law. We
want the community to know that the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department
of Justice, along with our federal, state and local partners, are committed to
protecting children from these vile criminals.”
The
case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John Luke Walker of the
Western District of Louisiana and Trial Attorneys Keith Becker and Anitha
Ibrahim of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) of the Justice
Department’s Criminal Division. The Criminal Division’s Office of International
Affairs provided substantial assistance. The investigation was conducted by
ICE-Homeland Security Investigations, the Child Exploitation Section of ICE’s
Cyber Crimes Center, CEOS, CEOS’s High Technology Investigative Unit and 35 ICE
offices in the United States and 11 ICE attaches offices in 13 countries around
the world, with the assistance provided by numerous local and international law
enforcement agencies across the United States and throughout the world.
The
investigation was part of Operation Predator, a nationwide ICE initiative to
identify, investigate and arrest those who prey on children, including human
traffickers, international sex tourists, Internet pornographers and
foreign-national predators whose crimes make them deportable.
Homer men face burglary charges
The Guardian-Journal
Two
Homer men are sitting in jail following their arrests for burglary.
According
to a Claiborne Parish Sheriff’s Office news release, Torrance Ardell Black, 20,
and Thomas Eddens, 29, both of Homer, were arrested and charged with simple
burglary of an inhabited dwelling with bond set at $50,000 and theft of a
firearm with bond set at $50,000.
According
to the news release, on Tuesday, July 17, Detective Darren Keel was dispatched
to a burglary. Upon arrival at the residence, Keel made contact with the owner
who advised that he returned home and discovered that persons unknown had
entered his residence and had taken several items, including a pistol.
Keel,
assisted by Detectives Adrian Malone, Charles Buford and Randy Smith and Agent
James Spillers led an investigation into the burglary.
During
their investigation, detectives discovered that Black and Eddens were
responsible for the burglary. Items taken during the break-in were found and
returned to the owners.
Black
and Eddens were booked into the Claiborne Parish Detention Center on the above
charges.
In a
separate incident, on June 29, the sheriff’s office received a report of a
burglary and Deputy Aaron Christian responded.
Christian
discovered the victim had several items stolen from his home. The inside of his
home was in disarray and everything appeared to have been rummaged through.
Multiple items were taken, including a .22 caliber rifle.
Detective
Charles Buford arrived on scene and began an investigation into the burglary.
After an investigation was conducted and evidence gathered in this case, Buford
obtained warrants for the arrest of Jamielle Demonta Turner, 23, of Homer, for
simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling with bond set at $12,000, theft of a
firearm with bond set at $10,000 and simple criminal damage to property with
bond set at $2,000.
Turner
was arrested and booked into the Claiborne Parish Detention Center on Tuesday,
July 17.
Other
arrests may be pending in this case.
Arcadia pharmacy burglary linked in
Claiborne Parish
The Guardian-Journal
The
illegal sales of prescription pills have been linked to Claiborne Parish
stemming from an investigation into an Arcadia pharmacy.
According
to Bienville Parish Sheriff John Ballance, the sales of these pills were
tracked to Bienville, Claiborne, Caddo, Bossier and Lincoln parishes.
Christen
Leigh Murphy, 35, of Arcadia, was one of five women arrested in connection with
the investigation into Chris Cole’s Pharmacy in Arcadia.
“She
lived up there (in Claiborne Parish), and we know she was selling pills up
there,” Ballance said.
Ballance
says Pharmacist Jerry Thornton is also under investigation and several of his
family members were arrested following the investigation of burglary of a
pharmacy and sales of prescription medicines on the streets. The sheriff said
various controlled substances were stolen from that pharmacy over a period of
one and one half years.
The
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the state pharmacy board are involved in the
investigation of the pharmacy and Thornton. The two agencies conducted an audit
of the controlled drugs at the pharmacy, where they discovered there were more
than 10,000 controlled substance pills unaccounted for, Ballance said.
The
five women arrested are charged with burglary of a pharmacy, conspiracy to
distribute Schedule III CDS and conspiracy to distribute Schedule IV CDS.
Arrests
include India Feazel, 18, of Arcadia, Alice Kay Goodwin, 29, of Simsboro, Venus
Lofton, 24, of Bossier City, Diana Lofton, 41, of Arcadia and Murphy. Murphy
has an additional charge of distribution of Schedule II CDS, stemming from an
undercover purchase of 40 dosage units of Oxycodone on Friday, July 20 through
an undercover investigation being conducted by the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s
Office. Bonds for each woman were set at a total of $300,000.
The
women are incarcerated at the Claiborne Parish Women’s Jail for Bienville
Parish, said Claiborne Parish Sheriff Ken Bailey.
“One or
more of these people have been on our radar for quite a while,” Ballance said.
“When the burglary came to light, it just confirmed what we’d been hearing --
that one or more of these people were distributing controlled dangerous
substances --for sure in the Bienville Parish area.”
The
tips came from the Minden Police Department when Goodwin was arrested on
unrelated charges.
The west wall of the museum has sustained
water damage due to the softness of the original brick and mortar used in 1890
to construct the Hotel Claiborne. A Rhielm Test was performed by Thomas and
Parker Waterproofing of Shreveport to check the porosity of this original
brick and mortar. The test showed that moisture was seeping in causing damage
to the interior plaster walls. It was recommended that the entire west wall be
cleaned, all cracks repaired, and waterproofing solution applied to the entire
wall. The Board of Directors of the Ford Museum launched a grant writing and
fund drive to raise the monies necessary for these improvements and
renovations. Jim Pesnell, of Entergy, presented Linda Volentine, Project
Director, a check for $5,000 to assist in funding the work that has already
begun. The Board of Directors is grateful to all who have helped in making this
project a reality.
