A prisoner walks in front of a mural depicting the attack at Pearl Harbor, which is at the memorial on Paris Road in Chalmette. Sheriff's Deputy James Harper stand sin foreground. Steve Cannizaro Photo.
	Prisoners work to make sandbags for St. Bernard parish residents who may want them during rain events. Steve Cannizaro Photo.

Nov 30, 2008 - When the annual Pearl Harbor Remembrance ceremony is held Dec. 7 at its park on Paris Road in Chalmette the grass will have been cut and the area cleaned by “trusty’’ prisoners from the St. Bernard Sheriff’s prison work program.

Area children play at a community playground in Torres Park that was rebuilt earlier this year by parish residents, who were helped by a work crew of prisoners. And stages at some parish festivals are built by prison crews, just as thousands of sandbags for emergency rain events are bagged by prisoners.

They also maintain the grounds of one of St. Bernard’s most historic sites, the De La Ronde Ruins in the West St. Bernard Highway neutral ground – which are the remains of a home left from the Battle of New Orleans in 1815.

Prisoners also supply barricades for numerous parish events including the Trick-or-Trunk Halloween program, the Blessing of the Fleet and Mardi Gras parades. And they take care of the historic Pakenham Oaks behind the Parish Prison and sometimes clean pumping stations.

That’s just the outside work done by prisoners who volunteer to do such assignments after proving they can be trusted to leave the prison in the company of sheriff’s deputies who guard them.  Other inmates perform work inside the prison such as cook, do general maintenance, or more specific tasks such at the sheriff’s mechanic shop or air-conditioning, plumbing or electrical work.

St. Bernard Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said the long-time prison work program both takes advantage of the built-in labor available in the Parish Prison to perform community service and provides a way for inmates to help themselves.

“We put to work prisoners who want to work and who we feel have shown they won’t be security risks,’’ said Pohlmann. “It also gives them a chance to help rehabilitate themselves.’’

Col. David Mowers, director of Corrections for the Sheriff’s Office since 2000 and who has worked in the parish prison system since 1993, stresses the prisoner work program is totally voluntary and must be that way.

“We don’t want any violent offenders or security risks,’’ Mowers said, and after an inmate indicates they want to work a complete background check is done before they are considered. It’s a decision that isn’t made lightly and involves several prison officials, he said.

The last time a “trusty’’ tried to run away from a work detail was before the hurricane and he was caught, Mowers said. “That’s few and far between.’’

There are now more than 20 prisoners who are in the work program, Mowers said, with most starting out in the prison kitchen.

“We try to put them in positions where they have some familiarity,’’ Mowers said, such as someone with a background in mechanics would likely go to the sheriff’s mechanic shop or people with experience in air-conditioning, plumbing work or electrical work could work on internal jobs in the prison.

Prisoners who make “trusty’’ and end up doing outside maintenance work “are those who have shown a high degree of loyalty’’ to the jobs they have worked in the prison and have passed “rigorous security checks’,’ Mowers said.

Even then precautions are taken at all times, he said. “We very rarely put trustys in direct contact with the public’’ to reduce risk of anything happening.

For instance, a trusty will go to a parish fair before it opens to set up and after it closes to clean up but not when the general public is present, Mowers said.

There are always sheriff’s deputies from the prison staff present when trusty prisoners work outside and there are never more than four trustys per guard, Mowers said.

“Trusty’’ prisoners perform numerous jobs every year.

“If we see an eyesore (on public land) we try to attack it,’’ Mowers said. “We like to hear from the public’’ on ideas for using prison work crews.

Some possible jobs would be dangerous. “Sometimes it’s not safe to work along highways,’’ Mowers said. Also, he said he’d like to clean parish canals but that’s hard to do, although prisoners have cleaned parish pumping stations.

Nov 30, 2008 - A Chalmette man was booked with child desertion after he fell asleep at home and his two sons, ages 3 and 2, managed to leave and were found outside by themselves, Sheriff Jack Stephens said.

Terry Thompson, 23, 4 Old Hickory, was arrested Monday, Nov. 24, after a neighbor woke him up after finding the boys playing alone in the front of the residence. Thompson told investigating sheriff’s deputies he fell asleep in the afternoon and didn’t know the boys had gotten out. Deputies found the children were dirty from playing in the grass in front of the residence and they had kitchen utensils including knives, forks and spoons they had brought out to the front yard. Thompson, who also had an unspecified outstanding warrant for his arrest out of New Orleans, is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Sheriff Stephens said authorities take such incidents seriously because of the possibility of harm to children who are unsupervised. In this case the children’s residence was close to the heavily traveled West St. Bernard Highway.

In an unrelated matter, a Meraux man was booked with obscenity at a Chalmette barroom after he allegedly climbed on the bar and exposed himself, the sheriff said. Craig Spadoni, 37, 2812 Myrtle Grove Drive, Lot 112, was arrested about 1:30 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 28 at a bar after sheriff’s deputies were called out on an obscenity complaint. Spadoni, who told deputies he had been intoxicated, allegedly got partially undressed, climbed on the bar, and exposed himself while dancing. He also then went outside to dance before coming back into the bar to get dressed. Spadoni, booked with obscenity and on an arrest warrant for allegedly making harassing phone calls in St. Bernard, is being held in Parish Prison in lieu of $65,000 bond.

Courtesy WVUE

Nov 25, 2008 - Well-known Louisiana sportsman and local fishing show host Joseph “Barry” Brechtel Jr. died in a single-vehicle crash early Tuesday morning, Nov. 25, in eastern St. Bernard Parish.

Louisiana State Police said Brechtel, 43, of Covington, was driving a 2008 Dodge Ram pickup truck eastbound on Florissant Highway near Pisces Place just after midnight when he veered to the right, over-corrected to the left, and went off the roadway into a utility pole.

Brechtel was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle, authorities said. He died at the scene.

Brechtel hosted a weekly fishing show called "Team Big Fish,'' on WDSU-TV. He also co-ran a charter fishing service out of Hopedale in St. Bernard Parish, WDSU said.

The investigation is continuing, State Police said, and toxicology results are pending.

Nov 25, 2008 (Updated) - A Violet man was killed Monday, Nov. 24 and a woman he lived with  was arrested after saying she shot him as he slept, and also claimed there had been past physical abuse by him, Sheriff Jack Stephens said.

Ralph Brossette, 35, was shot just before 10:30 a.m. in a rented house at 2420 Meraux Lane in Violet and was pronounced dead at University Hospital in New Orleans. Connie Reeb, 31, who lived with Brossette for about six months, was booked later in the day with second-degree murder.  A bond of $250,000 was set on Tuesday, Nov. 25 by State District Judge Wayne Cresap.  Reeb is being held in the St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond.

Reeb’s children, an 11-year-old boy and 5-year-old girl, were transferred to the custody of the woman’s relatives who live in St. Bernard.

Brossette, who has a lengthy criminal history, was found in bed after Reeb called to report a shooting. The woman initially told Sheriff’s detectives, commanded by Col. John Doran, that she walked into their bedroom from a bathroom and saw an unknown man shoot Brossette, then she fled.  But under questioning, Reeb said she shot Brossette in the head as he slept after he came home about 6:30 a.m. from a casino. She also claimed he had physically abused her and threatened her in the past and said she was afraid for her life.  There wasn’t any information available on whether Reeb had ever called the Sheriff’s Office to complai  
The murder scene at 2420 Meraux Lane in Violet, where a man was shot to death on Monday, Nov. 24. STEVE CANNIZARO PHOTO.
 
n of alleged domestic abuse. The sheriff said a revolver, with six spent casings inside, was recovered in the backyard. The killing was the fourth homicide of the year in St. Bernard Parish, two of which have involved domestic situations.

Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann, said, “Anyone who is in an abusive relationship should report the abuse it to the Sheriff’s Office and reach out for help from programs such as the Battered Women’s Shelter to try to prevent matters from escalating into worse situations. We will respond to any call for help.’

Nov 24, 2008 - Donald Joseph, 49, of Violet, and a man whose name hasn’t been released were killed Friday night, Nov. 21, and two others were injured in a two-vehicle crash in the 6700 block of East St. Bernard Highway in Violet, near the W. Smith Elementary School.

Joseph was heading west around 8:20 p.m. when his 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer veered into oncoming traffic, hitting a 2000 Mercury Mountaineer virtually head-on, according to State Police Troop B, who are handling the case. Joseph was transported in critical condition to University Hospital, where he died. The driver of the Mercury was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said. His name has not been released.

Two passengers in the Mercury -- Omar Maldonado, 29, and Martin Barrientos-Guiterrez, 25 -- were taken to Tulane Medical Center and University Hospital to be treated for severe injuries, authorities said. Both were reported to be in critical condition.

It was not immediately clear why Joseph crossed over the center line, State Police said.

Investigators are awaiting the results of toxicology tests to determine whether either driver was impaired at the time of the crash. Speed has been ruled out as a cause.

None of the victims was wearing a seat belt, State Police said.

Nov 22, 2008 - The St. Bernard Parish Civil, Tax and other administrative offices will move Dec. 8 to the Sidney Torres Plaza Building at 8301 West Judge Perez in Chalmette, where the Regions Bank is located, Sheriff Jack Stephens said.

There will be an entrance on the Jean Lafitte Parkway side of the building for the public to enter the administrative offices of the Sheriff’s Office.

St. Bernard Parish property owners who just received tax bills that are due by Dec. 31 can pay them at the new administrative offices from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The sheriff’s administrative offices, since Hurricane Katrina, have been in a compound of office trailers off the road to the Port of St. Bernard in Chalmette.

Nov 22, 2008 - A total of six people were arrested Nov. 18-20 on three cases involving the drugs PCP – rarely seen in St. Bernard Parish – heroin and crack cocaine, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. All three cases were made by sheriff’s deputies from the Special Investigations Division, commanded by Col. Chad Clark.

Gerald Patterson Jr., 3, of Marrero, was initially arrested Nov. 18 for unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, resisting arrest and disturbing the peace.  But when Patterson was brought to the St. Bernard Parish Prison to be booked and was searched, he attempted to destroy an unknown liquid in a small bottle by dumping the liquid on the floor. A small amount of the liquid was recovered inside the bottle and the liquid tested positive for the drug Phencyclidine, or PCP. A criminal history checked showed Patterson had been arrested in Jefferson Parish on a PCp charge last July. Patterson, then additionally booked in St. Bernard with possession of PCP and attempted introduction of contraband into the prison, is being held in lieu of bond set at $100,000.

On Nov. 19, a search warrant was executed at 9106 Atreus Drive in Chalmette and two men and a woman were booked with possession with intent to distribute 15 rocks of crack cocaine, worth about $300 and possession with intent to distribute 11 small bags containing a total of about 1.3 ounces of marijuana, worth $220.  They were also booked with possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of three minor children. Arrested were Chad D. Thomas, 37; Remus Reed, 19; and Marguerite Reed, 31; all of 9106 Atreus Drive. Thomas and Remus Reed were being held in Parish prison in lieu of $140,000 bonds each while Marguerite Reed was released on bond Nov. 21. The amount of her bond wasn’t available.

Also, on Nov. 20, Kendell Harris, 22, of New Orleans, and Lashonda K. Alveris, 21, of Harvey, were both booked with distribution of three dosage units of heroin and possession with intent to distribute three other dosage units of heroin, with the total amount worth $120. Harris is being held in Parish prison in lieu of $160,000 bond and Alveris is being held in lieu of bond of $100,000.

Nov 22, 2008 - There will be some traffic restrictions on Monday, Nov. 24 on West St. Bernard Highway in Chalmette due to movie-filming, according to officials of the Sheriff’s Office and parish government.

The filming centers in the 8400 block of West St. Bernard Highway near Congressman Hebert Drive but traffic could be affected from Packenham Avenue to Jean Lafitte Parkway, officials said.

Traffic could be affected off and on from about 7 a.m. to late in the afternoon.

St. Bernard Chief Sheriff's Deputy James Pohlmann, left, and Capt. Walter Dornan, head of the sheriff's Traffic Division, at a sign on Paris Road in Chalmette announcing the start of the 25th annual sheriff's free Holiday Ride Home program, which starts the day after Thanksgiving.  Steve Cannizaro Photo.

Nov 21, 2008 - With an aim of stopping drinking-and-driving in St. Bernard Parish, the Sheriff’s free Holiday Ride Home program will be offered for the 25th straight year beginning the day after Thanksgiving, with residents able to get a ride home by the Sheriff’s Office if they have been drinking, Sheriff Jack Stephens said.

Non-residents can get a ride to a sheriff’s sub-station and make arrangements to be picked up.

When Sheriff Stephens started the ride home program after taking office in 1984, it was the first of its type in the New Orleans area and has served as a means to reduce the number of inebriated motorists.

“If someone has had too much to drink during the holidays we don’t want them trying to drive home,’’ and risk injuring themselves or an innocent party in an accident, Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said. “We would much prefer they call the Sheriff’s Office at 271-2501 and receive a free ride home, no questions asked.’’

“We will take them home from a party or a bar but they must stay home and we will not take anyone to a separate party or another bar,’’ Pohlmann said. Non-residents of St. Bernard who are visiting the parish can call the Sheriff’s Office and they will be picked up and taken to a sheriff’s sub-station where they can make arrangements to get a ride home to their parish, he said.

Signs are being placed at the entrances of the parish to remind motorists of the free holiday ride home program.

Also, the Sheriff’s Office will be working in conjunction with State Police to battle drunk driving, with extra patrols and checkpoints set up to specifically look for motorists who have been drinking, according to Capt. Walter Dornan, head of the traffic division for the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office.

“It’s not worth the risk to drive if you have been drinking,’’ Dornan said. “Take advantage of the sheriff’s free ride home program.’’

	Some 16 rifles and shotguns recovered by St. Bernard Parish sheriff's detectives during arrest.  Steve Cannizaro Photo.

Nov 21, 2008 - Numerous shotguns and rifles were seized at a residence by St. Bernard sheriff’s detectives and a 16-year-old boy who lives there and a man have been booked with possession of stolen property after three weapons were identified as taken in a burglary, St. Bernard Parish Sheriff Jack Stephens said.

Sixteen weapons, including an AR-15 assault rifle were recovered when a search warrant was served at the home of the teen-ager on Florissant Highway in eastern St. Bernard Parish on Nov. 14. Three of the found guns were linked to a burglary of a house several blocks away on Florissant Highway according to the detectives. 

Booked with possession of stolen firearms were Kenneth King, 44, of Louisville, Ky., who has been living at Florissant as a commercial fisherman, and the 16-year-old whose name isn’t being released because he is a juvenile. King also was booked with contributing to the delinquency of the youth. Detectives, commanded by Col. John Doran, obtained the warrant based on information they received about the guns at the home of the minor. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has been asked to run a trace on the weapons to determine where they came from.

King, being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond, and the juvenile, who has been released on bond from the parish Juvenile Detention Center, maintained they found the weapons, authorities said. The amount of the bonds wasn’t available.

Owners who are missing guns and have proof such as a receipt or can provide serial numbers can call the St. Bernard sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Bureau at (504) 278-7630 to try to identify a weapon, Sheriff Stephens said.

Nov 17, 2008 (Updated) - A 39-year-old Missouri man who has been living in St. Bernard Parish was booked with sex and drug charges involving a 15-year-old girl he brought to the parish from Missouri, Sheriff Jack Stephens said.

Neil Scott Kramer was arrested early Saturday morning, Nov. 15, after the juvenile contacted her mother in Missouri from a bar to tell her where she was.  St. Bernard Sheriff’s officials were alerted and the teen-ager was found in the bar, the sheriff said. Kramer was found in a nearby café. The girl has been sent back home by plane to her parents.

Kramer, who is from Buffalo, Mo., allegedly had been doing contracting  work in St. Bernard Parish and was living at 2605 Packenham Road in Violet in eastern St. Bernard, is now in St. Bernard Parish Prison. He is being held in lieu of $250,000 bond that was set by a judge on Monday, Nov. 17.  Kramer was booked with simple rape for allegedly having sex with the girl after he allegedly drugged her with ecstasy, carnal knowledge of a juvenile, possession of two tablets of the drug ecstasy and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

Kramer and the girl had been sending text messages to each other for months according to the 15-year-old as she spoke with detectives from the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Juvenile Division.They apparently hadn’t met until Kramer went to her town in Missouri on Nov. 10, then brought her to St. Bernard Parish. The girl’s mother had reported her kidnapped in Missouri. Federal authorities may investigate that allegation.

On Friday, Nov. 14, at about midnight, the St. Bernard Parish Sheriffs Communications Division received a telephone call from a woman who stated her 15-year-old daughter was kidnapped in  Missouri on Monday, Nov. 10 but may be in St. Bernard Parish, Sheriff Stephens said.

The mother said she received a text message from her daughter saying she was in a bar in the area of Violet, Louisiana, which is in eastern St. Bernard Parish. Members of the Sheriff’s Field Operations Bureau responded to the call and found the juvenile in the restroom of the bar. The girl said the man she was with was Neil Scott Kramer and he had left the bar in a Ford Ranger belonging to another man. Sheriff’s deputies searched the area and located the vehicle and found Kramer and another man in a nearby café, based on a description of Kramer’s clothing.  Officials of the Sheriff’s Juvenile Division were notified and further investigation was conducted. Two tablets that tested positive for the drug ecstasy were found in one of Kramer’s pockets.

The juvenile was interviewed and said that on Monday, Nov. 10, she made arrangements via text messages and telephone conversations for Kramer to pick her up at a convenience store in her town in Missouri, whose name isn’t being released to protect the identity of the victim. Kramer met her at the store about 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11 and and began driving to St. Bernard Parish, without her parents’ knowledge or consent. The girl told Sheriff’s investigators that shortly into their trip, they stopped at a hotel in either Willow Springs, Missouri or West Plains, where Kramer allegedly gave her a tablet of the drug ecstasy and the two had sex. About 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 11, they arrived in Violet, in St. Bernard Parish, and went to Kramer’s residence, the teen-ager said.

The girl said they had sex several times at Kramer’s home over the next few days, including once when he allegedly gave her half a tablet of the drug ecstasy.

On Friday, Nov. 14, at approximately 10:30 p.m., she and Kramer went to a bar where she was asked for identification, which she couldn’t produce, so they went to another bar where they got in and Kramer allegedly gave the girl some ecstasy and three alcohol drinks, she told sheriff’s deputies. It was at the second bar where she contacted her mother from the restroom, indicating where she was, and the juvenile was later located by the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Stephens said.
 

Nov 14, 2008 - In Accordance with Louisiana Law, The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office mailed today the 2008 Property Tax Notices via U.S. Mail. These notices were mailed to the address on file as provided to the St. Bernard Parish Tax Assessor’s Office.  You should receive these notices within the next few days.  The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office encourages you to pay your Property Taxes promptly and by December 31, 2008 to avoid any additional penalties and interest.

If you do receive a Tax Notice for property you no longer own, please notify our Civil Tax Office at 504-271-2504 during regular business hours – Monday to Friday – 8:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M..

If you have moved and have not received your 2008 Tax Bill, you will need to call both our offices with your new mailing address and the Tax Assessor’s Office with your permanent address change. The Tax Assessor’s phone number is 504-279-6379 for the permanent address change. Please call our offices with your new address so we can send you a copy of the Tax Bill.  The St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office only maintains the address change for the current mailing. Your permanent address change must be made at the Assessor’s Office.

Please remember that Property Taxes become delinquent on December 31, 2008 for the Tax Year 2008. Interest from December 31, 2008 will be charged at the rate of 1% Per Month or any Portion thereof, under Louisiana R.S. 47:2101.

Nov 12, 2008 - In another case where a phone call about suspicious activity has led to arrests, five men who allegedly stole two dirt bikes and an all-terrain vehicle in Chalmette were caught trying to take them out of St. Bernard Parish in a rental truck, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. The arrests on Friday, Nov. 7 and recovery of the three stolen vehicles marked at least the 10th time in recent months in which arrests were made based on alert parish residents notifying the Sheriff’s Office when they saw what appeared to be something suspicious.

Sheriff Stephens commended the quick action by someone who called the Sheriff’s Office at 271-2501 about 2 a.m. on Nov. 7 and reported seeing two men pushing a dirt bike on Delille Street from West Magnolia Drive in Chalmette and placing it in a rental truck. Three other men were said to be following in an SUV. When sheriff’s deputies spotted the two vehicles being driven north on Paris Road, the drivers were stopped in New Orleans and the rental truck contained two stolen dirt bikes and one stolen all-terrain vehicle, Sheriff Stephens said. A bolt cutter was found in the SUV.

Two men in the rental truck, Lance Williams, 23, 1552 Chelsi Drive, Harvey; and Wayne J. Singleton, 26, 8001 Brevard Blvd., New Orleans; were booked with felony theft and felony possession of stolen property and are being in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $425,000 bonds each. Three men in the SUV, Frank E. Dotson, 24, 3779 Eaton St., Baton Rouge; Clarence P. Davis, 20, 2901 Yorktowne Drive, LaPlace; and Davshawn R. Lane, 18, 11259 Winrock Drive, New Orleans; were all booked with felony theft. They are being held in lieu of bonds of $350,000 each.

Anyone seeing what they believe to be something suspicious should call the Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Stephens. The latest arrests were a good example of a resident helping stop crime in their neighborhood, he said.

The Yamaha dirt bike that was reported being stolen was returned to its owner on West Magnolia Drive in Chalmette after the VIN number was checked. The bike had been chained to a pole under a carport. A Honda dirt bike and a Yamaha 4-wheeel all-terrain vehicle that were both inside the rental truck also had been stolen in Chalmette, the sheriff said. Sheriff’s deputies on Nov. 7 found a sign listing a Honda dirt bike for sale on a light pole in front of a residence on Jacob Drive in Chalmette, with a pad lock laying on the ground and the bike gone. The deputies found the owner, who didn’t know the bike was taken, and the recovered item was returned after verification was made.

Also, the owner of the recovered Yamaha all-terrain vehicle was found after deputies responded to a call Nov. 7 on Decomine Drive in Chalmette regarding an ATV stolen after a cable was cut securing it to a patio cover post. Identification was made by the victim.

Nov 9, 2008 - St. Bernard Parish judges who deal with youthful offenders and Sheriff Jack Stephens say the reopened juvenile detention center in Chalmette is proving to be both a crime deterrent and a place giving teen-agers a chance at rehabilitation.

“Without a juvenile detention center it’s hard for young offenders to become a productive member of society and it’s easier to become a hardened criminal,’’ state District Judge Manny Fernandez of St. Bernard said. “”Our juvenile justice system requires a facility.”” Along with creating a crime deterrent by having a place to hold incorrigibles, Fernandez said, “You need a place for education and medical care.’’

The parish’s other state district judges, Chief Judge Jacques Sanborn, Wayne Cresap, Robert Buckley and Kirk Vaughn have all said the detention center, which opened in late July, has proven its value to help deter teen-age crime as well as be a place where offenders can try to readjust in an environment of attending school, getting counseling and receiving medical care. Judge Sanborn said its reopening “has been a major milestone for the juvenile justice system in St. Bernard.’’ “It sends a message’’ to some teens who otherwise might continue to commit more crimes if they are caught and then simply released back to their parents or guardians, Sanborn said. “It does act as a deterrent’’ to have a place to hold them. Judge Cresap said the juvenile detention center “has been a hammer to keep them from committing crimes.’’ Cresap said even holding a youthful offender a few days pending a hearing can open their eyes to what can happen to them. For some of the teens, Buckley and Cresap said, the juvenile center is the best thing that can happen at the time, removing them from a sometimes bad environment, giving them a chance to attend school without distractions in a well supervised situation and with access to counseling and medical care.

Sheriff Stephens said, “I’m convinced it has an impact on the overall crime rate in this parish if you don’t have a place to hold juveniles.’’ The sheriff said being able to reopen the center, which is next to the adult Parish Prison on Paris Road, has been one of the most important accomplishments of law enforcement in St. Bernard’s recovery. According to Sheriff Stephens, “I think we are seeing fewer repeat (young) offenders now that the word is getting around they won’t simply be turned over to their parents or guardians if they are arrested. It  has a ripple effect on overall crime in the parish once the teens see they can be held" Serious crimes such as burglary and drug-dealing were committed by teen-agers while the center was closed.  Adult offenders would even get teens to ell drugs or commit other crimes for them, knowing that if caught the youths wouldn’t face as much punishment as an adult, he said.

St. Bernard Chief Deputy Sheriff James Pohlmann said, “We’d rather have them here (in the detention center) than out on the street committing crimes,’’  “You always hope for rehabilitation of young offenders,’’ Pohlmann said, “but the safety of St. Bernard comes first.’’ “We can’t let teen-age criminals take advantage of this parish still being in a recovery mode and believe if they get caught burglarizing houses, stealing from vehicles or dealing drugs they may be released to their parents because there’s nowhere to hold them.’’ The hardest part in reopening the juvenile center, which didn’t flood or have serious structural damage in the hurricane, was “bringing in juvenile corrections officers, counselors and teachers,’’ Pohlmann said. Employees in such a setting must have the required mixture of training and temperament to work with juveniles, Pohlmann said, plus St. Bernard’s ongoing hurricane recovery problems left quality of life issues such as locating housing for employees.

Built in 1992 for $6 million, St. Bernard’s juvenile detention center requires more than 20 employees. The facility has a schoolroom with a computer lab for daily teaching, as well as televisions, books and an exercise area for recreation. Lt. Andre Dominick, who has an extensive background in the sheriff’s detective division dealing with juveniles, is director of juvenile detention, which is under the overall leadership of Col. David Mowers, Director of Corrections including the St. Bernard Parish Prison for adults. Brad Gowland has been teaching in the juvenile center since its first day and is provided through the parish school system.

‘”The kids come in and may think they will lay around but they find out they have to go to school,’’ Gowland said. “I don’t make it a point to find out what they are here for (doing). My goal is to teach them so they can get back and be a member of society,’’ he said. “I wouldn’t trade my job for anything,’’ Gowland said. “I like helping kids. I was a little rough-edged myself when I was a kid and I love seeing ones like that get a better attitude about life.’’ Gowland said he has seen many of his former pupils move on and make something of themselves. “I will be in a grocery store or a gas station and people who came here (the detention center) will come up and say, ‘Hey, Mr. G.’ and we talk. I love to see success stories,’’ Gowland said.

The juvenile center can hold up to 36 teens and now has more 20 – some of whom are awaiting trial and some who have been convicted and sentenced to serve time.

St. Bernard Parish government owns both the Parish Prison and juvenile detention building.

Nov 7, 2008 - A Chalmette mother was arrested on a charge of child desertion on Friday, Nov. 7 after her son, who is under the age of three, was left alone in their home while she was at work, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Nivia Fields, 25, who lives in the 2300 block of Plaza Drive in Chalmette, was arrested and her son, who will be three in December, was turned over to the care if an aunt.  Fields was also booked with possession of a small amount of marijuana found in plain sight in her home when sheriff’s deputies checked on the child after a caller said he had been left alone.

Fields, who had gone to work at 5 a.m., said a woman she knew who spent the night at the residence was supposed to be watching the boy.

The sheriff said the incident came to light after Fields’ 6-year-old daughter, who was standing at a bus stop waiting for a bus to take her to school, was crying and told someone she didn’t want to leave her baby brother at home alone. The Sheriff’s Office was called and the landlord of the rental where Fields lives opened the door for deputies to look for the boy, who was found in his bed.

Fields was being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison pending an appearance before a judge to have bond set.

Nov 7, 2008 - All administrative offices of the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office will be closed on Tuesday, Nov. 11 for the Veteran’s Day holiday.

The offices will reopen on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

Nov 6, 2008 - The captain of a St. Bernard Parish oyster boat and two crew members have been booked with felony theft of fuel from another boat in eastern St. Bernard Parish, Sheriff Jack Stephens said.

Booked with felony theft over $500 and with a separate charge of theft of fuel were the oyster boat captain, Roland Deroche, 38, 2307 Tiffany Court in the community of St. Bernard; and crew members Edward Zacharias, no age available, 2501 Hopedale Highway, Yscloskey; and Kenneth Simon, 22, 2020 E. Christie Drive, Poydras, all of St. Bernard Parish.  The arrests were made on Oct. 31 following an investigation that included a statement from Zacharias admitting his guilt and alleging Deroche had ordered crew members to siphon fuel from a boat in the fishing village of Yscloskey after tying up next to it. 

A witness also acknowledged seeing Deroche’s boat tied up to the boat where the fuel was allegedly stolen but couldn’t see if a theft took place.  Zacharias also gave incriminating statements about stealing fuel from other boats and a dock on other occasions over a period of the past six months, but no other charges have been filed. Both Deroche and Simon have denied the theft charge.

Deroche has been released from St. Bernard Parish Prison after posting a $100,000 surety bond. Zacharias, whose bond is set at $137,000, and Simon, who has a $100,000 bond, remain in jail.

Nov 5, 2008 - A man and a woman were booked with prostitution on Tuesday night, Nov. 4, after sheriff’s deputies investigated a report of a suspicious vehicle parked on a street in Violet, Sheriff Jack Stephens said. Corey Campbell, 33, 2110 Bartolo Drive, Meraux, was parked on Stacie Driver in Violet about 9 p.m. and drove off when he saw a sheriff’s car but stopped on nearby Daniel Drive when he was pursued.  After deputies spoke with Campbell, it was determined he and the woman passenger, later identified as Cristal Strong, 24, of Tangipahoa Parish who has been living at 3211 Jupiter Drive in Chalmette, were going to have sex for money.  A deputy found $100 in cash in one of Campbell’s pants pockets, the sheriff said.

Strong, who identified herself by another name, said she was a friend of Campbell, denied a prostitution act was about to take place, and also claimed not to have an arrest record. But when she and Campbell were taken to St. Bernard Parish Prison and she was fingerprinted and booked with prostitution, it was determined she had misrepresented her identity, the sheriff said. Her name is Cristal Strong and she was wanted for probation violation in Jefferson Parish.

Campbell, also booked with prostitution, was being held in jail in lieu of $50,000 bond while Strong was being held in lieu of $40,000 bond.