March 2025
On Saturday April 5, 2025 a “Misdemeanor Warrant Resolution Event” will be held at the Caddo Parish Courthouse, 501 Texas St., Shreveport, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sheriff Henry Whitehorn Sr., Judge Donald Hathaway Jr., Clerk of Court Mike Spence, volunteer attorneys from the Public Defender’s office, and I are partnering to allow individuals with outstanding Caddo Parish misdemeanor warrants to resolve them or set new court dates for their matters. This event seeks to reduce the extreme number of misdemeanor warrants and criminal cases that are pending. For those of you in this situation, or know a friend or family member in this situation, please take advantage of this opportunity.
I also wanted to take this time to bring to your attention a March 13, 2025 article in The Advocate, which brought the results of an analysis of 18- to 29-year-old men convicted of murder during a 15-year period in East Baton Rouge Parish. The results showed the direct correlation of poor school attendance and crime, that “Young men in East Baton Rouge Parish who committed violent crimes typically spent their childhood growing up in the poorest neighborhoods and although enrolled were frequently absent from parish public schools and never earned a high school diploma.” The report noted that looking at the record of 113 young men ages 18 to 29 convicted of murder, only 30 percent had finished high school, where the district’s graduation rate was 73 percent. A further look at a sample of 300 young men convicted for murder and other crimes of violence showed that 81 percent of them were chronically absent for at least one school year.
I have no doubt these results would be similar in our parish. Truants are often the children of parents who did not find success in their own schooling or value education. My fellow Louisiana district attorneys and I face this challenge of prosecuting truant children and their parents, while also trying to reverse their behavior and seek to solve the myriad reasons they are truant . This will continue to be the great focus of my administration as your district attorney, as a root solution to reduce crime in our community.
If you are a parent seeking help for your child, or having trouble getting your child in school, please visit or call The Harbor , 3004 Knight St., Shreveport, (318)752-HBOR (4267), our wonderful partner, Volunteer for Youth Justice’s one-stop shop for families to find resources and services.
It was a busy March in the Caddo Parish Courthouse. Among cases of note:
* A Shreveport teen who shot and killed Booker T. Washington high student three years ago was convicted of second-degree murder March 28.
Eric Dewayne Green, 19, was unanimously convicted by the eight-woman, four-man jury in District Judge John D. Mosley Jr.’s court after an hour’s deliberation.
Green was the first of three defendants, all teens, charged with the January 27, 2022 slaying of Deanthony Walker, 17, in the 1300 block of Harvard Avenue and Harp Street as he walked home from school. When officers arrived on scene, they located Mr. Walker deceased in the street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Crime scene investigators located 26 9mm shell casings at the scene along with three .357 caliber shell casings. Door video from a nearby residence showed a black Kia Soul, later determined to have been stolen that morning, drive by the victim as he walked down Harvard. The Soul stopped in the road and one of the occupants called the victim to the vehicle. At that time, Green exited the driver’s side back seat and fired 17 9mm rounds at Mr. Walker from a Glock 19 pistol. A co-defendant then allegedly fired a .357-caliber gun from the passenger’s side rear of the Kia as the victim ran away. A third co-defendant in the front passenger seat then left the car, walked over to Mr. Walker and allegedly shot him point-blank while he was on the pavement.
Two days later, the Kia was involved in a car chase with police. The occupants of the car fled but were apprehended not far away. The fourth occupant told police that Green and the other two teens were in the Kia on the day Mr. Walker was shot and that he witnessed the shooting. Police also seized a cellphone from Green when he was apprehended.
The phone’s location data indicated that Green was parked across the street from Booker T. Washington High School before Mr. Walker left school. School surveillance video showed a black Kia drive in front of the school, park in the parking lot across the street and leave as Mr. Walker left school. Location data from the phone also showed that he was less than a block away from where the homicide took place. The gun Green used was found at the co-defendant’s home and was determined to have fired 17 of the 26 9-mm shell casings recovered from the scene. Green’s DNA also was found on multiple items found in the Kia Soul.
When Green returns to Judge Mosley’s court April 14 for sentencing, he faces a mandatory life term. However, since Green was a juvenile at the time of the slaying he will be eligible eventually for parole.
Green was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kodie K. Smith and Bill Edwards. He was defended by Casey Simpson and Harry Johnson.
The case was docket No. 387430.
* A Caddo Parish man whose felony record prevents him from owning or possessing or owning a gun, was found guilty of that crime March 27.
Rodrick Hicks, who turned 31 that day and was out on bond, failed to return to court for the afternoon part of his trial, and is being sought on a bench warrant.
The eight-man, four-woman jury in District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.’s court returned its unanimous guilty verdict at 3 p.m. after 40 minutes of deliberation, following a delay caused by Hicks’ absence.
Four witnesses testified that Hicks possessed a firearm after having been convicted of illegal use of weapons on December 7, 2016 in Caddo District Court. In May 2024, the Shreveport Police Department received a citizen complaint about suspicious activity at Hicks’s residence. After officers saw drugs and a digital scale inside the house, a search warrant was obtained to further search the residence. As officers began to execute the search warrant, Hicks admitted he had a gun hidden under his mattress. Police also found live ammunition for a different caliber firearm in the residence.
Once Hicks is apprehended and a sentencing date is set, he faces a prison term of at least five and up to 20 years at hard labor without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.
Assistant District Attorneys Ashlin Thomas and Jason Waltman prosecuted Hicks. He was defended by Evan McMichael and Silver Sanders.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Rodrick Hicks should contact the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office.
The case was docket No. 401957.
* The Caddo Parish Grand Jury returned three true bills in its session that ended March 25.
The separate indictments each charged three Shreveporters with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the December 27, 2024 deaths of two cousins, Tristavian Datcher and Jakeva Datcher.
The two Datchers, both 21 years old, were gunned down in west Shreveport. Jakeva Datcher was shot several times in the parking lot of an apartment complex in the 5600 block of South Lakeshore Drive. She was found in the back seat of an SUV in the 3000 block of Curtis Lane and was pronounced deceased at the scene. Tristavian Datcher was shot in the 5600 block of South Lakeshore Drive. The Shreveport Fire Department transported him to Ochsner LSU Health hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.
Alissa Loreaunna Rogers, 19, was charged in indictment No. 405924. Deaiviantan Deshun Davis, 21, was charged in indictment No. 405935. Rufus Odell Anderson, also 21, was charged in indictment No. 405928.
All three are incarcerated in Caddo Correctional Center pending trial, with $1 million bonds set on each count.
* A Shreveport man accused of killing a convenience store clerk in 2022 was convicted in Caddo District Court March 26.
It took the six-woman, six-man jury in District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.’s court less than two hours to unanimously convict Damion Sherfield, 23, of the February 15, 2022 second-degree murder of Roderick Walker, 29.
Over the course of the trial, the prosecutors called nine witnesses to prove that Sherfield murdered Mr. Walker inside the Village Food Store in the 5300 block of Jewella Avenue, after talking to the manager and confronting the victim on his way out. Sherfield pulled out a gun and fired three shots at Mr. Walker, one striking him in the chest. Sherfield then fled the scene and did surrender to authorities until two days later. Mr. Walker was transported to Ochsner LSU Health hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
The defense called Sherfield’s mother, who was sitting in a car outside the store at the time, as well as Sherfield himself, in an attempt to establish self-defense or provocation by Mr. Walker, arguments rejected by the jury.
Sentencing will be April 9. Under Louisiana law, Sherfield faces a mandatory life sentence without possibility of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Judge Donald Hathaway presided over the trial.
Assistant District Attorneys Christopher Bowman and Jason Waltman prosecuted Sherfield. He was defended by Katie Ferguson and Madison Crusan.
The case was docket No. 387699.
* A Shreveport man who abused a teen male relative for more than a year was sentenced March 18 to serve two decades in prison after he was found guilty of two counts of sexual battery last December by a Caddo Parish jury.
District Judge Brady O’Callaghan sentenced Reginald Lee Fisher, 61, to 10 years on each count, with the hard-labor terms to be served consecutively. Fisher also must register as a Tier 2 sex offender for 25 years upon release. He was convicted December 17, 2024.
Fisher was in a position of authority over the victim, who was abused between April 2022 and May 2023, and was forced to perform sex acts on Fisher while in high school.
Assistant District Attorneys Courtney N. Ray and Briana C. Spivey prosecuted Fisher. He was defended by Michael Enright and Katie Miller.
The case was docket No. 396992.
* A Shreveport woman convicted in January of a variety of felony gun charges must serve the better part of four decades in prison, a Caddo judge ordered.
Keatre Monique Daniels, 32, was sentenced March 18 by District Judge Chris Victory to serve 20 years without benefit of probation, parole or reduction of sentence for conviction on being a felon in possession of a firearm. She also was sentenced to two years at hard labor for illegal use of a weapon and 15 years at hard labor for aggravated second-degree battery. The terms are to be served consecutive to each other for a total of 37 years.
Daniels was convicted January 14. The jury determined that on June 27, 2023, Daniels shot Paul George, who was visiting a friend in the 200 block of East Egan Street. Daniels accused him of scratching her car, which he denied. After a brief argument, Daniels retrieved a gun and shot Mr. George twice in his legs.
Daniels was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Courtney N. Ray and Chase E. Burgess. She was defended by Rickey Swift.
The case was docket No. 398529.
* A Shreveporter who robbed a man of his rifle and then shot the victim in his neck, killing him, was found guilty of manslaughter and related crimes in Caddo District Court March 12.
It took a seven-man, five-woman jury in District Judge Chris Victory’s court an hour to find SirElderick Hays, 25, guilty as charged of armed robbery and felon in possession of a weapon, and responsively guilty of manslaughter. Hays was convicted of simple robbery in 2017, a felony that prevents him from owning or possessing a firearm.
Judge Victory remanded Hays pending sentencing April 16, when he faces a total of 159 years in prison: up to 40 years for the manslaughter conviction, at least five and up to 20 years for the felon in possession of a weapon charge, and at least 10 years and up to 99 years for the armed robbery conviction.
On March 31, 2021, victim Xavier Griffin was showing a newly purchased rifle to several friends near Lakeside Garden Apartments. Hays joined them and Griffin fired a round from the rifle into the air. He started to head back to the apartment when Hays asked him for the rifle. Griffin, reluctant, said no, but Hays snatched the rifle from him. A struggle ensued, and Hays pulled out a handgun and fired a single round at Griffin. The round struck Griffin in the neck, and he succumbed to the wound at the scene. Hays fled with both weapons.
Witnesses were reluctant to assist police, though some cooperated. Both .223 and .40 caliber shell casings were recovered, as was surveillance footage showing Griffin and Hays and at least two other individuals walking through the complex. The video also showed Hays taking the rifle from Griffin, and the two struggling over the weapon. Hays was identified through crime stoppers and also in a lineup. He denied any knowledge of the crime.
Assistant District Attorneys Victoria Washington and Courtney Ray prosecuted Hays, who was defended by Michael Enright and Katie Miller.
The case was docket No. 382230.
* A Minden man who battered and injured a police officer and fled during a traffic stop and arrest in Greenwood pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court March 11.
Preston Burns, 36, waited until 12 jurors had been sworn in District Judge Ramona Emanuel’s court and the officer he injured during the speeding traffic stop in June 2023, testified. That was when he pleaded guilty as charged.
Judge Emanuel sentenced Burns to five years at hard labor with 30 days to be served without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence for the conviction of battery of a police officer with an injury requiring medical attention, three years at hard labor for resisting a police officer with force or violence and four years at hard labor for simple escape. The resisting and battery charges are to run concurrently but will be consecutive to the term for simple escape, required under Louisiana law.
On June 4, 2023, Greenwood police department Sgt. G. Shaul stopped Burns for speeding on U.S. Highway 79. Burns did not have a valid driver’s license, his driving privileges had been suspended and he had active warrants for his arrest. Sgt. Shaul handcuffed Burns and escorted him to his police vehicle. Sgt. Shaul allowed Burns to talk to the passenger in his vehicle and when Sgt. Shaul asked Burns to get back in the police car, Burns bumped Shaul, causing a brief struggle to begin. Burns chest-bumped Shaul, shoved him out of the way and fled. Shaul tried chasing Burns but fell, and Burns got in his vehicle and drove off. During this interaction, Shaul suffered a serious shoulder injury that has required extensive medical treatment.
Assistant District Attorneys Senae D. Hall and Christopher Caleb Traylor prosecuted Burns, who was defended by Dave Knadler and Royal Alexander.
The case was docket No. 396166.
* A Shreveport man who pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court last month to domestic violence must serve 13 years in prison, a judge has ordered.
Barkalski Clark, 42, must serve five years at hard labor for aggravated assault of a dating partner and also must serve eight years at hard labor for battery of a dating partner with serious bodily injury. Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. ordered the terms to run consecutively, for a total of 13 years.
On June 13, 2023, Clark physically attacked his long-time dating partner and brandished a knife during the assault. The woman had returned home to gather some personal belongings. Clark came from around the side of the house where he had been hiding. He followed the woman inside the home and began the attack. And earlier, on May 31, 2023, Clark attacked the same woman, striking her multiple times in the face with a closed fist and knocking her to the ground. She suffered a broken nose and bruises all over her body.
Prosecutors from the DA’s Special Victims Unit were District Attorneys Britney A. Green and Ron Christopher Stamps. Clark was defended by Evan McMichaels.
The case was docket No. 402876.
* A Shreveport man convicted last month for domestic violence was sentenced in Caddo District Court March 12 to 29 years in prison.
Nakadrian Oshee Sanders, 24, who battered his live-in girlfriend and strangled her to unconsciousness September 24, 2024, was sentenced by District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. Sanders has two prior convictions for domestic violence, in Bossier Parish in 2020 and in Caddo in 2021.
For his conviction on domestic abuse battery strangulation, resulting in serious bodily injury, Sanders received a term of 25 years under Louisiana Revised Statute 14:35.3L(2) that went into effect in 2024. The law recognizes that strangulation is an exceptionally dangerous type of physical attack; it provides a penalty of five to 50 years if the offender strangles the victim to the point of unconsciousness, as happened in this case. Sanders pressed his victim against a wall in their apartment, placed both hands around her neck and strangled her with such force that he lifted her off her feet until she went unconscious.
Sanders also was sentenced to four years at hard labor for domestic abuse battery, with Judge Hathaway ordering the sentences to run consecutively, for a total of 29 years.
Sanders was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Britney A. Green and Ron Christopher Stamps of the DA’s Special Victims Unit. He was defended by Evan McMichael and Katherine Ferguson.
The case was docket No. 404285.
* A man charged in connection with a 2021 shooting death pleaded guilty to manslaughter March 10, just as his trial was set to begin.
Datavious Simmons, 23, immediately was sentenced to 18 years at hard labor by District Judge Ramona Emanuel.
On June 26, 2021, Simmons was the passenger in a car from which shots were fired at victim Keshun Cole at the intersection of Union Avenue and 62nd Street, in Cedar Grove. One of the rounds struck the 20-year-old Cole, who died at Ochsner LSU Health hospital shortly after. The driver of the car named Simmons as the shooter and now is serving 10 years for manslaughter for his role in the slaying.
Simmons was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Bill Edwards and Kodie K. Smith. He was defended by Joey Hendrix.
The case was docket No. 383863.
As always, thank you to the jurors who reported to serve, DA staff, court and sheriff staff, the attorneys and judges for their hard work in bringing these cases and so many others to a close. Your continuous and dedicated hard work is not unnoticed.
I hope you all have a wonderful Easter holiday.
At your service,
James E. Stewart, Sr.
Caddo Parish District Attorney