DA desk for October 2025

Domestic Violence continues to be a troubling scourge of our community. With October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month, it was fitting that two cases ended the month that I would like to highlight to you, that brought some measure of justice for these victims of domestic violence and their families.  To all victims, friends,  or relatives of domestic violence victims reading this message, even if you did not or do not personally know these victims, please remember these cases and pray for these victims and all victims of domestic violence. 

I start with a Shreveport man accused of fatally beating 23-year-old Heaven Weed to death in early March 2023, who was found guilty as-charged of second-degree murder by a Caddo jury October 30. 

The nine-woman, three-man jury in District Judge Chris Victory's court deliberated less than an hour before returning its unanimous guilty verdict against Brandon Wayne Lindsey, 36.

On March 2, 2023, Ms. Weed was brought to Ochsner LSU Health hospital by her mother after she was found unconscious and unresponsive at her home. Her extensive injuries included swelling of the brain, fractured ribs, lacerations and bruising all over her body.  

Surveillance video showed her at a local nightspot with Lindsey the night of March 1 to early March 2. Police responding to Ms. Weed's residence, where Lindsey had been living about a month, noted a strong smell of bleach and other cleansing products. Officers documented blood spatter in the living room, kitchen and pantry and noted multiple locations where blood appeared to have been wiped.

Crime scene investigators recovered multiple items from the washer, including a mattress topper, pillow and towel, all containing the victim’s blood. Lindsey's clothing worn at the club also contained the victim’s blood.

After a week in the hospital, Ms. Weed died from her closed-head traumatic brain injury. Her organs were donated.

A previous girlfriend of Lindsey's testified of the abuse she suffered at his hands for years, with injuries including black eyes, fractured ribs and a broken jaw. She recounted instances where he dragged her by her hair, kicked her in the head and struck her with his fist in her face. Her injuries were so significant she experienced seizures as a result. She testified she had to get dental implants due to damage to her teeth.

Lindsey has multiple convictions for domestic-related charges in Bossier Parish dating back to 2010. 

When Lindsey returns to Judge Victory's court for sentencing December 8, he faces a mandatory life sentence at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.

Also I highlight a Shreveport man accused of beating his wife and breaking numerous bones in her face last year, who pleaded guilty as-charged to domestic abuse battery with serious bodily injury, a felony, in Caddo District Court October 27.

On September 16, 2024, six-foot-eight-inch Kaltrai Williams, 28,  attacked his wife when she arrived home from work, striking her with his fist and breaking several bones, including an orbital bone, nasal bones, a cheekbone and sinuses.

Over the victim's reluctance, the case was prosecuted by the D.A.'s Special Victims Unit prosecutors  Britney Green and Ron Stamps  due to the extent of the injuries inflicted.

When Williams returns to Judge Ramona Emanuel's court for sentencing December 10, he faces up to eight years in prison.

These two cases highlight in short the myriad complexities in domestic violence: that domestic violence knows no color;  that it knows no difference between the married and unmarried; that the abuser can have a prior known history of violence or a sudden rage; and that the victim can run the sad gamut from deceased, to  uncooperative, to the cooperation of a prior victim of abuse. 

My office will continue the fight not only to prosecute domestic abusers, even through the complexities that always arise, but to also provide resources for victims who are not even yet involved in an arrest, to help them leave the domestic violence situation.

Our Family Justice Center of Northwest Louisiana, a one-stop shop for domestic violence victims sponsored by the District Attorneys of Northwest Louisiana, fundraising  raffle ended Friday October 31, but monetary donations are still sorely needed, and they continue fundraising through its website nwlafamilyjusticecenter.org, or Venmo at NWLAFJC. Please help if you can.

Congratulations to Heather Courtney for winning the autographed Shreveport living legend Terry Bradshaw Pittsburgh Steelers jersey!!   We look forward to the upcoming grand opening in a few weeks of the first Family Justice Center location in Shreveport at the new Shreveport Police substation on North Market Street.

Please call them at (318) 584-7171 if you need help escaping a domestic violence situation.  Remember these cases and these victims, and get the help you or someone you know needs to escape these situations.

Also, while many activities of Domestic Violence Awareness Month have ended, a campaign supporting the Gingerbread House continues through November 21.

Gingerbread House held its annual luncheon in late October at Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino to raise funds for its mission. Each participant received a penny bank and is encouraged to fill it with spare change to support the program’s efforts in providing free services to children in need.

Please check your desks, cars, and pockets for any loose change you can contribute to the piggy banks, which can be obtained through our office. The Gingerbread House plays a crucial role in our community.

This nonprofit organization here in Shreveport supports children impacted by traumatic incidents, including family violence, by offering free services including forensic investigations, family advocacy, counseling and 24/7 emergency help for human trafficking victims.

Since 1998, it has been dedicated to protecting children in need.  I am always  eager to assist it in any way my office can. Donations can also be made electronically via Zelle or CashApp.

To learn more about the Gingerbread House and its mission, visit the website https://gingerbreadhousecac.org/

Our staff, as always, was busy in October trying many other cases. Here are some highlights:

* A Shreveport man convicted in April for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm was sentenced October 30.

Anthony Tyrone Ashley, 44, was convicted April 24. He faced at least 5 and up to 20 years in prison under state law. However, with several other felony convictions on his record, he could have served more time as a habitual offender. The state was prepare to file a motion for this enhanced sentencing. Knowing this, Ashley agreed to serve a maximum sentence of 20 years and waive any and all appellate and post-conviction rights, which was agreed with by District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. 

On November 18, 2024, the Shreveport Police Department attempted to perform a traffic stop on Ashley. When the officers signaled their presence with lights and sirens, he refused to stop ad led police on a lengthy pursuit. Eventually, he abandoned his vehicle and tried to flee on foot, but was apprehended. While running from police,  he discarded a handgun in his possession. At trial, the state presented evidence proving Ashley was convicted in November 2016 of simple burglary, which prohibits owning or possessing a firearm.

Assistant District Attorneys Christopher S. Bowman and Stephen Folk-Cruthirds prosecuted the case. Timothy Holden defended Ashley.

The case was docket No. 405229.

* A Shreveport man accused of committing sexual acts with a 13-year-old girl in November 2023 was found guilty as-charged of second-degree rape October 29.

The 10-woman, two-man jury in District Judge Ramona Emanuel's court deliberated just over an hour before returning its verdict against Brandon Lehard Moore, 33.

On the date of the crime, Moore approached the victim, smoked marijuana with her and then forced her to perform an oral sexual act on him. He also attempted to have intercourse with her. The crimes occurred at an apartment complex in Caddo parish. The victim testified, as did a DNA expert, a sexual assault nurse examiner, an advocate from the Gingerbread House and a detective from the Shreveport Police Department. 

When Moore returns to Judge Emanuel's court for sentencing December 4, he faces at least five and up to 40 years in prison at hard labor, without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

Moore was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Senae D. Hall and Fernando Grider Jr. He was represented by Royal Alexander and Dave Knadler.

The case was docket No. 398705.

* A Shreveport man was found guilty of second-degree murder October 17.

A five-man, seven-woman jury returned its unanimous guilty-as-charged verdict against Ernie Lynn Campbell, 41, to District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. after deliberations that lasted less than an hour.

Over the course of the trial, nine witnesses testified to prove that Campbell shot an acquaintance, Regmond Mitchell, 25, in the head February 17, 2022. Mitchell had driven a passenger to a residence on Barbara Avenue in west Shreveport, where Campbell approached the car and stood by the driver’s door. After a brief exchange, Mitchell turned his head away from Campbell, who fired a gun once, killing Mitchell. The bullet's path, as demonstrated at autopsy, showed that Mitchell was not facing Campbell when the shot was fired.  

Police recovered two guns from the car driven by Mitchell. Campbell argued he fired in self-defense, a claim rejected by the jury.

When Campbell returns to Judge Hathaway's court for sentencing November 12, he faces a mandatory life sentence, to be served at hard labor without probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

Campbell was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jason Waltman and Stephen Folk-Cruthirds. He was represented by Eric Johnson and Rachel Bays.

The case was docket No. 387705.

* A Shreveport man was found guilty of armed robbery in a bench trial October 15.

The case was called for trial the afternoon of October 13. Jury selection was about to begin when defendant Tre'veon Jackson, 23, elected to waive a jury trial and sought a bench trial before District Judge John D. Mosely Jr. 

Judge Mosely heard from six witnesses and reviewed evidence, including DNA, regarding accusations that Jackson robbed a long-haul truck driver at a truck stop on Greenwood Road on August 27, 2021, before returning his guilty verdict.

The driver had been gone for three months, and it was past midnight, so he didn’t wake his wife to come get him. The victim was sitting in the cab of his Freightliner 18-wheeler eating and watching a movie on his iPad when his driver door opened and a man put a handgun to his head and demanded money, his keys and his phone. The victim gave the man those items as well as $650 cash. The robber then fled across Interstate 20.

DNA swabs were taken from several places and items the robber touched. No suspect was developed immediately following the crime. But on July 21, 2022, a Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) hit was reported, returning as a suspect Tre'veon Jackson. A search warrant was obtained to secure a DNA sample from Jackson and upon analysis a match was returned to DNA from the driver's door handle of the 18-wheeler.

When Jackson returns to Judge Mosely's court for sentencing December 9, he faces at least 15 years and up to 99 years in prison at hard labor without probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

Jackson was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Ross Owen and Chase Burgess. He was represented by Richard Woolbert.

The case was docket No. 391312.

* A Caddo Parish jury found a Shreveport man guilty of simple robbery October 14.

The six-person jury in District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr's court deliberated just over one hour before returning its unanimous verdict against Arnold Ballard Jr., 49.

In September 2023, Ballard was at a Shreveport-based safe haven serving the homeless when he assaulted his victim and forcibly took the man's personal property. According to testimony, Ballard struck the victim several times. When the victim attempted to call police, Ballard seized the victim’s cell phone and headset from around his neck.

The trial included testimony from the victim and a sergeant with the Shreveport Police Department. 

When Ballard return to Judge Hathaway's court for sentencing December 9, he faces up to seven years in prison with or without hard labor.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Ashlin N. Thomas and Christopher S. Bowman. Ballard was represented by defense attorney Carlos Prudhomme.

The case was docket No. 397289.

I want to also note that my juvenile court staff is hard at work, as usual.  I was particularly glad to see the early numbers from the Caddo Parish School Board that showed that truancy is down.  Thank you to Superintendent Keith Burton and Volunteers for Youth Justice for your efforts to address truancy. As I always say, defeating truancy will ultimately defeat crime.

Thanks again to all the attorneys, support staff, judges, witnesses , court staff, law enforcement, sheriff's deputies and jurors who worked hard in October to bring justice.

Have a safe November.  I am looking forward to this week’s Byrd–Captain Shreve Game, and the dedication of another local football legend Dak Prescott Field over in Haughton.

Thank you for the hospitality shown to me at the Booker T. Washington homecoming game, and I say congratulations to my brothers Carl and Richard, and all other recipients of the BTW 75th Anniversary Most Influential Alums list.

At your service,

James E. Stewart Sr.

Caddo Parish District Attorney