From the Desk of the DA

This past summer, I hosted my annual Leadership Camp for Youth.  This free camp is another outreach to the youth of this community I have this office undertake as I see the reality of so many young males killing each other and  throwing their own lives away.   

Then-Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Scott Crichton and I presented a reality check to the entire student body at C.E. Byrd High School just a few years ago, making them aware of various violence, sex, drugs, and alcohol related crimes and their consequences.  Recently,  my  “Power of Choice” presentation is designed to force teens to think when tempted by guns and gang life, by showing them the consequences of crimes, and answering any questions or misconceptions they have.

In this presentation, I show teens a slide show of what the prison cell awaiting them looks like, and let them know that if they are 15 years old and up, Louisiana law allows me to prosecute them for crimes of violence as an adult in adult court, with adult jail,  and adult prison, and I that have had to do so many  times.  

During this year’s summer camp, the teens told me about the continuing rise of teen gang activity, and how members are recruited through social media on their cell phones. One location of growing gang activity I was surprised to find was at a local high school I will not publicly name but that is not normally known for problems of gangs and violence.  

On July 31, 2025, I was asked by a student organization at that school to present my “Power of Choice” presentation to the troubled teens at this high school, to be presented during a time of a school program for which those at-risk students were not allowed to participate due to their behavior.  

This presentation was not for media or television cameras, nor to find 18 year olds to vote for me in next year’s election.  It was for the District Attorney to talk to teens who are clearly at-risk for or already involved in gang and gun activity.  I gladly accepted the invitation. The speech was set for November 20, 2025. 

A week before my speech, I was informed by the student leader who invited me that he was advised by a member of the school’s administration that “it’s an election year so he can’t come.”  (The District Attorney election date is actually in November 2026.)  Sadly, on November 19, 2025 , a shootout on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway involving students from the same school ensued. 

On November 21, 2025, a Shreveport Police tactical team made an arrest at this same school of the alleged shooter, who was a student there.  One more young man involved remains at large and soon will be caught. My speech, by the dates, could not have stopped this incident. But maybe it could have affected the future decisions of other gang members and at-risk youth at this school.  Maybe seeing and hearing my voice directly as the District Attorney will rise above the rap music lyrics and social media trash that has poisoned many of their minds.   I will continue to reach out to the youth of this community to not resolve conflict with guns.  And to inform them that if they do, the consequences are severe.     

You who follow the Caddo Parish District Attorney Facebook page may notice, in all of my reach-outs to the public regarding free positive programs for youth, I always direct the messages to the 3 P’s: Parents, Pastors, and Principals. Principals see things parents often do not see.  They see who these teens are hanging out with. They see their attitudes in school. To the principals of this area, I or someone from my staff is available at any time to speak to your students and your at-risk youth about the consequences of gangs and gun activity. It’s not about politics; it’s about saving lives.

In November, our DA staff has been busy as usual:

• A Shreveport man must serve 20 years in prison after his conviction as a felon in possession of a weapon.

Carldeaundre Dewayne Morgan, 29, was sentenced November 18 by District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. Morgan was convicted in Judge Hathaway's court November 6.

On April 6, Shreveport police responded to a suspicious person call at the CVS Pharmacy in the 1500 block of North Market Street. Upon arrival, officers encountered Morgan, wearing a ski mask that matched the description from the complainant, in the parking lot. When officers performed a pat-down for their safety, Morgan was found to have a 9-mm pistol with a bullet in the chamber concealed in his left jacket pocket. He was arrested as he had been convicted of possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled dangerous substance in September 2019.

Assistant District Attorneys Christopher S. Bowman and Chase Burgess prosecuted the case. Harry Johnson defended Morgan.

The case was docket No. 407975.

• A Shreveport man accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with an underage girl pleaded guilty as charged after the first witness started to testify against him November 18.

The six-man, six-woman jury in District Judge Ramona Emanuel's court had just started to hear testimony when Leangelo Ardison, 22, changed his plea to guilty. He will return to court for sentencing January 6, 2026.

Ardison was charged with a single felony count of carnal knowledge of a juvenile between August and October 2024.

At sentencing, he faces up to 10 years in prison with or without hard labor and/or a fine of up to $5,000.

Assistant District Attorneys Fernando Grider Jr. and Kodie K. Smith prosecuted Ardison. He was defended by Royal Alexander, Dave Knadler and Silver Sanders.

The case was Docket No. 404627.

• A Caddo Parish man accused of killing one person and trying to kill another after an argument two years ago pleaded guilty November 17.

Jadaveun Devon Dillard of Oil City, 21, was sentenced November 18 for the acts that killed C’Aundre Anderson, 21, and wounded Cuviondrick Anderson outside their residence in Vivian on September 10, 2023. 

District Judge Chris Victory sentenced Dillard to 40 years in prison for the manslaughter conviction and to 30 years for the attempted second-degree murder. The terms are to be served at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence, and are to run concurrently. The sentences were approved by the families of both victims.

Assistant District Attorneys Bill Edwards and Victoria Washington prosecuted Dillard. He was defended by Richard “T-Dale” Wolbert.

The case was Docket No. 397506.

• A masked gunman who shot and grievously wounded a friend last year must serve 40 years in prison.

Derrick Deone Morris of Bossier City, 44, found guilty of attempted manslaughter September 23, was sentenced November 12 by District Judge Chris Victory as a second felony habitual offender. The 40-year term, the maximum allowed by law, must be served at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.

Victim Tauris Willis was shot April 19, 2024 in the north Shreveport Cherokee Park neighborhood. He was sitting in his car when he was approached by a masked man. The individual removed the mask covering his face and told Willis "I told you I was going to get you," and then shot him three times, once in each leg, severing the femoral artery in one of them, and once in his head, resulting in a grazing wound.  Willis was able to identify his assailant as his lifelong friend, Derrick Morris.

Morris was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Courtney N. Ray and Sean R. Fore. He was defended by Rickey Swift.

The case was docket No. 405929.

• A former Caddo Parish Schools teacher and coach was found guilty in a bench trial November 12 of prohibited sexual contact between an educator and a student.

Dayton Corbett, 33, was a history teacher and football coach at Byrd High School, where he engaged in prohibited acts with the victim during school hours on a weekly basis for her entire senior year, September 2021 through May 2022. The victim didn’t report the offense until the summer of 2024 because she did not initially realize that Corbett had taken advantage of her with his position of power at the school. Corbett was working at Northwood High School at the time of his arrest. 

Corbett was found guilty by District Judge Chris Victory, who sentenced him immediately after the trial. As a first offense it is a misdemeanor under Louisiana law. Judge Victory sentenced Corbett to serve six months in the parish jail, suspended, with one year of active supervised probation, with registration as a sex offender for 15 years.

Assistant District Attorney Courtney N. Ray prosecuted Corbett. He was defended by Holland Miciotto.

The case was Docket No. 403591.

• A Shreveport man who shot a female acquaintance after she tried to evict him in 2022 was convicted of second-degree murder November 5.

The five-man, seven-woman jury in District Judge John D. Mosley Jr.'s court deliberated less than 30 minutes before returning its unanimous guilty-as-charged verdict against Michael Elijah Rachal, 23.

On September 7, 2022, Rachal had been staying at Makaree Samone Rayson’s house, and she was putting him out. They argued while moving his belongings to the carport. The two went out to the carport and shots were heard by Ms. Rayson's younger sister inside. She saw Rachal running away, saying that Makaree had shot herself. Five shell casings were found at the scene and witnesses described hearing multiple gunshots. One shot struck Ms. Rayson fatally and another one went through her clothing without hitting her body. Both shots were fired at a distance not consistent with self-inflicted wounds. 

On January 6, 2023, Rachal was apprehended in Dallas, Texas, where he was working at a Panera Bread restaurant. He gave a statement saying the gun had fired once accidentally during a struggle and that he fled because of how it looked.

Assistant District Attorneys Ross Owen and Michael Anderson prosecuted the case. Casey Simpson and Caleb Traylor defended Rachal.

The case was docket No. 393777.

• A Shreveport man was convicted November 5 of multiple sex crimes against two female juveniles.

The five-man, seven-woman jury in District Judge Donald Hathaway Jr.'s court deliberated almost two hours before returning its unanimous guilty-as-charged verdicts against Daniel Scott Havis, 34, on four counts of sexual abuse: third-degree rape, sexual battery of a person under age 15, sexual battery and indecent behavior with a juvenile.

Over the course of the trial, the prosecutors called eight witnesses to prove Havis repeatedly raped and sexually abused the minor daughter of a female acquaintance from January 1, 2020 through May 31, 2022. The victim disclosed the sexual abuse to a local youth minister who made a police report and notified the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services. The DCFS investigation validated the mother’s neglect and Havis's abuse. Havis also propositioned and groped a second juvenile who was visiting in the home. That incident was charged as indecent behavior with a juvenile. Both victims were interviewed at the Gingerbread House and those interviews were played for the jury in addition to their live testimony. Defense attorneys argued that the victims were not believable and the jury should acquit. The jury rejected that argument.

Assistant District Attorneys Jason Waltman and Chase Burgess prosecuted the case. Hilary Hileman and Harry Johnson defended Havis.

The case was docket No. 399872.

• A Shreveport teenager who allegedly robbed an elderly woman at gunpoint with an accomplice will be tried as an adult. 

Cortavion Ester, 16, stands accused in a November 7 south Shreveport armed robbery, and has been transferred from juvenile court to adult court to face prosecution. The transfer from the Caddo Parish Juvenile Detention Center to Caddo Correctional Center was done upon orders from District Court Judge Donald Hathaway Jr.

Ester is charged with the armed robbery of a 62-year-old female resident of a Millicent Way apartment complex. Ester and another male allegedly wore ski masks and each pointed guns at the victim, who arrived home around 11:30 pm to her apartment, robbing her of her cell phone, car keys and car. Investigation that night located the stolen vehicle in the Martin Luther King Jr. neighborhood and calls the following morning from concerned citizens who observed males in an area field attempting to tear off a vehicle’s license plate led Shreveport police investigators to Ester. He was found walking nearby still wearing the clothing described by the victim the previous night. Ester admitted his involvement in the robbery.   

Shreveport police are actively seeking Ester's accomplice.

People with information regarding the robbery should call Shreveport Police Crimestoppers at (318) 673-7373.

• The Caddo Parish Grand Jury returned eight true bills in its session that ended November 21.

Two indictments concerned Jeoffery Jermaine Mckenzie, 35, of Shreveport, who faces trial on a charge of second-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder and separate indictments for two instances of possession of a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies. His murder indictment, No. 410298, concerns the June 28, 2025 slaying of Zauntravious Davis, 23, and the attempted slaying of two other individuals that same date, and the carrying of a pistol used in the commission of those crimes. Mr. Davis was one of several people shot outside the Lifestyle Apartments in the 4200 block of Lakeshore Drive. The second indictment, No. 413332, concerns his possession of a pistol on July 24, 2025.

Two indictments were returned for Tywann C. Gibson, 17, of Shreveport. One is for second-degree murder in the August 18, 2025 death of Labreisha Patterson, 28, and for the attempted second-degree murder of Kenneth Green that same date, No. 410935. Both were shot on Martin Luther King Drive in Shreveport. A second true bill is for simple escape, No. 413333, and concerns his flight from confinement the day after his arrest for the slaying of Ms. Patterson and the attempted slaying of Mr. Green.

Three other men are charged in connection with the August 18, 2025, slaying of Ms. Patterson and for the attempted second-degree murder of Mr. Green:

* Deceldrion Keshaun Gay, 19 and from Shreveport, is charged with second-degree murder in indictment No. 410981.

* Semaj Demark Mitchell, 19 and from Shreveport, is charged with second-degree murder in indictment No. 410991.

* Rodney James Thomas, 20, from Vivian, is charged with second-degree murder in indictment No. 410996. 

Finally, Shontravious Donell Rogers, 36, is charged with second-degree murder in connection with the June 4, 2024, slaying of Trevion Marshall and possession that day of a firearm or carrying a concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies, docket No. 410363. Mr. Marshall, 24, was shot in the 3500 block of Milam Street.

All are currently incarcerated at Caddo Correctional Center.

• A Shreveport teen arrested for allegedly setting a fire that killed his two juvenile cousins was no-true-billed by the Caddo Parish Grand Jury.

Marshavion Harris, 15, was arrested October 24, 2025, by Shreveport Police in connection with two deaths that resulted from October 12-13, 2025 fires set at a residence in the 3100 block of Milton Street in the Queensborough neighborhood.

The Shreveport Police Department arrested Harris on two counts of second-degree murder, the basis of the charges being arson. The case involves the death of two minor children who died as a result of injuries suffered in the residential fire. Louisiana law requires an indictment by the Grand Jury to proceed with the prosecution of a person for second-degree murder. Grand Jury proceedings are secret by statutory law. 

The case developed by the Shreveport Police was presented to the Caddo Parish Grand Jury during the week of November 17, 2025. The Caddo Parish Grand Jury returned a “No True Bill” against the accused, Marshavion Harris. The “No True Bill” against Harris indicates that the Grand Jury was not satisfied by the evidence against him.  

According to prosecutors, the home subject to the arson investigation was affected by two separate fires — one at the rear of the residence that occurred just before midnight on October 12, 2025, and the fatal fire that occurred at the front of the residence at approximately 1:45 A.M. on October 13, 2025. Harris and the two minor victims lived in the house with approximately 10 other people. Investigators relied upon video surveillance retrieved from the home of a neighbor in their homicide investigation. The surveillance showed the initial fire being set on October 12, 2025, but it did not reveal the identification or the gender of the person setting the fire. There is no video of the fire set at the front of the residence that resulted in the deaths of the two minor children. The matter now returns to the Shreveport Police Department to continue with the investigation into the two homicides.

Harris was returned to Office of Juvenile Justice custody, from which he had escaped group home placement at the time of this fire, to serve his July 18, 2025, one-year sentence for theft of a motor vehicle and illegal possession of stolen things.

Hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving!

At your service,

James E. Stewart, Sr.

Caddo Parish District Attorney