From the Desk of the DA, July 2026

As our teachers and students head back to school this week and next, I want to make sure parents are aware of resources available at our outstanding Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, which is one of only four juvenile courts in Louisiana   The reality today is you may have no idea your child is using marijuana, due to the manner which it is mainly consumed these days: by vaping, which leaves no smell, and gummies.   

If you believe your child is in need of drug treatment, please contact the Family In Need of Services (FINS) office, which is located at The Harbor, 3004 Knight St., Building 6, Shreveport, (318) 725-HBOR.    Your child does not need to have a criminal court case pending to participate.  The program is supervised by our Caddo Parish Juvenile Court judges and typically lasts nine to 12 months, and includes drug counseling, regular random drug testing, positive community activities, and all activities are after school hours.  Cost is $100.   

The Harbor also has Saturday vaping educational courses beginning August 22. Please call them for more information.   The Caddo Parish Sheriff also has various free youth programs on Saturdays at Safety Town.  Snacks are provided.  Please call Deputy Vernita Williams at (318) 681-0869 for more information. Also go to the Caddo Parish Sheriff website and Facebook for more information.

Also Saturday, August 8, the historic Galilee Baptist Church is having a backpacks and school supplies giveaway at 1500 Pierre Avenue, Shreveport, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its Family Life Center. Food and music will be provided; there also will be free hair braiding and haircuts. Kudos to Galilee Baptist Church. SporTran also is having a drive-through back-to-school backpack and school supply kits event from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Hattie Perry Recreational Center, 4300 Ledbetter St., Shreveport.  

In July in Caddo District Court, our judges, assistant district attorneys and others in the judicial system were busy as usual.

However , I would like to start off the recap with a guilty plea as charged today, August 3, as I write, in a case of high interest. Shreveport dentist John Allen Russ pleaded guilty-as-charged to domestic abuse battery with strangulation, domestic abuse battery with serious bodily injury, and two counts of domestic abuse child endangerment law.  He was immediately remanded to Caddo Correctional Center by Judge Chris Victory.  Russ was prosecuted by our Special Victims Unit Chiefs Britney Green and Ron Stamps.  He was defended by Dhu Thompson.  Russ returns to court October 5, 2026, for sentencing.

 Here are some cases of note from July:

* A Shreveport man convicted July 8 for killing a female acquaintance three years ago was sentenced to life in prison July 27.

District Judge Chris Victory sentenced Edduin Silva, 22, to the state-mandated term for the April 26, 2023 slaying of Amaya Jacobs. Ms. Jacobs, 35, was shot multiple times in the face as she drove near Fairfax Avenue and Morningside Drive in the Caddo Heights neighborhood. The hard-labor sentence is to be served without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence.

Silva fired his .22 caliber AR-style rifle 13 times, striking Ms. Jacobs with multiple rounds. Surveillance video showed Silva, who admitted to police that he shot the victim, pacing up and down in front of his house armed with the rifle moments before the shooting. 

Silva was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Victoria Washington and Courtney N. Ray. He was defended by Leslie Kelly.

The case was docket No. 395241.

* A Shreveport man who pleaded guilty in April to leading police on a high-speed chase for almost a dozen miles was sentenced to serve a decade in prison July 27. 

Darrtavious Tuvoya Lewis, 22, was sentenced by District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. The term must be served at hard labor. A pre-sentencing investigation showed that Lewis had two prior convictions for crimes of violence and was still on probation at the time of this offense for one of those convictions. Judge Hathaway ordered that the sentences run consecutively.

Lewis pleaded guilty as charged to aggravated flight from officers April 16, just after the first and only witness against him was about to testify.

On April 20, 2025, Shreveport police officers observed a 2019 Dodge Durango with a license plate that returned to a stolen vehicle out of Texas run a red light at Kennedy Drive and Hollywood Avenue. When officers tried to initiate a traffic stop, the driver fled and led several patrol units on a high-speed chase that lasted over 15 minutes, reached speeds in excess of 110 mph and ended on Greenwood Road, almost 12 miles away, when the Durango crashed into the fence of a nearby fire station. The driver fled on foot and was eventually apprehended with the use of a K9 officer.

Throughout the pursuit, the Durango drove into oncoming traffic, forced multiple vehicles off of the road and nearly collided with several cars that were unassociated with the pursuit.

Lewis was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Chase Burgess and Jason Waltman. He was represented by the Caddo Parish Public Defender's office.

The case was docket No. 408229.

* A Shreveport man was found guilty July 22 of the June 4, 2024 slaying of Billy Ray Doyle at a Linwood Avenue convenience store.

The four-man, eight-woman jury in District Judge Donald Hathaway Jr.'s court took an hour to deliver its unanimous guilty-as-charged second-degree murder verdict against Deonza McClinton, 32. 

Over the course of the trial, prosecutors called nine witnesses to prove that McClinton and a codefendant ambushed Mr. Doyle, 41, at the In & Out convenience store in the 4300 block of Linwood. McClinton was armed with a 300 Blackout assault-style rifle, which evidence revealed was discharged 22 times. Mr. Doyle suffered wounds to every internal organ in his body except his spleen, bladder and left kidney. Footage from area business security cameras, the Real Time Crime Center and License Plate Readers showed the shooters' vehicle in the vicinity, as well as the driver, who is a co-defendant. At the trial, the defense argued that the shooting was in self-defense, but that was rejected by the jury. 

When he returns to Judge Hathaway's court for sentencing August 5, 2026, McClinton faces life in prison without possibility of probation, parole or suspension of sentence as mandated by state law.   

McClinton was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Christopher S. Bowman and Chase Burgess. He was defended by Carlos Prudhomme. 

McClinton's co-defendant will face trial September 14, 2026.

The case was docket No. 402378.

* A Shreveport man who fled from police following a traffic stop a little over a year ago was convicted of aggravated flight from an officer Thursday, July 23.

A nine-woman, three-man jury in District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr's court deliberated 72 minutes before returning a unanimous guilty-as-charged verdict against Gentry Javonte Jones, 38. 

On May 22, 2025, an officer with the Shreveport Police Traffic Enforcement division observed a white Mazda bearing an expired temporary license and a driver who was not wearing a seatbelt near the 7000 Block of Suntan Street, in south Shreveport. 

The officer pulled over the Mazda to conduct a routine traffic stop. The driver, Gentry Jones, provided a false name of Artevia Jones, later determined to be his brother's name. The officer was unable to positively identify the driver and asked Jones to step out of the vehicle. As the officer reached for the door handle, the Mazda sped off, running multiple red lights and stop signs, driving into oncoming traffic, and exceeding speeds of 70 mph through residential neighborhoods. The defendant evaded the officer but was arrested two months later when he gave the same false ID in a different traffic stop.

When Jones returns to Judge Hathaway's court for sentencing August 27, 2026, he faces a prison sentence of up to 10 years at hard labor.

Jones was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Chase Burgess and Christopher Bowman. He was represented by the Caddo Indigent Defender’s office.

The case was docket No. 410420.

* A Shreveport man facing a multitude of current charges that include domestic violence, home invasion and aggravated property damage, pleaded guilty to several charges July 22.

District Judge Ramona Emanuel sentenced Xavier Montreal Davidson, 30, to varying terms in prison. The most serious of which, domestic abuse battery for a fourth or subsequent offense, will remove him from society for 20 years at hard labor, with at least three years to be served without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

In that crime, docket No. 416184, he had faced at least 10 years in prison and potentially up to 30 years. On October 3, 2025 a woman ran to the front desk of a Motel 6 screaming for help. Arriving police officers learned that Davidson had attacked the victim, striking her and choking her. The victim was able to get away from him and call for help. Davidson fled prior to officers arriving and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

In a second pleading, docket No. 416185, Judge Emanuel sentenced him to 10 years at hard labor for a felony home invasion and to three years at hard labor for strangulation battery of a dating partner. Had he stood trial and been convicted he would have faced at least one and up to 30 years for the home invasion and three years for dating partner strangulation. On March 28, 2026, the defendant entered the home of his then dating partner without consent and strangled her while she fought back. Davidson bit the victim on her finger after which the victim locked herself in a room and called 911 to prevent the defendant from harming her further. The defendant fled prior to officers arriving and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

In a third pleading, docket No. 416186, Judge Emanuel sentenced Davidson to the maximum term of three years in prison at hard labor for resisting a police officer with force or violence. On March 8, officers attempting to conduct a traffic stop of Davidson for driving with an unreadable temporary vehicle tag discovered he had active felony warrants. While being taken into custody, Davidson used physical strength to prevent handcuffing and fled. 

In a fourth pleading, docket No. 416978, Judge Emanuel sentenced Davidson to 10 years in prison at hard labor for aggravated criminal property damage. If convicted, he would have faced at least one year in prison and up to 15 years. On March 20, 2026, Davidson used a large wooden stick to damage the vehicle of his then dating partner, causing more than $1,000 in damages. 

All sentences are to be served concurrently, but consecutive to Davidson’s current parole, which ends in 2032. There are also 20-year protective orders for all victims involved.

Davidson was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Fernando Grider Jr. He was defended by Dave Knadler. 

* A Shreveport man who coerced a teen-aged girl to have sex was found guilty of molestation of a juvenile July 22.

Antonio Leon, 44, was convicted by a two-woman, four-man jury in District Judge John D. Mosely Jr.'s court, which deliberated for one hour and 12 minutes before returning its verdict of guilty as charged.

Jurors determined that on a Friday evening in October 2023, defendant Leon, the live-in boyfriend of the victim’s mother, coerced the teen to have sex. The next day the victim told her sister and her boyfriend at the time and swore them to secrecy for fear of the effect on her family. The following September, the mother of the victim’s boyfriend told the victim's father, who reported the crime to the police. The victim was taken to the Gingerbread House and interviewed, where she detailed the crime. Leon was questioned and confessed.  

When Leon returns to Judge Mosely's court for sentencing August 31, he faces at least five and up to 20 years in prison with or without hard labor and a fine of up to $10,000.

Assistant District Attorneys Ashlyn Thomas and Ross Owen prosecuted Leon, who was defended by the Caddo Parish Public Defender's office.

The case was docket No. 404330.

* A Caddo Parish man who showed pornography to and fondled a tender-aged female was found guilty at trial July 10.

Jimmy Wendt of Keithville, 68, was judged by a seven-woman, five-man jury in District Judge Chris Victory's court, which deliberated for just over an hour before returning its verdict of guilty as charged on both counts, indecent behavior with a juvenile under age 13 and sexual battery on a victim under age 13.

The victim was between ages five and seven during the time of the offense, though she did not disclose the abuse until last year. Jurors heard from the victim, her parents, and detectives from Caddo and Desoto Parishes. The victim went to a child advocacy center, where she gave a statement about what happened to her. Local law enforcement was able to determine the offense happened in Caddo parish off Barron Road. The child’s parents told the jury how Wendt would provide childcare for the victim while they were at work and described the layout of the home, which was consistent with what the victim described.

When Wendt returns for sentencing August 12, he faces from two to 25 years at hard labor with at least two years to be served without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence on the indecent behavior conviction, and from 25 to 99 years at hard labor with at least 25 years to be served without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence on the sexual battery conviction. He must register as a sex offender for life as well.

Assistant District Attorneys Courtney N. Ray and Victoria Washington prosecuted Wendt, who was defended by Michael Enright and Carter Lawrence.

The case was docket No. 413022.

* A Bossier City man accused of raping a woman in her home in June 2020 was convicted of second-degree rape July 9.

Cortez Lane, 45, was found guilty after an hour's deliberation by the eight-woman, four-man jury in District Judge Ramona Emanuel's court. 

Through the course of the trial, the jury learned that on the date of the attack, while visiting the victim, Lane undressed and forced himself onto her within minutes of being in her home. Twice the size of the woman, he held her wrist and proceeded to rape her. The victim testified, as did a Shreveport patrol officer and a police detective.  

When Lane returns to Judge Emanuel's court for sentencing August 11, he faces at least five years and up to 40 years at hard labor, without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

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

The case was docket No. 403664.

* A Caddo Parish man accused of raping an intoxicated neighbor whose children he was babysitting in June 2024 pleaded guilty to third-degree rape July 6.

Robert Patterson, 29, pleaded guilty before Caddo District Judge Chris Victory, just as his trial was set to begin. Judge Victory sentenced Patterson to 15 years in prison at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Upon release, he also must register as a sex offender for life.

On June 17, 2024, the victim went to a neighborhood party after hiring Patterson to babysit her children. The woman was brought home by friends, because she was intoxicated and thought she also might have been drugged at the party. Patterson was still present when the woman's friends brought her into the residence, and he took advantage of her condition to rape her. DNA testing confirmed Patterson as the attacker, even though he denied touching her when he was interviewed by the police.

Assistant District Attorney Courtney N. Ray prosecuted Patterson, who was defended by Michael Enright.

The case was docket No. 405439.

* The Caddo Parish Grand Jury returned a single indictment in its session that ended Wednesday, July 22, 2026.

Valentino Lathoris Carter, 23, of Shreveport, is charged with one count of second-degree murder in connection with the April 5 death of Jerquavious Johnson Jr. Mr. Johnson, 25, was part of a crowd of people in the 2700 block of West 70th Street when multiple shots were fired from a nearby business parking lot. Mr. Johnson was found wounded. He later died from his wound.

Carter is in custody at Caddo Correctional Center, where he was booked April 12, 2026. His bond on the murder charge was set at $500,000.

I close by reminding everyone to please observe your school zones.   As school zone violators have realized during my terms as your District Attorney, all school zone tickets are fully prosecuted.

At your service,

James E. Stewart Sr.

Caddo Parish District Attorney

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