From the desk of the District Attorney

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.   Our office is proud to stand together in support of survivors and families.

Even as overall crime numbers have declined, I continue to see a disturbing number of domestic violence cases in our area.

One in four women have experienced violence from an intimate partner, but it affects people of all ages, sexes, races and backgrounds. More than 70 million people in the United States have been its victims. Domestic violence comes in many forms, not only physical harm but stalking, psychological abuse, bullying and online intimidation. Older adults can experience abuse from caregivers or family members, while teens and young adults may face dating violence. 

Last year, after an examination of Domestic Violence cases in this city, and alarmed by dismissals and questionable sentencing, I decided it was time for some changes in the judicial process of Domestic Violence cases in this parish.   As of January 2025, all Domestic Violence arrests in Caddo Parish are now prosecuted by this office and not by the Shreveport City Attorney's office.   Furthermore, all Domestic Violence cases with an arrest date after January 1, 2025 are now prosecuted exclusively at Caddo Parish District Court and none at Shreveport City Court.  

Furthermore, Caddo Parish victims will soon have a safe and easier process to file protective orders.   The Family Justice Center of Northwest Louisiana, a domestic violence one stop hub sponsored by the District Attorneys of Northwest Louisiana, will open an office at the new Shreveport Police Substation on North Market Street this month.  This will be in addition to their current lone office in Bossier City.  Now Domestic Violence victims will have an additional safe location with free parking to file for protective orders, await their signature, and be guided to services to aid their escape from abuse for themselves and their children.

This effort has been spearheaded by Debbie Martin of the North Shreveport Business Association, and I thank her for her vision, efforts, and collaboration with myself, Bossier-Webster Parishes District Attorney Schuyler Marvin, Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith, Caddo Parish Sheriff Henry Whitehorn, Caddo Clerk of Court Mike Spence and other city officials to bring relief for Domestic Violence victims in our respective parishes.   

Please call the Family Justice Center (318)584-7171, 1513 Doctors Drive, Ste. 1, Bossier City, LA, if you need guidance on how to file a proactive order and services to escape Domestic Violence. 

Here is listing of upcoming events for Domestic Violence Awareness Month:

* Oct. 9, 2025: Domestic Violence Awareness Month recognition event by the Bossier-Webster District Attorney's office and the NWLA Family Justice Center, 9:30 a.m. 204 Burt Blvd., Benton, La. Participants are encouraged to wear purple, the color to mark and commemorate Domestic Violence awareness.

* Oct. 16, 2025: Project Celebration Inc. "Wear Purple Day," Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025. Purple is the color to mark and commemorate Domestic Violence awareness. Share your photos of purple at #DVAM2025, #SUPPORTSURVIVORS, #UNTILEVERYSURVIVORSAFE or tag PCI!

* Oct. 18, 2025: "Together We Can Stop Suicide." Northwest Louisiana Out of the Darkness Walk, at Betty Virginia Park, Line Avenue at Ockley Drive, also 3901 Fairfield Ave., Shreveport. Check in is 9 a.m., walk starts at 10 a.m. Contact: Christie Waldrop, (318) 990-0385 or email cnl9102@gmail.com; website is https://afspwalks.donordrive.com/NWLA

* Oct. 18, 2025: Moms on a Mission 318, Healthy Minds, Body & Soul luncheon, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Starting Point Ministries, 121 South West Front St., Vivian. Info: (318) 864-0389 or email momshrevela1@yahoo.com.

* Oct. 18, 2025: "A Walk in Her Shoes," 3 p.m., 2750 Shed Road, Suite D1, Bossier City, La. Speakers include Tasia Davis, Almarina Emerson. Wearing purple attire is urged. Info: (318) 685-2888.

* Oct. 19, 2025: Domestic Violence Luncheon, 1 p.m., Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office Community Relations and Crime Prevention, 1501 Corporate Drive, Shreveport, La. Info: Malaysia Simon, (318) 681-0870, or email: Malaysia.simon@caddosheriff.org.

* Oct. 25, 2025: Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office 2025 "Kick Against Domestic Violence," 4th Annual Kickball Tournament, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Bill Cockrell Park, 4190 Pines Road. Food trucks will be on hand. All proceeds will benefit Project Celebration Inc. Info: Sonja Smith, Investigator, Special Victims Unit, Caddo Parish District Attorney's office, (318) 226-6200 ext. 3113.

An updated calendar of Domestic Violence Awareness Month events is attached to this email, and as more events are added our office will release additional planning calendars. 

You also can call our Caddo District Attorney Victims Advocate Supervisor Leone Fitzgerald at (318)226-5916 ext. 1 or email her at lfitzgerald@caddoda.com for any information regarding any of these programs. 

For more information, visit domesticviolence.org or caddoda.com

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Of September convictions of note, several were Domestic Violence related: 

* A Shreveport man who shot and killed a former domestic partner and her mother and tried to kill the woman's father in early 2024 was found guilty of these crimes September 10.

The seven-woman, five-man jury in District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.'s court deliberated an hour before returning three unanimous guilty-as-charged verdicts, two for second-degree murder and one for attempted second-degree murder, against Donald Dewayne White II, 32.

The state called nine witnesses to prove that White forcibly entered the home of his common-law wife’s parents in the early morning hours of January 14, 2024.  Inside the home, he shot and killed his estranged partner’s mother and shot her father, who survived and identified him as the killer at trial.

White's estranged common-law wife fled the home but did not escape.  He shot her four times and she died despite heroic life-saving efforts by Shreveport Police officers. Three small children were inside the home during the brutal attack, but were not injured.

After being identified by the surviving victim as the killer, White was arrested. Upon questioning, White confessed to the murders in a tape-recorded interview. That confession was played for the jury during trial. 

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Jason Waltman and Christopher S. Bowman. Mr. White acted in how own defense but was assisted by Harry Johnson.

The case was docket No. 399673.

* A Shreveport man who shot at a former dating partner and pulled her from her vehicle on the side of a major highway last year pleaded guilty September 8.

Gregory Underwood, 30, pleaded guilty to an amended charge of aggravated assault with a firearm and to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. For the latter charge he was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. For the assault charge he must serve the maximum term of 10 years concurrently.

On March 1, 2024, Shreveport Police patrol officers were dispatched to Monkhouse Drive and I-20 in reference to a carjacking. Officers spoke with the victim, who said she was shot at by Underwood, who pulled her from her vehicle while on the side of the interstate.  

Underwood pleaded before District Judge Ramona Emmanuel. He was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Fernando Grider Jr. He was defended by Royal Alexander.

The case was docket No. 400561.

* A Keithville man accused of sexually assaulting a teenaged family member was found guilty of sexual battery September 11 in a bench trial. He was sentenced to seven years in prison Oct. 1.

The victim reported that Robert Mathews, 58, started touching her inappropriately and escalated to further physical contact from December 2022 through May 2023.

District Judge Chris Victory heard from the victim, as well as a former victim of the defendant’s indecent behavior. Mathews' wife, also related to the victim, testified on his behalf at trial, as did other family and church members. 

Judge Victory found Mathews, previously convicted of carnal knowledge in 2005, guilty as charged. Mathews, who was out on bond, was remanded to the custody of the Caddo Parish Sheriff’s office. 

He was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Courtney N. Ray and Victoria T. Washington. He was defended by Alan Golden.

The case was docket No. 395489.

Other notable cases handled by our office included: 

• * An Oil City man who pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography but disputed the 90-year prison sentence he received lost his appeal before the Louisiana Second Circuit Court of Appeal.

In a decision posted July 23, 2025, but not publicized until September, the Court of Appeal affirmed the 30-years-per-count, three-count consecutive terms sentence for a total of 90 years, imposed June 26, 2023 on Defendant Anthony J. Remedes by Caddo District Court Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. The terms are to be served at hard labor, without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence. Remedes, 41, pleaded guilty April 24, 2023 to three charges of possession of pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13. 

Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the Bossier Parish Sheriff's office and the Louisiana State Police, this exploitation of innocent children in Caddo Parish was brought to light. We have fought for this predator to never see a day outside of prison and my office will continue to fight whatever appeals he attempts to lessen his sentence.

Remedes was arrested May 11, 2022. Age 39 at the time, he admitted to purchasing and possessing three videos of three victims all under the age of 13 years old performing sexual acts with adults. He already was a registered sex offender for a 2016 conviction of attempted possession of pornography involving juveniles under the age of 13. 

The appeal, alleging excessive sentence, was heard by Court of Appeal Judges Frances Pitman, Jimbo Stephens and Jeff Thompson. Assistant District Attorneys Courtney Ray and Tommy Johnson represented the Caddo Parish DA's office. Remedes was represented by the Louisiana Appellate Project.

The case was docket No. 389078. The Appeal was No. 56363-KA.

* On September 24, a second Shreveporter involved in a robbery that turned into attempted murder pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court and will serve 10 years in prison.

Jeshaiah Ashanti Rambo, 20, admitted to District Judge Ramona Emanuel her part in the crime that occurred October 9, 2023, in the 1700 block of Alma Street. Rambo lured the victim to the location on the premise of engaging in a sexual relationship. Upon the victim’s arrival he was met by Deontae Horton, who attempted to rob the victim and then fired one shot striking the victim in the presence of Rambo. Rambo had been involved in a relationship with both Horton and the victim prior to the shooting.

Codefendant Horton pleaded guilty, also before Judge Emanuel, on August 27 and received a 15-year sentence.

Rambo was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Fernando Grider Jr. She was defended by Dave Knadler.

The case was docket No. 398121.

* A masked Shreveport gunman who shot and grievously wounded a friend last year was found guilty in Caddo District Court September 23.

The three-woman, nine-man jury in District Judge Chris Victory's court deliberated less than three hours before returning its unanimous responsive attempted manslaughter verdict against Derrick Morris, 44. 

Jurors heard from the responding officer and investigating detective, as well as victim Tauris Willis, regarding the April 19, 2024 shooting in the north Shreveport Cherokee Park neighborhood.

That evening, Mr. Willis 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.

When Morris returns to court for sentencing October 20, he faces up to 20 years at hard labor. He could face enhanced sentencing as a habitual offender, however.

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 Mooringsport man set to go on trial September 22 for causing death to one person and serious injuries to another while driving under the influence, pleaded guilty the week before. 

After his pleading September 18, Scott Millis, 49, was sentenced by District Judge Chris Victory to 20 years at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or reduction of sentence for vehicular homicide and first-degree vehicular negligent injuring. He also must pay a $2,000 fine, undergo substance abuse counseling and complete a driving improvement program as required by law for vehicular homicide. He also must serve five years at hard labor concurrent for the first-degree vehicular negligent injuring conviction. 

On January 11, 2024, Millis was driving home from a local bar without headlights around 7 p.m. at North Market Street and Poleman Road when his vehicle struck a car driven by Destiny Stewart crossing the road. The collision killed Ms. Stewart and seriously injured her passenger, J.L. Young.  

Millis admitted to drinking four beers and five shots of vodka prior to driving. A blood draw confirmed Millis's blood-alcohol concentration to be .28 percent, several times the legal limit. That high blood-alcohol level made the crime one of violence.

The family of the victims approved the guilty pleading.

Millis was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Courtney N. Ray. He was defended by Michael Enright.

The case was docket No. 400432.

* A Shreveport man about to be tried on simple burglary and felonious possession of a handgun charges pleaded guilty just after his nine-woman, three-man jury had been sworn in and the state's first witness was testifying September 11.

The state had intended to call five witnesses to prove that Nicolas Calup, 25, had possessed a firearm knowing he had been convicted of a felony that prohibited him from taking a firearm that did not belong to him from a parked truck. Defendant had walked up to the vehicle, reached inside, unlocked the door and stole a firearm.  

Surveillance video would have shown Calup committing the crime and then and then jogging away. Fingerprints collected at the scene were determined to be Calup's. He later was detained near where he lives, only a few blocks from the crime scene.

He was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Stephen Folk-Cruthirds and Ashlin Thomas. He was defended by Harry Johnson and Hilary Hileman.

The case was docket No. 404298.

* A man charged with firing shots at a family and damaging their vehicle pleaded guilty September 8, and must serve a decade in prison for his acts.

Kelvin Higgins, 29, was to have gone to trial that day before District Judge Ramona Emanuel. Before proceedings began, however, he pleaded guilty as charged to aggravated assault with a firearm and aggravated criminal property damage.

On September 19, 2023, Shreveport Police patrol officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Stoner Avenue to a shots fired call. According to video footage obtained by real time crime cameras, while running away Higgins opened fire around five times at a silver Honda occupied by two adults and a minor child. Bullets pierced the driver’s side and the top of the car.

For both crimes Higgins was sentenced to 10 years at hard labor with credit for time served.

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

The case was docket No. 397681.

On September 23, the Caddo Parish Grand Jury returned seven true bills, six issued under seal.

The indictment not under seal, docket No. 409567, charged Carl Graham of Shreveport, 65, with second-degree murder in connection with the June 2, 2024, death of Peggy Smith. Ms. Smith, 67, was stabbed and killed following a domestic incident at her apartment in the 1800 block of Jewella Avenue.

The sealed indictments were:

* Dustin Cates, 18, of Shreveport, docket No. 409500. He was charged with first-degree rape, indecent behavior with a juvenile and nonconsensual disclosure of a private image.

* Arthur Green, 47, of Shreveport, docket No. 409628. He was charged with first-degree rape.

* MacGreger Baird, 55, of Shreveport, docket No. 407765. He was charged with two counts of first-degree rape, indecent behavior with a juvenile and sexual battery.

* Lucas Logan, 31, of Stonewall, docket Nos. 410441 and 411983. He was charged in two separate indictments with first-degree rape, second-degree cruelty to juveniles, sexual battery and 16 counts of pornography involving juveniles. 

* Shea Anne Upshaw, 31, of Keithville, docket No. 411772. She was charged with accessory after-the-fact to first-degree rape and obstruction of justice.

Due to the sensitive nature of the charges, no further information is available regarding the sealed indictments.

I hope to see you all at National Night Out, Tuesday October 7, 2025, the aforementioned Domestic Violence Awareness Month events, or even a high school football game. 

At your service,

James E. Stewart

Caddo Parish District Attorney

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