From the Desk of the District Attorney, September 2026

Absentee or “mail in” ballots are out for the November 3, 2026 election, which begins with early voting October 20-27.  Many of you, especially my fellow seniors, enjoy this method of voting.  But I want to make you all aware of this specific perhaps little-known rule  to keep yourself unwittingly  out of trouble in the execution of your ballot.    Please be aware that no one can assist or witness more than one voter’s certificate – which is the portion of the absentee ballot where the voter’s and the witness’ name is printed and signed – UNLESS they are the voter’s immediate family member.     Immediate family member means: parents, spouse, spouse’s parents, children, children’s spouses, brother and sister and their spouses, grandparents, and grandchildren over 18 years old.    Please contact the Caddo Parish Registrar of Voters office with any questions you have regarding voting, (318) 226-6891.

As usual, our assistant  district attorneys and staff, and the First Judicial District Court and our Caddo Parish Juvenile Court, were very busy in the month of September.  Here are some highlights:

The month just ended started with major court action on September 3 when a six-man, six-woman jury in District Judge Ramona Emanuel's court convicted Dalton C. Robinson, 28, of second-degree murder for the hatchet slaying of his 77-year-old grandfather Sidney Francis Robinson. That happened January 12, 2023 in the 400 block of Washington Street.

Robinson will for formally sentenced to the mandatory life sentence October 13. It must be served at hard labor without the possibility of probation, parole or reduction of sentence.

The elder Robinson was found lying in a pool of blood and brain matter inside his residence by his daughter. Dalton Robinson was found later that day wearing the same clothes from earlier. Jurors heard testimony from a DNA expert that the defendant's hand and pants had his grandfather's blood on it. The hatchet, found in the home's shed, also had the DNA of both men on it. The jury convicted the younger Robinson after deliberating less than an hour.

The jurors heard from a neighbor who testified he saw Dalton walk to the shed around the time of the murder. They also heard testimony from EMS personnel, a fire department 911 operator, a pathologist and four SPD officers at the time, along with prerecorded testimony from the defendant's now-deceased mother, which revealed that about an hour or so before the murder, she saw him outside the house with a hatchet, wearing the jacket, hoodie and mask he wore. The pathologist testified that in addition to defensive wounds, the victim suffered more than 15 chops and lacerations to the front, back and side of his head, as well as abrasions to his hands, arms and shoulder.

When Robinson returns to Judge Emanuel’s courtroom for sentencing October 13, he faces a mandatory life prison term at hard labor without the possibility of parole.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Senae D. Hall and Kodie Smith. Robinson was defended by Royal Alexander.

The case was docket No. 393252.

In other court action, a flurry of cases ended the month:

* A Shreveport man charged with multiple carjacking attempts on Fairfield Avenue in May 2025 pleaded guilty in Caddo District Court September 30, just as his jury trial was set to begin before District Judge Chris Victory. 

Robert Guillard Jr., 47, was charged with two counts of carjacking and one count of attempted simple kidnapping. Upon his pleading, Judge Victory sentenced him to two consecutive seven-year terms, one for each carjacking, for a total of 14 years, to be served without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.

On May 16th, 2025, Guillard was observed on camera attempting to enter multiple vehicles near the 1800 Block of Fairfield Avenue by pulling on door handles. He entered his first victim’s vehicle and told her drive off and threatened that he had a firearm and would kill her if she did not leave. After driving through the parking lot for a short while, the victim eventually jumped out of the vehicle and ran away. Guillard did not have a firearm, despite making threats that he did.

The second victim also said Guillard entered her car and told her that she needed to drive him somewhere. This victim also got out of the vehicle and ran from the scene.

Guillard then tried to enter a third car, but was unable to do so due to the car driving off and dragging him along the road.

When Shreveport Police officers arrived, Guillard admitted he entered the vehicles, but denied any intent to take them permanently. 

Assistant District Attorneys Victoria Washington, Rachel Hughes and Chase Burgess prosecuted Guillard, who was represented by the Caddo Parish Indigent Defender's office.

The case was docket No. 408706.

* A Bossier City man was convicted of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile September 30, 2026.

The four-woman, two-man jury in District Judge Ramona Emanuel's court deliberated just over a half-hour before returning its verdict against Lamar Ferguson, 28, regarding a sexual relationship he had with his 14-year-old victim in 2024 and 2025.

Testimony was given by the victim, one of her parents, two Shreveport Police officers, a forensic interviewer from the Gingerbread House and a DNA expert. 

When Ferguson returns to Judge Emanuel’s courtroom for sentencing November 5, he faces imprisonment of up to 10 years at hard labor. He also must register as a sex offender for 15 years.

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

The case was docket No. 409746.

* A local teen accused of killing a Shreveport man in November 2024 pleaded guilty to manslaughter September 30 in Caddo District Court.

Rodnick Demarquin Calhoun, now 17, was 15 at the time the victim, Anthony Vinson Jr., also 15, was shot early November 4, 2024, on Jewella Avenue. 

Due to his age at the time of the shooting, had Calhoun been convicted of second-degree murder as originally charged, he would have been eligible for parole after the first 25 years of his mandatory life sentence were served. District Judge Chris Victory sentenced Calhoun to the 40-year maximum for manslaughter, at hard labor. The plea agreement was approved by the victim’s family.

Calhoun confessed that on November 4, 2024, he shot and killed Anthony Vinson Jr. in the 3900 block of Jewella Avenue, firing from the passenger-side window of an SUV driven by a friend, Onterio Robinson. Robinson, now 19, who apparently had no prior knowledge of the planned shooting, pleaded guilty to accessory after-the-fact to manslaughter and was sentenced to the maximum prison term of five years at hard labor.

Calhoun was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney William Edwards. He was defended by Carlos Prudhomme.

The case was docket No. 405289.

* A Caddo Parish man was found guilty of a rape that impregnated an 11-year-old girl, in a bench trial held September 30.

Caddo District Judge John D. Mosely Jr. weighed evidence, including testimony from eight witnesses as well as DNA results, before determining Taurrez Deone Richardson, 36, to be guilty of first-degree rape.

On February 28, 2024 officers responded to a pediatric facility in Shreveport and received a report of a sexual assault of a then-11 year-old juvenile. The girl was found to be pregnant, which initiated an investigation. The victim was taken for a forensic interview at the Gingerbread house and provided a statement to investigators. An arrest warrant was issued and Richardson subsequently was arrested.

When Richardson returns to court November 16, he will be formally sentenced to the mandatory life prison term at hard labor without probation, parole or suspension of sentence.

Richardson was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Treneisha J. Hill. He was represented by the Caddo Parish Indigent Defender's office.

The case was docket No. 400523.

* A Bossier City man accused of sexual offenses against a 14-year-old disabled girl in late February, 2025, was convicted September 29.

Derrick L. Boyd, 45, was found guilty of second-degree rape and molestation of a person with disabilities by the eight-man, four-woman jury in District Judge Chris Victory's court after deliberating under 45 minutes.

The girl reported the attack to police on March 18, 2025. Detectives took the victim to the Gingerbread House, the local child advocacy center, for a forensic interview. During the interview, it was disclosed by the victim that Boyd, her mother’s boyfriend, had covered her mouth and sexually assaulted her while her mother slept. The child repeatedly told Boyd to stop and that she was uncomfortable and scared.

The victim suffers from multiple disabilities such as autism, anxiety and depression, of which Boyd was aware. 

Prosecutors also called a previous victim, aged 12 at the time, who was sexually assaulted by Boyd in 2019 in Bossier Parish. Testimony revealed that this victim also suffered from cognitive delays similar to the 2025 victim. 

When Boyd returns to court October 21 for sentencing, he faces a prison term of at least five and up to 40 years at hard labor without the benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence for the rape conviction. He also faces imprisonment of at least 25 years and up to 99 years for the molestation conviction, with at least 25 years to be served without the benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence. The state also has filed a notice of intent to request chemical castration as part of the sentence.

Assistant District Attorneys Chase Burgess, Victoria Washington and Rachel Hughes prosecuted Boyd. He was represented by the Caddo Parish Public Defenders office.

The case was docket No. 407739.

* A Shreveport man who convicted last month for shooting to death a lifelong friend must serve his life in prison.

District Judge John D. Mosely Jr. sentenced Dewayne Wilkinson, 23, to the mandatory life term September 21. He was found guilty of the October 2, 2023 slaying of Laroyce Daniel Brown August 20.

The night of the slaying, victim Brown and Wilkinson's two sisters arrived at Wilkinson's mother's home on Anna Street in Shreveport. Mr. Brown, described as Wilkinson's "god-cousin," greeted the mother and defendant Wilkinson and briefly spoke to the latter. Mr. Brown then excused himself to go outside to get his keys out of his car. When he returned to the house, Wilkinson had armed himself with a Blackout-style rifle, with which he shot Mr. Brown more than 20 times, and then fled. Wilkinson's mother and sisters called 911, identifying the shooter and the victim. Mr. Brown was deceased at the scene. 

When the mother and sisters returned to the Anna Street residence after giving police statements, they discovered that Wilkinson had returned to the house with the murder rifle. The mother called police, who returned to the scene and arrested Wilkinson and secured the rifle and other evidence, including bloodstained clothing that at trial was linked by DNA to the victim. A firearms expert confirmed that all 21 shell casings found on scene and multiple bullets scattered throughout the home, as well as bullets recovered from the victim during autopsy, were fired from the rifle.  

Assistant District Attorneys Kodie K. Smith and William Edwards prosecuted Wilkinson. He was defended by Casey Simpson and Caleb Traylor.

The case was docket No. 397956.

* A Shreveport man who pleaded guilty to molestation of a juvenile was sentenced to serve 25 years in prison September 21.

District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. sentenced Mark Perez, 40, to serve the prison term without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Perez pleaded guilty September 11, just before he was due to go on trial. Upon release he must register as a Tier 2 sex offender.

In 2023, Perez molested the victim, then 8 years old, on several occasions while the child was a guest at his residence. Following the last attack, the victim reported the abuse to her mother. The mother then reported the molestation of law enforcement and the child then was interviewed at the Gingerbread House in Shreveport.  An investigation ensued, and Perez was arrested and charged with molestation. 

Assistant District Attorneys Christopher S. Bowman and Stephen Folk-Cruthirds prosecuted Perez. He was defended by Harry Johnson.

The case was docket No. 399458.

* A Shreveport man whose criminal past prevents him from possessing a firearm was convicted of attempting to possess one September 15.

Timias Jackson, 30, was found responsively guilty of attempted possession of a firearm by a convicted felon by the seven-woman, five-man jury in Caddo District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.'s court after deliberations that lasted about 90 minutes.  

District Attorney James Stewart’s office called four witnesses to prove Jackson possessed a firearm, knowing that he had been convicted of a felony that prohibited him from possessing it, after having been found with a firearm in the residence where he was located. Agents with the Louisiana office of Probation and Parole went to a residence looking for another individual who was under supervision by their office. Jackson had answered the door. When the agents searched the residence, a firearm was found in the bedroom in plain view, with Jackson being the only person inside at the time. Jackson already was under supervision for a previous conviction for attempted manslaughter in Bossier Parish in August 2019.  

Once the firearm was found and seized, it was taken into custody and submitted to the state as evidence.  Items belonging to Jackson also were found at the scene near where the firearm was found.

Assistant District Attorneys Stephen Folk-Cruthirds and Christopher Bowman prosecuted Jackson. He was represented by the Caddo Parish Public Defender's office.

The case was docket No. 406379.

* A Shreveport man convicted in August for first-degree rape must spend his life in prison, a Caddo Parish judge ordered September 9. 

John Lee Taylor, 42, was sentenced to the mandatory life term by District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. The term must be served without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence and requires lifetime registration as a sex offender. He was convicted in Judge Hathaway's court August 19.

On May 8, 2024, the female victim, under 10 years old, woke up to find Taylor, a distant relative, lying on top of her committing a sex act. The girl called out to her sister, who was sleeping in an adjacent bed. The sister saw Taylor trying to pull his pants up before fleeing the room. The sister then called her mother, as she was staying at her grandmother’s house, who told her to call 911, which she did. Police responded and the victim and her sister were taken to the Gingerbread House Children’s Advocacy Center where both were interviewed within hours. The victim was then taken to a local hospital where a rape kit was collected.  DNA testing confirmed that the defendant’s DNA was found in the victim.

Taylor was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Courtney N. Ray and Chase E. Burgess. He was defended by Harry Johnson and Silver Sanders.

The case was docket No. 401836.

* The Caddo Parish Grand Jury returned a single indictment for a summer homicide in its session that ended September 17. 

Kenneth R. Harp, 17, of Shreveport, stands charged with second-degree murder in connection with the Sunday, July 19, 2026 slaying of Antonio James. Mr. James, 21, was shot while part of a large gathering of people at Hattie Perry Park on Ledbetter Street in the Caddo Heights neighborhood. He was Shreveport's and Caddo Parish's 26th homicide of the year. 

Harp remains in custody at Caddo Correctional Center, under a bond set at $1 million.

National Night Out is Tuesday October 6.  This is one of my favorite annual events as neighbors gather to meet and eat and promote community camaraderie, as well meet their local law enforcement agencies.  As usual I have been invited to numerous Nation Night Out gatherings and look forward to attending as many as I can and seeing you all.  But this year I cannot help but think about young Sha’Michal Russell, the 13-year-old who was killed by senseless gunfire while shielding his 2-year-old sister last week at an apartment complex basketball court. The community is shaken and I am tremendously saddened by his death.  I send prayers to this young hero’s family.

At your service,

James E. Stewart Sr.

Caddo Parish District Attorney