Kendrell Thomas arraigned as habitual offender

A Shreveport man convicted earlier this month of terrorizing an elderly Shreveport woman, beating and robbing her and locking her bound in a closet in her Southern Hills home, may face enhanced sentencing, up to life in prison, as a habitual offender, following a hearing in Caddo District Court Wednesday, March 18, 2026. 

An eight-woman, four-man jury in District Judge John D. Mosely Jr.'s court unanimously found March 4 that Kendrell Quinte Thomas, 24, committed home invasion and cruelty to persons with infirmities in July 2024 when he forced his way into the home of his victim, a 91-year-old widow. She had been found by concerned relatives early July 2, 2025, bound by wire and rope in a closet.

Thomas had been scheduled for sentencing March 18, but instead his post-trial motions were argued and denied by Judge Mosely. Supplemental discovery was filed including documents reflecting three prior felony convictions and a fourth felony habitual offender bill was filed. Thomas pleaded not guilty.

At his next court appearance April 15, 2026, a hearing will be held on the habitual offender bill. If he is adjudicated as a fourth felony offender, his sentencing range will expand to at least 30 years in prison without benefit of probation or suspension of sentence to life imprisonment prison, also without benefit of probation or suspension of sentence.

Thomas's victim said her assailant forced his way into the house, knocking her down and dragging her by her feet from room to room looking for money and jewelry. She said he beat her about her head, then tied her up and put her in the closet. Detectives found supporting images on nearby neighbors' cameras and from the bank, where one of the victim’s stolen checks had been cashed. Thomas was identified as the person who cashed the check, and he was arrested at his house with $1,800 in cash and belongings of the victim, clothing seen in the neighbor’s surveillance video, the backpack used in the crime and a ski mask.

Thomas was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ross Owen. He was represented by the Caddo Parish Indigent Defenders office.

The case was docket No. 409895.