Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Lafourche Parish Council member has been charged with Simple Battery of a fellow council member. James Bourgeois (age 51), the parish council representative of District #5, was charged following an investigation into the incident which occurred after a recent parish council meeting.

On Thursday, April 26, Jerry Lafont Jr., the parish council representative of District #8, filed a complaint with the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office in reference to an incident involving Bourgeois which occurred after the Lafourche Parish Council meeting on Tuesday, April 24. Lafont alleged Bourgeois bumped him in the chest and made statements indicating a desire to kill him. Lafont also submitted an audio recording of the incident for evidence. After listening to the recording and taking statements from several witnesses, including other Lafourche Parish Council members, detectives concluded there was probable cause to charge Bourgeois with Simple Battery in the incident.

On Friday, May 4, detectives made contact with Bourgeois and charged him with Simple Battery, a misdemeanor. He was issued a criminal summons in lieu of arrest.

Meanwhile, Lafont had filed for a Protective Order against Bourgeois, and Judge Steven Miller ordered Bourgeois to stay away from Lafont. Several initial attempts to serve Bourgeois with the order were unsuccessful. Bourgeois was eventually served on Monday, April 30 when he arrived for a Lafourche Parish Council meeting. Due to the order, Bourgeois was not allowed to remain at the meeting. On Thursday, May 3, Judge Miller extended the order until Friday, May 18, but added an exception which will allow Bourgeois to attend Lafourche Parish Council meetings.