Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a Thibodaux man for child pornography and child molestation charges. Helbert Young, 52, was arrested on Tuesday.
Juvenile detectives recently began an investigation into Young after learning he allegedly had sexual contact with a teenager. They also learned he recorded the incident and kept the video. In speaking to investigators, Young admitted to his involvement.
Young was arrested and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with pornography involving juveniles and molestation of a juvenile. Bail is set at $500,000.
Due to the nature of the investigation, no further details can be made available.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced narcotics agents have arrested a second person in a drug trafficking investigation. Talesha Cheramie, 26, of Larose now faces charges in the investigation. Her boyfriend, Jaron Rousse, 23, of Larose, was previously arrested in this case.
As noted previously, narcotics agents were investigating Rousse and learned that he was expected to receive a shipment of marijuana. On September 25, 2024, with the assistance of K-9 “Sox,” agents located the delivery truck, and they observed Rousse attempt to collect the shipment. At that time, agents moved in and arrested Rousse. Agents seized approximately 120 pounds of marijuana and $34,000 in cash. Rousse was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, transactions involving proceeds from controlled dangerous substance activity, possession of drug paraphernalia, and violation of probation. He remains at the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex where he is being held without bond.
Through further investigation, agents obtained a warrant for Cheramie for conspiracy to distribute marijuana. They made contact with her on October 15, 2024, and she was taken into custody. She was booked into the Correctional Complex, and bail is set at $50,000.
Citizens are reminded that they can report any drug-related or suspicious activity. Information can be reported directly to the Narcotics Section commander, Lieutenant Adam Dufrene, at (985) 532-4365 or adam-dufrene@lpso.net. Information can also be reported anonymously through Bayou Region Crime Stoppers at 1-800-743-7433, at CrimeStoppersBR.org, or via the Bayou Tips mobile app.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Bayou Blue man was arrested with a variety of drugs, including a large amount of fentanyl. Colin Martin, 44, of Bayou Blue was arrested on a traffic stop on October 10, 2024.
At around 10:30 p.m. on October 10, a K-9 deputy patrolling the Bayou Blue area conducted a traffic stop on a man driving an SUV on LA 316 due to a traffic violation. The deputy identified the driver as Colin Martin, a convicted felon, who was driving with a suspended license and without insurance. Martin was found to have drug paraphernalia and 25 oxycodone pills in his pocket.
K-9 “Mao” then alerted to the possible presence of illegal narcotics inside the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, deputies found quantities of several suspected narcotics including nearly 66 grams of fentanyl. They also seized over 243 grams of heroin, 33 grams of cocaine, 9.6 grams of methamphetamine, 62 hydrocodone pills, 53 clonazepam pills, $3,400 in cash, and additional items commonly associated with the sale of illegal narcotics. The deputy also located a handgun inside the vehicle that was reported stolen in Mandeville.
LPSO narcotics agents responded to assist and obtained a search warrant for Martin’s residence. During the search, they found a three-wheeled open-air roadster vehicle that had been reported stolen.
Martin was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, hydrocodone, and clonazepam, as well as possession of oxycodone and drug paraphernalia. He was also charged with illegal possession of a stolen firearm, illegal carrying of a weapon in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal possession of stolen things, driving under suspension, no insurance, and no turn signal. Bail is set at $432,000.
Sheriff Webre applauded the efforts of the deputies involved. “This shows how proactive policing and a simple traffic stop can result in a major arrest,” said Sheriff Webre. “A lethal dose of fentanyl is approximately 2 milligrams, meaning this individual was carrying more than 30,000 lethal doses. This is outstanding work by our K-9 deputies to get that large quantity off the streets of Lafourche Parish!”
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating 16-year-old Kayon Bell of Williams Road in Golden Meadow. Bell was last seen on the afternoon of Friday, October 4, 2024, leaving Williams Road in Golden Meadow.
Kayon Bell is described as 5’9″ tall, weighing approximately 145 pounds with Brown hair. Anyone with information on Bell’s whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 911.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a Thibodaux High School student has been charged with terrorizing after impersonating another student and threatening to bring a gun to school.
On September 22, juvenile detectives opened an investigation into a school threat that appeared in a group message on SnapChat. A male student stated he had possession of a firearm and threatened to bring it to school and “shoot everyone.” While the threat appeared to come from one male student, through investigation, detectives found the message actually originated from another 14-year-old male student.
The 14-year-old boy was charged with violating Louisiana Revised Statutes 14:40.7 (Cyberbulling) and 14:126.1 (False Swearing for the Purpose of Violating Public Health and Safety). He was ordered to be electronically monitored.
Sheriff Webre cautions parents to speak to their children about this incident. “Technology has made it very easy to try to impersonate someone else, but it also makes it easy to track down the true perpetrator,” said Sheriff Webre. “This is not a joke, a prank, or a game. All threats are taken very seriously, and there are serious consequences. Be sure your children understand that once you send a message, you can’t take it back.”
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help to locate 15-year-old Angelica Vanquez-Lutz. She was last seen at around 2:10 p.m. on Friday, September 27, 2024, when she left Thibodaux High School in what appeared to be a silver-colored vehicle with dark tinted windows and black rims.
Vanquez-Lutz is described as 5’4” tall, weighing approximately 130 pounds with brown hair. She was last seen wearing her school uniform. She has a nose piercing on the left side of her nose. She also has a tattoo of the name “Sebastian” in red on her right forearm and a red tattoo on her left forearm of the name “Yamileth.” Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office at (985) 532-2808, or simply dial 911.
Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced narcotics agents made an arrest in a drug trafficking investigation. Jaron Rousse, 23, of Larose was arrested on Wednesday.
Narcotics agents had opened an investigation into Rousse for suspected drug trafficking. Through investigation, they received intelligence that a shipment of marijuana was expected to be delivered in the southern area of Lafourche Parish.
On September 25, 2024, agents located the truck involved in the delivery, and they observed Rousse attempt to collect the shipment from the truck. At that time, agents moved in and arrested Rousse. Agents seized this shipment which was approximately 120 pounds of marijuana. They also obtained a warrant to search Rousse’s residence. There they found additional evidence including drug paraphernalia and approximately $34,000 in cash.
Rousse was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux. He was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, transactions involving proceeds from controlled dangerous substance activity, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He is being held without bond, and he is also being held for Louisiana Probation and Parole due to a probation violation.
As this investigation continues, citizens are reminded that they can report any drug-related or suspicious activity. Information can be reported directly to the Narcotics Section commander, Lieutenant Adam Dufrene, at (985) 532-4365 or adam-dufrene@lpso.net. Information can also be reported anonymously through Bayou Region Crime Stoppers at 1-800-743-7433, at CrimeStoppersBR.org, or via the Bayou Tips mobile app.
Sheriff Craig Webre has announced a list of 19 block party locations in Lafourche Parish for the 41st Annual National Night Out Against Crime on Tuesday, October 1, 2024. Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies will be visiting each location to speak with area residents about crime prevention and neighborhood concerns. Each party will begin at 6 p.m. and will last until around 9 p.m.
Here is a list of block party locations around Lafourche Parish:
Bayou Boeuf Volunteer Fire Co. Station (3457 LA 307, Bayou Boeuf)
Thibodaux Family Church (785 N. Canal Blvd., Thibodaux)
Ellender Hall at Nicholls State University(201 Afton Drive, Thibodaux)
Settlement at Live Oak (1888 Bayou Rd., Thibodaux)
471 Frederick Dr., Thibodaux
100 Bayou Vista Dr., Thibodaux
Bayou Blue Volunteer Fire Station(1870 Bayou Blue Road)
Ebenezer Christian Community Fellowship(824 St. Louis St., Raceland)
Kingdom Impact Global Worship Centre (1949 Hwy 182, Raceland)
Rev. Lloyd Wallace Community Center (3603 Hwy. 308, Raceland)
329 Aspen Dr., Raceland
220 Twin Oaks Dr., Raceland
Vacherie-Gheens Community Center (1783 Hwy. 654, Gheens)
Lockport Town Hall (710 Church St., Lockport)
The Broadway Elder Living & Rehabilitation Center (7534 Hwy. 1, Lockport)
Lefort Furniture & Appliances (14672 W Main St., Cut Off)
West 112th Street, Cut Off
Oak Ridge Community Park (705 N. Plaisance Blvd., Golden Meadow)
Each block party will be unique and offer various interactive activities for children and adults. The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will be providing food and refreshments at each party. Food will be provided by our community partners: Lamm Food Service and Bimbo Bakeries USA.
Anyone in Lafourche Parish who has planned a party that is not on this list is asked to contact Deputy Melissa Simmons at (985) 449-4478 or via email at melissa-simmons@lpso.net.
Sheriff Craig Webre announced the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office will host its first-ever online Sheriff’s Sale on September 25, 2024. The auction will be facilitated through the Bid4Assets website. Prospective bidders must register a free Bid4Assets account and fund a $500 deposit to participate in the sale. A registration link and list of properties can be found at LPSO.net/SheriffSales.
“Foreclosure auctions are one of the responsibilities of a Louisiana sheriff, and we hope this transition to an online auction will help improve sales resulting in helping homeowners get out of debt,” said Sheriff Webre “An online auction will expand the bidder pool, helping to increase sales, which makes it more likely for property owners to keep some of the equity in their homes. It also helps lenders use their capital on home and business loans in our community.”
Sheriff’s sales arise from defaulted debt on real property or movables, often a mortgage on a resident’s home. If the auction results in all debts and fees being satisfied and there are excess proceeds left over, these funds go to the property owner. Research supports that online sales increase participation and sales and as a result often generate higher excess proceeds for homeowners.
In 2023, a new law in Louisiana allowed sheriffs to conduct foreclosure auctions online. Tangipahoa and Ouachita Parish are among other parishes that have moved these sales online.
ABOUT BID4ASSETS:
Bid4Assets is one of the world’s leading online marketplaces for the sale of distressed real estate property sold by governments, county tax collectors, financial institutions, and real estate funds. Founded in 1999, it conducts online tax and foreclosure sales for counties across the United States and has sold more than 100,000 properties grossing more than $1 billion in completed government transactions. They have been auctioning federally forfeited and seized properties for agencies like the U.S. Marshals and Department of Treasury for over 20 years. Its primary focus is helping county and parish governments to conduct tax and judicial foreclosure auctions online.
The Lafouche Parish Sheriff’s Office and Lafourche Parish School District is actively investigating a threat to Central Lafourche High School. We are aware of similar school threats which have gone viral in surrounding parishes with the apparent intent to cause mass panic. While we understand this could be the case with this threat, we do not take any threat to school safety lightly. At this time, all students are safe, and we will continue to update the situation as information becomes available.
