Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office

Example of a replica pistol compared to the actual firearm it was meant to replicate

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is warning citizens about the dangers of replica pistols, especially when being used by children.

On January 23, 2020, deputies responded to an incident in Thibodaux wherein several juveniles were firing airsoft pistols at other juveniles. The pistols were those created to replicate actual firearms. Additionally, in 2017 and 2019, students at Raceland and Thibodaux schools, respectively, were found in possession of replica pistols on school grounds.

These pistols are built to be nearly identical to actual firearms, and Sheriff Webre says that is the primary reason they are so dangerous.

“It is important that parents and children fully understand the risks involved with using these types of pistols,” said Sheriff Webre. “Because they are built to be replicas of actual firearms, a deputy nor a citizen would be able to tell the difference in a split-second when one is pointed at them. We are urging citizens to refrain from using these in public settings and to modify the pistol so that it does not look like an actual firearm.”

Sheriff Webre also addressed previous public comments referring to these replica pistols as “just toys.”

“The belief that an airsoft pistol is a ‘toy’ is misguided at best,” said Sheriff Webre. “Aside from the obvious concern about brandishing one in the presence of others, injuries can occur when striking someone with a BB. Direct impact to an eye or another sensitive part of the body could cause serious injury.”

Anyone caught striking another individual with a BB from an airsoft gun would be subject to criminal charges including Aggravated Battery with a Dangerous Weapon.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced narcotics agents arrested four people at a Gheens residence on Thursday. Laura Cheramie, 41, and her brother, Harry Cheramie Jr., 31, were arrested along with Caleb McCaa, 24, and his girlfriend, Valerie Gaubert, 28.

Through an ongoing investigation, narcotics agents obtained a search warrant for Laura Cheramie’s residence on Hyland Drive. On January 23, 2020, agents arrived at the residence to conduct the search and made contact with Laura Cheramie, her two sons, and Gaubert. During a search of the residence, agents found small amounts of suspected methamphetamine and marijuana, various drug paraphernalia, and a rifle, all of which were determined to belong to Harry Cheramie Jr., who was prohibited from possessing firearms due to an active protective order. Agents also found additional suspected marijuana that belonged to the other three individuals, along with various items commonly associated with the sale of illegal drugs.

All four were arrested. They were booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux.

Laura Cheramie, McCaa and Gaubert were charged with one count each of Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bail is set at $10,500 each.

Harry Cheramie Jr. was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Marijuana, and Drug Paraphernalia, Illegal Carrying of a Weapon in the Presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, and Violation of a Protective Order. His bail is set at $31,500.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of a wanted felon. Justin Breaux, 30, of Gheens was arrested on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office asked for the public’s help in locating Breaux who had outstanding warrant after missing a court date on charges including Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of Methamphetamine.

On the afternoon of January 22, 2020, Crime Stoppers Bayou Region received an anonymous tip about Breaux’s location at a residence in Gheens. Deputies proceeded to the address. At the residence, they found Breaux hiding inside a closet, holding a pipe with suspected methamphetamine. He was immediately taken into custody.

Breaux was arrested and charged and booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex on the outstanding warrant for Contempt of Court. He was also charged with Possession of Methamphetamine and Drug Paraphernalia. In addition, his bond was surrendered on the aforementioned charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of Methamphetamine. His bail is set at $166,300.

Breaux has been arrested more than 10 times in Lafourche Parish since 2008, mostly for crimes such as theft, burglary, possession of stolen property, and battery.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced four people were arrested over the weekend after they were caught stealing from a storage unit facility. Deputies arrested Crystal Chouest, 42, Harold Smith, 34, and Louise Dorr, 67, all of Grand Isle, as well as Annette Lefort, 46, of Cut Off.

At around 3:45 p.m. on January 18, 2020, deputies responded to a burglary in progress at a storage unit facility located on East Main Street in Cut Off. Upon arrival, deputies observed several people removing items from open storage units. One of the individuals, Annette Lefort, approached deputies and asked why they were there. She claimed they were contracted to clean the storage units. The other individuals were identified as Harold Smith Jr., Crystal Chouest and Louise Dorr. Deputies contacted the facility owner and found there was no agreement in place for anyone to clean the interior of the storage units. Dorr’s vehicle also had a trailer attached loaded with random items of value which could be sold or scrapped, and not trash.

Lefort, Chouest, Smith and Dorr were all arrested. They were booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex with one count each of Simple Burglary. Bail was set at $5,000 each for Lefort, Chouest and Smith. Bail was set at $1,000 for Dorr. Each was released after posting the respective bail amounts.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced a sex offender faces additional charges as part of an investigation stemming back to November 2019. Roland Bruce Jr., 40, of Cut Off was initially charged with indecent behavior and now faces new charges related to nude photos of the juvenile.

Bruce was initially arrested on November 23, 2019. Deputies found Bruce had allegedly sent text messages which were sexual in nature to a minor teenage girl. Bruce had also requested the girl send nude photos to him, but it was believed at the time that she had not complied.

Juvenile detectives continued the investigation and obtained search warrants for the cell phones of both Bruce and the juvenile. Following a forensic analysis of the devices, juvenile detectives found Bruce had sent messages trying to manipulate the teen, and she did send nude photos of herself to Bruce. Detectives then obtained warrants for the additional charges.

Bruce was previously booked on one count of Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile. On January 16, 2020, he was additionally booked with Pornography Involving Juveniles and Computer-Aided Solicitation for Sexual Purposes. Bail is now set at $575,000.

Bruce is registered as a Tier III Sex Offender. He was convicted of Forcible Rape and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender in 2006 and Carnal Knowledge of a Juvenile in 2001.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced two people were arrested as part of a narcotics investigation. Desiree Pitre, 33, of Larose and Joshua Johnson, 29, of LaPlace were both arrested on Wednesday.

Through investigation, narcotics agents obtained a search warrant for Pitre’s residence on 156th Street in Galliano. Agents arrived at Pitre’s residence on January 15, 2020, and discovered Pitre was present, along with Johnson and a juvenile. During the search, agents discovered 27 grams of suspected crack cocaine in one piece and an additional 3.6 grams separate from the single piece. They also discovered a measuring cup and whisk with white powder caked on it which tested positive for cocaine and an additional 7.1 grams of cocaine. Additionally, agents also discovered three jars containing suspected high-grade marijuana, three packages of commercial-grade marijuana, small amounts of marijuana from throughout the residence, and various items associated with the illegal sale of narcotics.

Pitre and Johnson were each charged with Possession with the Intent to Distribute Cocaine and Marijuana, Manufacture of Cocaine, Illegal Use of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in the Presence of a Person under 17, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Bail is set at $121,000 each.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced the arrest of Bryan Bonvillain, 29, of Houma. Bonvillain was arrested for invading the residence of an ex-girlfriend and kidnapping her overnight.

At around 9:25 p.m. on January 14, 2020, deputies responded to an incident at a residence on Sharnell Drive in Bayou Blue. Deputies learned a woman and man were at the residence when the woman’s ex-boyfriend, Bonvillain, showed up outside. Bonvillain reportedly removed an air conditioning unit from a window and then entered the front door of the residence. He then chased the woman and man as they ran out another door of the residence. As the man ran to a neighboring residence to call 911, Bonvillain caught up to the woman, grabbed her, and left the area. Deputies searched the nearby area but could not locate them.

Investigators continued searching overnight. Then, on the morning of Wednesday, January 15, detectives received information about their possible location on Lacroix Drive in Bayou Blue. Detectives proceeded to the area and located Bonvillain and the woman who was found to be in good health.  Bonvillain was immediately taken into custody.

Bonvillain was booked into the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex in Thibodaux on warrants for Simple Kidnapping and Home Invasion. He is currently being held without bail.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced one man was injured in a drive-by shooting incident on Wednesday afternoon in Thibodaux. The shooting occurred on Frederick Drive. The vehicle used in the shooting has been recovered, but no arrests have yet been made.

At approximately 1:45 p.m. on January 15, 2020, the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office began receiving reports of gunshots in the area of Frederick Drive in Thibodaux. Upon arrival, deputies learned a drive-by shooting occurred in the 400 block. Subjects traveling in a gray car fired multiple rounds. One man was struck and suffered wounds to his leg and hand, and he is being treated at a hospital.

The car used in the shooting was later recovered in Assumption Parish and was found to have been stolen in the City of Thibodaux.

This shooting remains under investigation. Anyone with any knowledge of this incident is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted using the P3 Tips app on your mobile device. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre is asking for the public’s help in locating a wanted felon. Justin Paul Breaux, 30, of Gheens has an outstanding warrant for his arrest with a bail amount of $100,000.

Breaux has been arrested more than 10 times in Lafourche Parish since 2008, mostly for crimes such as theft, burglary, possession of stolen property, and battery. His last arrest occurred on May 22, 2018, when he was charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon and Possession of Methamphetamine. After posting bail on June 1, 2018, he failed to show up for court. A warrant was issued for his arrest in September of 2019. Investigators followed up on several leads but have been unable to locate him.

Anyone with knowledge Justin Breaux’s whereabouts is asked to submit a tip anonymously through Crime Stoppers Bayou Region by phone at 1-800-743-7433 or online at www.crimestoppersbr.org. Tips can also be submitted using the P3 Tips app on your mobile device. Tipsters could be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 in cash if the information leads to an arrest.