Charges have been filed in the City of Leesville Water Theft Case. Investigators with the Leesville Police Department, acting on an anonymous tip, recently found that many residents in the Tower Mobile Home Park were receiving city water illegally. The water utilities were operating without paying deposits or monthly bills. Thirty eight meters were identified and disconnected from service by the city's water department.
Two Leesville residents have been arrested in connection to this investigation and charged with Theft of Utility Service. Denise Scott, age 38, was charged with two counts as well as Carl Tibbits, age 63. Both defendants have posted bond and now must appear in court. As this investigation continues, more arrests are expected.
NEWS FROM THE VERNON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE
On Monday, August 16, 2010 VPSO detectives arrested Leah Brinkley, age 35, of Leesville, for Criminal Conspiracy and two counts of Forgery. These charges are in connection with a report of theft of checks that was made in late July by a Vernon Parish resident.
Allegedly the checks were taken from the victim's purse without her knowledge. Brinkley's bond was set at $4,500.00.
Also, on August 20, 2010, another resident was arrested in connection to this same incident. Charles Wanjura, age 30, of Leesville was arrested for three counts of Forgery, three counts of Bank Fraud and one count of Criminal Conspiracy. Wanjura's bond was set at $50,000.00.
An additional arrest on August 3, 2010, of Laci Brown was also made in connection to this incident. Brown was charged with Forgery, Bank Fraud, and Criminal Conspiracy. Her bond was set at $95,000.00.
Leah Brinley Charles Wanjura Laci Brown
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On Thursday, August 19, 2010, Larry McDaniel II, age 29, of Anacoco, was arrested and charged with domestic abuse battery. VPSO detectives responded to a call at Byrd Hospital, concerning a subject with numerous injuries.
The subject stated that she had been in the presence of McDaniel, when he became angry and grabbed her, picking her up and slamming her to the ground. The victim sustained several injuries to her face and body before the abuse stopped. The victim was then allowed to leave the residence, however the suspect refused to return the victim's cell phone to her rendering her unable to call for assistance. McDaniel's bond was set at $2,500.00.
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TELEPHONE SCAM TARGETS VERNON MEDICAID CUSTOMERS
Sheriff Sam Craft would like to inform the public of a telephone scam taking place in Vernon Parish.
This scam involves individuals who identify themselves as employees of the Vernon Parish Medicaid Office. These individuals are seeking to gain information to include bank routing numbers, from Vernon Parish residents. The callers state that the Vernon Medicaid Office will be issuing new cards that will contain a black microchip that supposedly contains each customer's personal information. The subjects also state that they are requiring this banking information in order to create each personal account for these microchips.
The Vernon Parish Medicaid Office has informed the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office that although an individual will have to give some banking information to their office when applying for Medicaid benefits, they will never request an individual's bank routing number over the phone.
If you have any further questions please contact you local Medicaid Office or the Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office at (337) 238-1311.
GRANT WILL FUND NEW VETERANS CEMETERY IN LEESVILLE
The Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs (LDVA) announced that a grant in the amount of $6,135,259 for the long awaited Veterans Cemetery, here in Leesville will fund 100% of the initial costs to develop the cemetery. Upon official notification of the VA grant award, LDVA announced that the construction bid for this project has been awarded to Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce member, Pat Williams Construction, Inc of Leesville.
Central Louisiana is home to approximately 59,500 Veterans and their families. The long anticipated project will provide for the needs of these and many future families.
The new Leesville site will be home to an administration and public information center, a maintenance facility, roads, assembly area, committal shelter, full casketed gravesites, 595 standard burial plots, 1,190 pre-placed crypts, 264 cremains gravesites, memorial and scatter burial areas, 256 columbria niches, landscaping, a memorial walkway and all supporting infrastructure. Earlier this week, we interviewed Project Manager Mike Sewell of Pat Williams Construction and Louisiana Senator John Smith about the plans for the new Veterans Cemetery. Clips from those interviews can be found below.
RECRUITING DAY FOR AREA SCOUTS
The Scouts of Leesville will be holding their Annual Recruiting Day on August 28th, from 10 a.m. until noon at the Leesville Municipal Park.
This event is opened to the public and will include games, food, and information about joining the Scouts. They will also be registering boys in 1rst through 5th grade for Cub Scouts and 6th through 12th grade for Boy Scouts. Girls in grades 1rst through 12th can also register.
For more information please contact Audrey at (337) 397-5861 or Sabrina at (337) 353-1093.
BIDS TAKEN FOR NEW WATER LINES IN ALLEN AND VERNON PARISHES
Earlier this week, the Northwest Allen Waterworks District began taking bids for a new project that will expand its rural water system.
This project involves laying 125 miles of water lines in northwestern Allen Parish and southeastern Vernon Parish. The district will expand south to Harmony and north to Soapstone which borders Vernon Parish.
This project will involve four contracts - for site work and distribution improvements; for water distribution improvements; for water well work; and for elevated storage tank work.
G.D. Womack Trenching of Harrisonburg was the lowest bidder for the first two phases. The lowest bidder for well work was Grinder Drilling Service Inc. of Rayne. Phoenix Fabricators and Erectors of Avon submitted the lowest bid for the system's elevated storage tank.
This project is expected to serve over 800 customers, some who have relied on private wells for years in order to have drinking water.
Beauregard Parish
BREWER SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS
Holly A. Brewer, the 21 year-old DeRidder woman whose son was beaten to death by her boyfriend in June of last year, has been sentenced to five years in prison for her part in the death of her son.
Brewer pleaded guilty to second-degree cruelty to a juvenile in June and chose not to be tried by a jury.
Her son, 18-month-old John Thomas Anthony Brewer, died from injuries inflicted by her then boyfriend, Jeffery Denby, on June 22, 2009. Denby was sentenced to life in prison in May.
Judge C. Kerry Anderson sentenced to Brewer to five years at hard labor. Sam Jones, Brewer’s attorney, argued the sentence was excessive and said that he plans to appeal it.
DERIDDER DOCTOR INVOLVED IN ALTERCATION FOLLOWING PATIENT'S DEATH
Recently a DeRidder Internist, Ernesto Kufoy was involved in a physical confrontation at his medical facility with the husband of one of his patients.
The patient, Ophelia Acker went into the Kufoy Medical Clinic on August 6th, for a simple outpatient procedure, and then died from complications during the surgery.
When Dr. Kufoy told the awaiting family members of her death, the husband of the patient, Ronald Acker, initiated the physical confrontation, at which time the DeRidder Police Department was called.
No arrests were made. Ophelia Acker’s body was released to the coroner for autopsy. The incident is still under investigation.
NEW RESOLUTION FOLLOWING OFFICIAL'S USE OF RACIAL SLUR
DeRidder City Council members have drawn up a new resolution in effort to create a new policy for the conduct of city employees. This resolution comes after Rex Brumley, a Beauregard Parish Police Juror, used a racial slur before Police Jury meeting in July.
The council resolution states that city policies prohibit prejudicial conduct and any city worker's unwillingness to work harmoniously with others will be cause for dismissal.
Brumley has publicly apologized for his comments; however the Beauregard Chapter of the NAACP have called for his resignation.
CITY COUNCIL INTRODUCES PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR
On Monday the DeRidder City Council put forth their proposed budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year that begins on October 1.
City Finance Director Ginny Brand reported the cash balances for the three budgeted funds for July 31 are $291,007 for the general fund, $369,582 for the utility fund, and $2.4 million for the sales tax fund.
Also, DeRidder Mayor Ron Roberts told the council that the city has hired attorney Jay Delafield to work on a proposition for renewal of a 1 percent sales tax in April. Council members are scheduled to discuss this proposition at their next meeting in order to have the proposition ready by November 1.
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Sheriff Sam Craft would like to inform the public of a telephone scam taking place in Vernon Parish.
Holly A. Brewer, the 21 year-old DeRidder woman whose son was beaten to death by her boyfriend in June of last year, has been sentenced to five years in prison for her part in the death of her son. 
Recently a DeRidder Internist, Ernesto Kufoy was involved in a physical confrontation at his medical facility with the husband of one of his patients.
On Monday the DeRidder City Council put forth their proposed budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year that begins on October 1.
Listen with Mike Holt
