Lafayette man sentenced to 150 years in shootout that left police officer permanently disabled BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer Jul 22, 2026 A Lafayette man was sentenced Wednesday to spend the rest of his life in prison for the attempted murder of three police officers in a 2023 shootout that left officer Hali Bradford permanently…
New York woman indicted in Lafayette on bribes to federal official to release immigration detainees By STEPHEN MARCANTEL | Staff writer Updated Jul 17, 2026 A New York woman has been charged with bribing a federal official in Louisiana to release ICE detainees from detention.
Alleged Middle Eastern terrorist arrested in Lafayette pleads not guilty to all charges BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer Jul 14, 2026 A Middle Eastern man arrested in Lafayette, who federal prosecutors allege participated in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack on Israeli civilians that left hundreds dead, has pleaded not guil…
Judge clears way for Krotz Springs Elementary closure, overturns restraining order BY JOEL THOMPSON | Staff writer Jul 10, 2026 A temprorary restraining order issued last week that prevented the closure of Krotz Springs Elementary School was overturned Friday during a show cause hearing.
Westlake woman sentenced to 5 years in prison after shooting her boyfriend in the head BY MEGAN WYATT | Staff writer Jul 10, 2026 A Westlake woman was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison, with 10 years suspended, more than four years after she shot her boyfriend in the head with her three children in the home.
Lafayette man sentenced to federal prison for trafficking meth Staff report Jul 7, 2026 A Lafayette man has been sentenced to 66 months in federal prison for drug trafficking.
Judge rules Michael Lunsford, Citizens for New La. owe librarian $50,000 in attorney fees BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer Jul 2, 2026 A Livingston Parish judge has ruled that Michael Lunsford and the Lafayette-based Citizens for a New Louisiana owe $50,000 to a librarian in a defamation case that has not yet been tried on it…
Former LDWF Secretary Jack Montoucet sentenced to 27 months in kickback scheme BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer Jun 30, 2026 Former Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Jack Montoucet, who pleaded guilty in March for his role in a kickback scheme that forced his early resignation, was sentenced Tuesday to 27 m…
Guard at Louisiana ICE detention facility will serve time in prison for sexually abusing inmate BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer Jun 26, 2026 A former Louisiana ICE detention facility guard who sexually abused a female detainee, whom he claims he was in love with, was sentenced Friday to 36 months in prison.
+12 Here’s how much energy giants will pay for new Lake Charles bridge after past chemical spill BY MEGAN WYATT | Staff writer Jun 25, 2026 Two petrochemical giants will chip in a tiny percentage toward the overall cost of building the new Lake Charles Interstate-10 bridge after the state quietly settled a lawsuit earlier this yea…
Additional federal charges filed against alleged terrorist arrested while living in Lafayette BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer Jun 18, 2026 New federal charges have been filed against Mahmoud Amin Ya’qub Al-Muhtadi, who resided and worked briefly in Lafayette after allegedly participating in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas-led terrorist a…
Battlefield evidence fight could delay trial of accused Hamas supporter in Lafayette BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer Jun 16, 2026 The use of an anonymous Israeli government employee to authenticate documents recovered from the battlefield for use in the federal trial of accused terrorist Mahmoud Amin Ya’Qub Al-Muhtadi is…
Appeals court upholds murder conviction, sentence in fentanyl death of UL Lafayette student BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer Jun 10, 2026 The murder conviction and life sentence of a convicted drug dealer for the 2021 fentanyl death of a University of Louisiana at Lafayette student has been confirmed by an appeals court.
+2 Former DeRidder Mayor Misty Roberts to spend 90 days in jail after sex case involving teen boy BY MEGAN WYATT | Staff writer Jun 9, 2026 Former DeRidder Mayor Misty Roberts, convicted of multiple sex crimes after a 2024 party in which she was charged with having sex with her son’s 16-year-old friend, was ordered by a judge Tues…
Louisiana police chief, businessman accused of selling fake crime reports plead guilty BY JOEL THOMPSON | Staff writer May 29, 2026 Former Glenmora Chief of Police Tebo Onishea and Oakdale-based businessman Chandrakant Patel pleaded guilty Thursday to federal crimes related to their involvement in a visa fraud scheme.
St. Landry man convicted of sexual battery of child Staff report May 26, 2026 A St. Landry Parish jury on Friday unanimously convicted a Sunset man of four counts of sexual battery of a child under the age of 13.
+2 Judge seals civil suit of confessed killer of Comeaux High Senior Matthew Carter BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer May 21, 2026 A Baton Rouge judge on Thursday temporarily sealed a civil lawsuit filed by the person who shot and killed Comeaux High Senior Matthew Carter in 2020.
+3 Slain Lafayette student's family fights teen killer's early release: 'We don't get our son back' BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer May 18, 2026 A Lafayette teenager who admitted to fatally shooting Comeaux High School senior Matthew Carter in 2020 is asking a judge to release him from custody early, nearly a year before his 21st birthday.
Former Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory pleads not guilty to St. Martin charges BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer May 7, 2026 Former Lafayette Mayor-President Josh Guillory appeared in a St. Martin Parish courtroom Thursday morning where he entered a plea of not guilty to four felony malfeasance charges stemming from…
Former Lafayette man sentenced to 19 years in federal child porn case after FBI investigation BY KRISTIN ASKELSON | Staff writer May 7, 2026 A former Lafayette resident was sentenced to 19 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to receipt of child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District …
+2 Comeaux High closure can move forward after court case against Lafayette school board dismissed BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer May 6, 2026 The Lafayette Parish School Board may continue the process to close Comeaux High School after an appeal court ruling issued late Tuesday.
Comeaux High lawsuit escalates as Lafayette School Board seeks appeals court review BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer May 5, 2026 The Lafayette Parish School Board is asking an appeals court to intervene in a lawsuit filed against it over a vote to close Comeaux High School next school year.
Federal grand jury in Lafayette indicts seven Acadiana residents on child exploitation charges BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer May 1, 2026 The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lafayette in recent months has charged seven Acadiana residents, from Broussard to Basile, with child sexual exploitation, including enticing a minor to engage in…
Naval serviceman charged in case of missing Lafayette-area 14-year-old girl BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer May 1, 2026 A 27-year-old man in the U.S. Navy has been charged with transporting a 14-year-old Lafayette-area girl out of state with the intent to engage in sexual activity.
Possible settlement emerges in Comeaux High lawsuit; school board to meet Monday BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer Apr 29, 2026 The public won’t know until next week but it appears negotiations are in the works to resolve a lawsuit against the Lafayette Parish School System over how it voted to close Comeaux High School.
Superintendent, board president say they didn’t know rules before Comeaux closure vote BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer Apr 29, 2026
Former Morgan City teacher pleads guilty for soliciting sexually explicit photo of student BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer Apr 28, 2026 A former Morgan City High School teacher pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday after asking a 16-year-old male student to send her a sexually explicit photo.
Fort Polk soldier charged with threatening to kill worshippers in a Jewish synagogue BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer Apr 28, 2026 A soldier stationed at Fort Polk near Leesville, Louisiana, faces federal charges for threatening on a social media platform to kill Jewish people at a synagogue.