Major Crime Down 17 Percent In St. Charles Parish

HAHNVILLE, La. (AP) — After increasing for two straight years, major crime reported in St. Charles Parish fell almost 17 percent in 2013. However, the parish saw an increase in the number of violent crimes, with slight rises from 2012 in the number of murders, rapes and robberies

The Times-Picayune reports the sheriff's office sends its numbers to the FBI in seven categories: murder, robbery, rape, assault, theft, burglary and auto theft. It counted 2,203 such crimes last year, a 16.5 percent decrease from the 2,645 crimes reported in 2012.

St. Charles saw significant decreases in assaults, thefts and burglaries. Sheriff Greg Champagne credits the district attorney's office for prosecuting several repeat offenders and pushing for lengthy sentences that he thinks deterred other would-be criminals.