Sentencing Delayed For Lake Arthur Man Guilty Of Trying To Kill Wife

The sentencing of a Lake Arthur man who pleaded guilty to trying to kill his wife has been delayed.

69-year-old Ernest Monceaux was expected to be sentenced Wednesday, but state District Judge Steve Gunnel said he needed more time to look over the case documents. Formal sentencing will now take place Monday.

Monceaux had been accused of putting a gun to his wife's head and threatening to kill her. He pulled the trigger twice, but the gun didn't go off, according to court witnesses.

Monceaux was originally charged with attempted murder, but he instead pleaded guilty to attempted manslaughter charges in October. He's been in the Jefferson Davis Parish Jail since his 2009 arrest.

The District Attorney's office is seeking the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison because of the seriousness of the crime.