St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Arrest Report

It was a very busy Christmas holiday for deputies with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office. Authorities say they arrested 25 people as they responded to 197 complaints over the 4-day weekend.

Leon Benedietto, 34, 203 Tamporella Lane, Franklin, LA was arrested on December 23, 2015 at 12:42 pm for illegal carrying of weapons. While working on Tamporella Lane, a deputy made contact with Benedietto. While speaking with the subject, the deputy discovered that he was concealing a handgun in his back pocket. No bail is set.

John May, Jr., 26, 102 Janet Lane, Amelia, LA was arrested on December 23, 2015 at 12:09 pm for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of direct contempt, failure to use seatbelts, and failure to honor written promise to appear. A deputy assigned to patrol Amelia knew May held an active warrant for his arrest and located him walking on Lake Palourde Road. During the arrest on the warrant, the deputy found marijuana separated into several small individual baggies. No bail is set.

Terrence Matthews, 46, 5616 N. Bayou Black Road, Gibson, LA was arrested on December 23, 2015 at 1:25 pm for a stop sign violation, no insurance, and switched license plate. A deputy patrolling Amelia observed a vehicle run a stop sign before turning onto Highway 182 and conducted a traffic stop. During the stop, the deputy discovered that the license plate displayed on the vehicle did not match the description of the vehicle and that Matthews was driving without insurance. Matthews was released on a summons to appear in court on March 7, 2016.

David J. Hayes, 29, 1807 Pine Street, Franklin, LA was arrested on December 23, 2015 at 11:57 am on a warrant for failure to comply with the terms and conditions of drug court. During booking into the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center, a jailer located an active warrant for his arrest. No bail is set.

Paul A. Marks, 24, 338 Sorrell Railroad Road, Jeanerette, LA was arrested on December 24, 2015 at 10:03 am on a warrant for criminal damage to property and disturbing the peace. A deputy investigating a complaint of property damage on Jones Road #2 collected evidence that Marks threw rocks at a subject's vehicle causing the rear windshield to shatter. After a warrant was issued, a deputy located Marks at his residence on the charges. The deputy transported Marks to the parish jail for booking. Marks was later released on a summons to appear in court on March 7, 2016.

Alan Sylvester, 30, 717 Verson Street, Berwick, LA was arrested on December 24, 2015 at 3:20 pm for child desertion. A deputy responded to a report of a child wandering in the parking lot of St. Mary Plaza in Bayou Vista. During the course of the investigation, the deputy made contact with Sylvester and learned that he had brought the 2 year old boy with him to go shopping with the permission of his mother. The deputy discovered that Sylvester left the child sleeping in a vehicle without adult supervision. When the boy awoke, he exited the vehicle and began wandering around the area. Sylvester was transported to the parish jail for booking. Bail is set at $2,500. The child was returned to his mother.

Willie D. Chaney, 48, 109 Hendricks Street, Patterson, LA was arrested on December 24, 2015 at 11:57 pm on a warrant for simple assault and criminal trespass. A deputy investigating a complaint learned that Chaney went entered into the yard of a male subject and threatened him. A deputy responding to a separate complaint on Hendricks Street made contact with Chaney and located the active warrant for his arrest. Chaney was later released after posting $1,250 bond.

Jarvis Granger, 29, 1004 Joseph Street, Siracusa, LA was arrested on December 25, 2015 at 12:27 am for disturbing the peace. A deputy responded to a complaint of a disturbance in progress in the area of Joseph and Grace Streets. While investigating the complaint, Granger began yelling at another subject causing a disturbance in the neighborhood. Granger was released on a summons to appear in court on March 7, 2016.

Dalaina M. Rentrop, 22, 331 Highway 663, Bayou L'Ourse, LA was arrested on December 25, 2015 at 2:11 am for disturbing the peace and resisting an officer. A deputy responded to a request to standby while an Amelia business closed down. While watching over the area, a deputy heard yelling in the parking lot and made contact with Rentrop. The deputy observed that Rentrop was highly intoxicated and that she was refusing to leave the area with a close relative who was attempting to provide a ride for her. After several attempts by the deputy to get Rentrop home safely, she continued to cause a disturbance. During her arrest, Rentrop pulled away from the deputy and attempted to kick the deputy. Rentrop was transported to the parish jail for booking. She was released after posting $1,500 bond.

Varice Richardson, 22, 170 Friendship Alley, Amelia, LA was arrested on December 25, 2015 at 7:26 am for possession of Schedule I (marijuana), possession of Schedule II (methamphetamine), and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge f disturbing the peace (fighting). A deputy responding to a complaint of a disturbance on Friendship Alley made contact with Rischardson and located the active warrant for his arrest. During his arrest, the deputy located marijuana and methamphetamine on his person. No bail is set.

Brittany Martin, 32, 825 Flattown Road, Charenton, LA was arrested on December 25, 2015 at 10:02 am on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of failure to yield to an emergency vehicle and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of direct contempt, speeding, and failure to honor written promise to appear. A jailer at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center in Centerville located an active warrant for Martin came to the jail to visit an inmate. Martin was released on a$1,845 bond.

Francisco Ramos Garcia, 53, 1405 Barrow Street, Amelia, LA was arrested on December 25, 2015 at 10:20 am for disturbing the peace (intoxicated). A deputy responding to a complaint of a suspicious subject laying in a field on Chirpy's Lane made contact with Garcia. The deputy smelled the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on Garcia's breath and person. Garcia refused to cooperate with the deputy's investigation into the complaint and was transported to the parish jail for booking. Garcia was later released on a summons to appear in court on March 7, 2016.

Travis Darby, 47, 527 Little Pines Lane, Bayou Vista, LA was arrested on December 25, 2015 at 8:16 pm for domestic abuse battery. A deputy assigned to patrol Bayou Vista responded to a report of a domestic battery. During the course of the investigation, the deputy learned that Darby struck a female victim in the face during an argument. Darby was transported to the parish jail for booking. He was released after posting $2,500 bond.

Gersson S. Viniegra, 31, 201 ½ Highway 182, Morgan City, LA was arrested on December 25, 2015 at 11:13 pm for driving under suspension and speeding. A deputy observed a vehicle speeding on Main Street in Patterson near Catherine Street and conducted a traffic stop. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Viniegra. While speaking with him, the deputy learned that Viniegra's driver's license had been suspended. Following the traffic stop investigation, Viniegra was released on a summons to appear in court on March 7, 2016.

Peter K. Allain, 64, 4682 Chitimacha Trail, Jeanerette, LA was arrested on December 26, 2015 at 9:04 am on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of domestic abuse battery. A deputy located Allain at his residence on the warrant and transported him to the parish jail for booking. Allain was released after posting $1,500 bond.

Chad Toups, 41, 116 Doris Street, Amelia, LA was arrested on December 26, 2015 at 9:37 am for burglary of an inhabited dwelling. A deputy investigating residential burglary collected evidence indicating that Toups entered into a home and stole items from the resident. Toups was transported to the parish jail for booking. No bail is set.

Allen J. Jeanise, 58, 109 Malcolm Street, Schriever, LA was arrested on December 26, 2015 at 6:18 pm for remaining where forbidden, vagrancy, and disturbing the peace. A deputy responded to a complaint of a suspicious person staring at and attempting to fight customers at a business on Highway 182 in Amelia. The deputy made contact with a subject matching the description of the suspect near the business on Highway 182. The subject was identified as Jeanise, who had been advised by deputies earlier in the day to leave the area. Jeanise was transported to the parish jail for booking. He was later released on a summons to appear in court on March 7, 2016.

Davin Myers, 24, 1695 Duchamp Road, Broussard, LA was arrested on December 27, 2015 at 1:26 am for trespassing. A detective investigating a complaint of trespassing on private property in the Cypremort Point area learned that Myers was seen on multiple occasions in a boat in a privately owned canal. The detective also collected evidence that Myers knew that he was on private property. Myers was transported to the parish jail. Myers was released on a summons to appear in court on March 7, 2016.

Darrell Wilson, 57, 1236 Irish Bend Road, Franklin, LA was arrested on December 27, 2015 at 12:03 am for simple battery. A deputy investigating a complaint of a battery on Gum Point Lane learned that Wilson punched a male victim in the face. Wilson was transported to the parish jail for booking. He was released on a $500 bond.

Chaz Druilhet, 21, 103 Ambiance Circle, Lafayette, LA was arrested on December 27, 2015 at 3:40 am for aggravated battery. A deputy investigating an unrelated complaint in the area of Verdun Lane heard yelling coming from the parking lot of a nearby business. The deputy responded and located a male subject with an injury to his cheek. While speaking with several subjects at the scene, the deputy learned that Druilhet struck the male victim with a glass bottle during an argument that took place inside the business. Druilhet was transported to the parish jail for booking. She was released after posting $3,000 bond.

Trovon McDaniel, 29, 410 Canal Drive, Franklin, LA was arrested on December 27, 2015 at 3:16 am on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. While investigating a disturbance on Verdun Lane (see previous arrest), a deputy made contact with McDaniel and located an active warrant for his arrest. Bail is set at $1,714.

Kerry J. Oppenheimer, 46, 600 Emery Lewis Avenue, New Iberia, LA was arrested on December 28, 2015 at 4:26 am for the following offenses:
- Criminal trespass
- Driving under suspension
- Driving left of center
- Flight from an officer

Brett Hopes, 36, 630 Monnot Street, Lot #1, Jeanerette, LA was arrested on December 28, 2015 at 4:26 am for criminal trespass and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of speeding, no child restraint, and direct contempt.

A deputy assigned to patrol Cypremort Point observed a vehicle parked near a camp in the Quintana Subdivision. The deputy, who is familiar with Cypremort Point residents and camp owners, knew that the vehicle did not belong to the camp owner and proceeded to investigate the suspicious vehicle. While doing so, the deputy observed the vehicle drive away at a high rate of speed. The deputy initiated a traffic stop. However, the driver of the vehicle failed to stop. The deputy followed the vehicle on Highway 83. While doing so, the deputy observed the driver swerving from lane to lane. The deputy continued to pursue the suspect vehicle into Iberia Parish where Iberia Parish Sheriff's deputies assisted. The vehicle came to a stop on the Highway 90 frontage road near College Road in New Iberia. The driver, Oppenheimer, and passenger, Hopes were detained. During the subsequent investigation, the deputy located an active warrant for Hopes. Both were transported to the parish jail. Oppenheimer and Hopes were released on summonses to appear in court on March 7, 2016.
Derek Harrell, 28, 500 Wise Street, Patterson, LA was arrested on December 24, 2015 at 3:18 pm for driving left of center, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, and illegal possession of stolen things (over $20,000).

Brett Givens, 24, 500 Wise Street, Patterson, LA was arrested on December 24, 2015 at 9:21 pm for the following offenses:
- Possession of marijuana with intent to distribute
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses
- Warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of Schedule I drugs

A detective with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division observed a pick-up truck pulling a welding trailer swerving from lane to lane on Highway 317 in Centerville and conducted a traffic stop. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Harrell. During the course of the traffic stop investigation, the narcotics detective learned that the welding machine being pulled by Harrell had been reported stolen from a company out of Broussard. The detective also learned that Harrell kept illegal drugs at his residence. Narcotics detectives secured a warrant for Harrell's residence. While conducting the search warrant, detectives made contact with another resident, identified as Givens. During the search, detectives located bags of marijuana and a digital scale. Detectives collected evidence that Harrell and Givens were selling marijuana. Continuing the investigation, detectives also obtained a warrant for another residence Givens' was known to use on Emy's Lane. There, detectives located more marijuana hidden in the floor and $590 in cash believed to be derived from illegal drug sales. Both Givens and Harrell were transported to the parish jail for booking. No bail is set.