LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / Febuary 17, 1999

CONVENT – A corrections officer with the St. James Youth Center nearDonaldsonville is charged with forcible rape and malfeasance in office for prohibited sexual conduct.

St. James Parish Sheriff Willy Martin Jr. reported that Lt. ShenardMatthews, 29, 2649 Central Ave., Lutcher, was accused of committing theoffenses against two boys, ages and home towns not disclosed.

One offense allegedly took place between Matthews and one of the youths between June and October 1998. The second allegedly took place onChristmas Day 1998.

Matthews, according to Youth Center administrator John Labrano, has worked at the Youth Center for four and one-half years. He is being held atthe parish jail on a $150,000 bond.

According to Martin, the Christmas victim came forward first, telling a counselor at the center, who relayed it to the boy’s mother. “As soon as Igot wind of it, the sheriff’s office was brought in,” Labrano said.

The other victim came forward as the investigation progressed, Martin added.

Matthew has been suspended from his job, pending the disposition of the case.

Martin also stressed that the sheriff’s office is not involved with the staffing of the Youth Center, and that corrections officers there are not sheriff’s deputies.

The sheriff said throughout the investigation the Youth Center staff was “very cooperative.”In another matter, Sheriff Martin reported that Lutcher Police Chief Denny Vicknair was recently issued a misdemeanor theft citation, which charged him with stealing a quantity of building materials.

Vicknair, who had a part-time job at C.T. Boudreaux Lumber in Gramercyfor the past 18 months or so, came under suspicion when an inventory shrinkage in building supplies was noted, according to the company’s Bob Boudreaux.

Boudreaux said when the shrinkage was noticed he asked the sheriff’s office to conduct a surveillance with unmarked cars, and soon evidence was gathered leading to the citation, which was issued on Monday.

“We were trying to keep it as low-key as possible, as we didn’t want to ruin his livelihood,” Boudreaux commented. “It was a shock – we didn’twant to do it.”The citation is for theft of items valued at less than $100, a misdemeanor charge, as recommended by the 23rd Judicial District Attorney’s office.

“The fact that he’s a chief of police made it even worse,” Martin commented, adding he is trying to avoid the perception he was involved either in a cover-up of Vicknair’s alleged activities, or that the sheriff was conducting any sort of political vendetta against the police chief.

A court date is scheduled in April.

“I know he’s trying to work it out, and he’s paid for the plywood in question,” Martin said.

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