By LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – A LaPlace man accepted a plea agreement Wednesday sending him to state prison for eight years for the death of his former girlfriend.

Ahron L. Grimes, of 8776 Sunnyside Drive, agreed to the sentence for manslaughter, which includes credit for time served, during a motions hearing before 29th Judicial District Judge Robert Chaisson.

Grimes was arrested not long after Felicia S. Tumbar of Hahnville was found dead in her apartment on May 25, 2001, apparently strangled, after being missed by family members for two days.

Meanwhile, Grimes had been in East Jefferson Medical Center, recovering from his own apparent suicide attempt, following the death of Tumbar.

Prosecutor Kurt Sins said Tumbar was reported missing by family members and had not reported to work for two days. She had last been seen by her sister and stepfather at their New Sarpy residence on May 22.

With their help, entry was made into Tumbar’s apartment in the Hahnville public housing development.

Her body was found in the bedroom, apparently choked by an alarm clock electrical cord, no longer around her neck.

Neighbors told investigators Grimes had been seen at the apartment on the night of May 22. He attempted suicide by drinking acid on May 23 and was hospitalized by his wife.

“I’d call him a prime suspect,” Sheriff Greg C. Champagne said of Grimes at the time, and added Grimes had an arrest history of alleged violence against women.

Grimes and Dunbar had a relationship for six to eight weeks, which ended when she discovered he was married, Sins continued.

“I think it was a fair plea under the circumstances,” Sins said. “The family understands, but nobody is really happy with it.”

A warrant was issued for Grimes on June 14, who was arrested at the hospital as he was released, according to Yoes.