By LEONARD GRAY-Staff Reporter

HAHNVILLE – Terry Baraglia of Des Allemands entered into a plea agreement Thursday, and entered a guilty plea to aggravated assault.

Baraglia fired at and nearly killed a St. Charles Parish sheriff’s deputy during a disturbance call on Feb. 27.

The matter brought the parish’s top two law enforcement officials to court on opposite sides, as Sheriff Greg C. Champagne allied himself in court with his deputy against 29th Judicial District Attorney Harry Morel Jr. over the handling of the incident.

As a result of Baraglia’s plea, he received a six-month sentence to the misdemeanor charge to parish prison, with credit for time served, and six months inactive probation.

The officer Baraglia fired upon, Steve Gonzales of the Special Investigations Division, told ad hoc judge Douglas Gonzales of Baton Rouge he was satisfied with the plea agreement.

Additionally, Baraglia apologized to Gonzales, said he was sorry, but had no idea Gonzales was a police officer, and added he was simply trying to scare him away.

Gonzales had no comment after the hearing. Chief Joseph Cardella observed, “It was always a matter of public safety,” and pointed out whenever an officer responds to a disturbance, safety is always the prime concern.

Cardella added it was felt the matter was “so important, we wanted it to see a courtroom and let the public be aware.” He continued, “We’re glad the matter was addressed and glad Mr. Baraglia took the responsibility and pled guilty.”

Morel said the lesser charge was appropriate, and he added an attempted murder charge would not have been as “winnable.”

He continued the matter was not a political thing between he and the sheriff, and added relations with the sheriff’s officers are back on track. “They know what’s right and what’s wrong.”

Morel said he did what he had to do “and my sheriff didn’t like that.”

Champagne was out of town and was unavailable for comment.

Three narcotics detectives had responded to a disturbance call on Tregle Lane in Des Allemands

While questioning people at the scene, one suggested that the officers speak with Baraglia, so Gonzales approached the house.

Gonzales knocked on the door repeatedly, identifying himself as a police officer but minutes later, Baraglia burst from the door with a shotgun and fired in the direction of the deputy. Gonzales said he drew his own weapon from the holster and returned fire with four or five shots, striking him in the legs.

Baraglia was arrested the night of the incident, originally charged with attempted murder of a police officer.

When the matter finally came to a courtroom to hear motions last month,

Judge Gonzales called the entire matter “a spectacle” and “deplorable” and added, “You should all hang your heads in shame.”