Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – Following a brief foot chase, authorities recently arrested a 24-year-old LaPlace man who walked out of the St. John the Baptist Parish Courthouse in Edgard more than two weeks ago to avoid a prison term stemming from narcotics charges.

Shawn Housley is being held at the Sherman Walker Correctional Facility without bond after State District Judge J. Sterling Snowdy revoked a $350,000 bond placed on Housley in October.

Public Information Officer Sgt. Dane Clement said Housley was apprehended Friday, Nov. 12, at 2:03 p.m. on Hawk Street after about eight officers with the St. John the Baptist Parish Criminal Investigation Bureau surrounded an area where Housley was seen.

According to Clement, a patrol officer spotted Housley walking near his 617 Eagle St. home.

The deputy reported his findings to the Criminal Investigation Bureau and a plan was formulated to catch Housley.

The plan included plainclothes officers circling Housley’s home in unmarked police units.

After a short foot chase, Housley was arrested one block from his home and charged with a bench warrant, possession of marijuana and resisting an officer by flight, said Clement.

On Oct. 26, a 12-member jury found Housley guilty on two charges of attempting to distribute narcotics.

Housley fled the courthouse before the final verdict was read.

When he fled, Housley was being tried for a 2003 incident in which he was accused of selling $40 worth of crack cocaine to undercover agents inside the E-Z Stop at the intersection of Airline Highway and Main Street.

Although the incidents were caught on videotape, the jury found Housley guilty of attempting to distribute drugs instead of distributing drugs because a hand-to-hand sale did not take place.

The verdict drew criticism from local residents because Housley had been arrested and convicted previously for drugs.

According to the clerk of court’s office, Housley was on probation until 2007 when he was arrested for the 2003 incident.

Criticism also arose when Housley was not placed on tighter security pending his trial.

Assistant District Attorney Robert Becnel was trying Housley’s October case. He said Housley was not watched more rigorously because the man’s charges were drug related and did not involve violence.

Snowdy was asked why Housley was not charged Friday with escape. He said Housley could not be charged with escape because the guilty verdict was not rendered until after the convicted drug felon walked away from his court hearing.

Housley will be sentenced today by Judge Snowdy. He faces a maximum 15-year jail term for each count of the two narcotics charges and he may be double billed as a habitual offender.

If Housley’s sentences run concurrently, he could serve a 30-year prison term.

A spokesman for the district attorney’s office said they will petition Snowdy for a sentence that includes double billing because Housley’s prior convictions make him a menace to society.