BY ROBIN SHANNON

Staff Reporter

HAHNVILLE – A former St. Charles Parish sheriff created a tense moment at the parish courthouse after he allegedly produced a handgun and made threatening remarks pertaining to the government while pointing at a portrait of Parish President V.J. St. Pierre, said a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office.

Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange, public information officer for the Sheriff’s Office, said Julius “Ducky” Sellers Jr., 71, 116 Davis Dr., Luling, was taken into custody Thursday evening after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Sellers was booked with a concealed handgun permit violation and disturbing the peace for carrying a weapon into the St. Charles Courthouse building. He was released Friday after posting a $10,000 bond.

Sellers served as St. Charles Parish assessor from 1966 to 1972 when he was elected sheriff. He served one term and did not seek reelection.

According to a report from the sheriff’s office, Sellers had a scheduled meeting with St. Pierre at the time of the incident. It is not known what the two men were meeting about.

LaGrange said that Sellers became agitated while waiting in the lobby and began to insinuate corruption within the St. Charles Parish government during a conversation with the secretary. Sellers then produced a handgun he had concealed in his pants pocket and pointed the gun at St. Pierre’s portrait hanging on a wall saying that St. Pierre was the reason he carries a concealed weapon.

LaGrange said the secretary informed parish administrators about the situation, and two of St. Pierre’s top assistants arrived and escorted Sellers into a nearby empty office. A sheriff’s deputy then convinced Sellers to hand over his weapon, at which time the deputy emptied the bullets from the gun and handed it back to Sellers.

The report goes on to say that when St. Pierre arrived and spoke to Sellers, Sellers continued to address St. Pierre in a loud and offensive manner. St. Pierre finally asked Sellers to leave the courthouse without further incident.

LaGrange said as part of Sellers’ bond agreement, Sellers was forced to surrender all firearms in his possession to the Sheriff’s Office and must undergo a mental health exam. Sellers is also barred from all public buildings in the parish and may not have any contact with any witnesses involved in the event.

LaGrange said Sellers has a concealed weapon permit, but it does not pertain to the parish buildings. He said there is no reason for anyone to feel that threatened when they enter the St. Charles Courthouse.

“We just make sure that people understand that there are bailiffs in the courthouse and the Sheriff’s Office is on the third floor,” said LaGrange. “If anyone gets out of line, employees know who to call and we respond very quickly.

According to court documents, Sellers has an arraignment scheduled for September 11 in Division C.