Former St. Charles deputy pleads guilty
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, August 28, 2013
By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur
HAHNVILLE – On Tues day afternoon, former St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Department Deputy William S. Mar ciante Jr. pleaded guilty to various charges re lated to the forgery of seatbelt citations while working grant-funded overtime.
Marciante was terminated by the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office in November 2011 upon his arrest. Before Judge Emile St. Pierre, he pleaded guilty to five counts of forgery, five counts of malfeasance in office, five counts of injuring public records and six counts of payroll fraud. He was immediately sentenced to five years in prison — four years suspended — and five years on active probation upon his release from prison.
During the investigation, detectives discovered that between February and May 2011, a total of 21 citations were issued by Marciante for seatbelt violations in the names of unsuspecting individuals who were never stopped for these violations. In each in stance, Marciante worked overtime, which was made possible through grant funds from the Louisiana Highway Safety Administration to promote seatbelt safety and enforcement.
Sheriff Greg Cham pagne applauded Mar ciante’s guilty plea.
“I would like to thank Attorney General James ‘Buddy’ Caldwell and the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office for their assistance and diligent prosecution,” said Cham pagne.
“My of fice initiated the investigation after complaints were filed by unsuspecting motorist surprised to learn of attachments in their name for failure to pay fines. Marciante’s actions were a disgrace to his co-workers, the badge and the public he swore to protect.”
Evidence discovered during a search warrant of Marciante’s patrol vehicle, and collected by reviewing his computer and dash camera video activity shows that traffic stops for the 21 victims did not take place. In some instances, Marciante did not work during the times he issued the citations and submitted overtime.
“To say I am disgusted is an understatement,” said Champagne. “Our job in law enforcement is already difficult enough. Because of Marciante’s actions, that job of maintaining the public trust has gotten a little harder. It is mind-boggling to understand how someone would be so irresponsible and think it would not eventually be detected.
“We have checks and balances in place. Once we discovered discrepancies, we im mediately investigated and took swift actions. Marciante’s arrest should serve as an example to anyone who chooses to victimize the very people
we take an oath to protect,” Champagne added.