By Kimberly Hopson
L’Observateur

HAHNVILLE – Last week, a jury voted to convict 18-year-old Keywine Bradford of second-degree murder in the case of 19-year-old Jared Measley’s fatal shooting last year, according to a prosecutor in the case.
Joel T. Chaisson, St. Charles Parish district attorney, reportedly said the verdict shows “that we will not tolerate this senseless violence in St. Charles Parish.” He also thanked law enforcement for their effforts.
Within an hour and a half, the 12-member jury voted 10-2 to convict Bradford. Although he was 16 at the time of the murder, the State of Louisiana charged Bradford as an adult. The defendant, represented by Wendy J. Williams, had written a one-page confession, which was corroborated with witnesses and physical evidence. Defense argued that the juvenile was manipulated into writing a “false confession” and also presented one alibi witness. The three-day trial was prosecuted by ADAs Connie Aucoin and Kim McElwee.
Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange, spokesman for the St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office said Bradford turned himself in after investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest last year. Bradford was then transferred to the St. James Parish Youth Detention Center.
According to a Sheriff’s Office report, Mealey was found shot multiple times inside a Chevy Impala in the 600 block of Turtle Creek Road in the Preston Hollow neighborhood of St. Rose around 8:40 p.m. on May 29. Mealy had bullet wounds to his neck and face and was pronounced dead at the scene.
When deputies got to Mealey’s car, it had run over a mailbox and had come to rest against a nearby fire hydrant. Authorities said the windows on the driver’s side of the car were shattered and responding deputies found the victim sitting in the driver’s seat.
LaGrange would not say how Bradford was found to be a suspect or what his motive might have been. He said Bradford and Mealey were acquaintances. Mealey was a 2011 Destrehan graduate and a member of the football team. He is the younger brother of former Destrehan, LSU and Green Bay Packers running back Rondell Mealey.