Lack of witness cooperation dooms prosecution efforts following shooting

Published 12:03 am Saturday, March 11, 2017

LAPLACE — A lack of cooperation from shooting victims, according to the District Attorney’s Office, led to a simple criminal damage plea in a case that at one time had a local man facing six counts of principal to attempted second degree murder.

Jeremiah Smith, of LaPlace, pleaded guilty Feb. 21 to simple criminal damage to property, according to the St. John Clerk of Court’s Office.

Jeremiah Smith

He was given a suspended 5-year jail sentence with credit for time served since May 25, 2015. He was also ordered to five years of active probation and given $1,865 in fines.

District Attorney Bridget Dinvaut said her office attempted to solicit cooperation from the victims, who she described as “not cooperative,” adding it was a huge hurdle for the prosecution.

Lawrence Dennis

“We had no help from any of the victims and, because of the high burden of proving a principal case, we felt like the plea that was entered into was a fair administration of justice,” Dinvaut said.

Smith was one of two men arrested in May 2015 following a Memorial Day shooting, when St. John Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Sunnyside Drive and Creole Street in LaPlace’s Belle Pointe Subdivision following gunshots.

Sheriff Mike Tregre said deputies located six males between 17-19 who said they were shot at. An 18-year-old victim was taken to an area hospital for treatment and eventually released. The victims said the shooting took place in front of a residence in the 1700 block of Creole Street. Deputies reported a car and a house were also hit with gunshots.

Area residents said those responsible for the shooting were traveling in a gray Buick, and deputies located a vehicle matching that description the same day in a Reserve parking lot. Vehicle occupants Smith of LaPlace and Lawrence Dennis of Reserve were arrested.

Dinvaut said authorities believed Smith was the driver.

Dennis was originally booked with six counts of attempted second degree murder and two counts of aggravated criminal damage to property.

According to information provided by the Clerk of Court’s Office, Dennis entered a guilty to plea to aggravated battery Dec. 12 as part of a plea bargain.

He was ordered to serve five years with the Department of Corrections and was given credit for time served since May 25, 2015.