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ST. JAMES — On January 19, 2022, Latasha Hicks of  St. James, age 46, pled guilty to DWI 3^rd Offense and Vehicular Homicide. This guilty plea was the result of a plea agreement with prosecutors following a 2020 fatal car crash in Assumption Parish which claimed the life of 28-year-old Brian Gros Jr. of Pierre Part. This crash occurred while Hicks was out on bond with an active bench warrant for her arrest in conjunction with a 2012 arrest for DWI Third Offense in Ascension Parish. Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Dupaty is the lead prosecutor on the DWI Third Offense, and Assistant District Attorney Lana Chaney is the lead prosecutor on the Vehicular Homicide. The Honorable Judge Alvin Turner Jr. is the presiding Judge over both matters.

On June 22, 2012, officers with the Gonzales Police Department came into contact with Latasha Hicks during the course of a DWI checkpoint in the Gonzales city limits. Upon making contact with Hicks, officers detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from her person. Hicks was given an opportunity to submit to a series of Standardized Field of Sobriety Tests which she refused. Hicks admitted to officers that she had consumed multiple alcoholic beverages and prescription medication. Hicks was arrested and booked into the Ascension Parish Jail.

On March 15, 2020, Louisiana State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash along LA Hwy 70 in Belle Rose in Assumption Parish. Upon conducting an extensive investigation, troopers determined that Latasha Hicks was traveling westbound on LA Hwy 70 in a 2007 Ford Edge while Brian Gros Jr. was traveling eastbound on LA Hwy 70 in a 2003 Chevrolet Silverado. Hicks’ vehicle crossed the centerline and struck the vehicle driven by Gros head on along the eastbound shoulder of LA Hwy 70. Both Gros and Hicks were transported to area hospitals for severe injuries. Gros ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased shortly after the crash. Hicks had a blood alcohol content of .190 G% which is more than twice the legal limit. Upon being released from medical care, Hicks was arrested by Louisiana State Police and booked into the Assumption Parish Jail where she subsequently posted bond.

Upon entering a guilty plea to the above-mentioned charges, pursuant to the plea agreement with prosecutors, sentencing was deferred to a later date pending a Pre-Sentence Investigation. Hicks faces up to 30 years in state prison and remains out on a post-conviction bond awaiting sentencing.

— Submitted by Public Information Officer Tyler Cavalier for 23^rd Judicial District Attorney Ricky L. Babin.