MCC REQUESTS RECUSAL OF ST. CHARLES PARISH DA’S OFFICE
The MCC requested that St. Charles Parish District Attorney Joel Chaisson, II recuse his office from all prosecutorial decisions involving the John Landry, III case due to a number of significant conflicts of interests. The MCC respectfully disagreed with District Attorney Chaisson’s decision to handle the prosecution of John Landry, III and place him on pre-trial diversion for 4 counts of filing false public records and 4 counts of conspiracy to file false public records. The MCC failed to follow the legal reasoning behind DA Chaisson’s decision to handle the prosecution of John Landry in light of his September 9th letter to the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office confirming his office’s recusal with respect to Harry Morel as both cases share the same factual basis and involve the same ethical conflicts.
MCC Letter to District Attorney Chaisson Delivered by Fax – September 13, 2016
MCC Press Release Requesting St. Charles Parish DA’s Office Recusal
St. Charles DA’s Letter to AG’s Office On Harry Morel, John Landry Prosecutions – September 9, 2016
“Watchdog group says St. Charles Parish DA needs to recuse himself from Landry case” September 24, 2016; The Louisiana Record
“Hospital board chairman should be prosecuted, DA recused, Metro Crime Commission says” September 14, 2016; The Times-Picayune
“Watchdog groups blasts St. Charles DA over pre-trial diversion deal” September 14, 2016; The Advocate
MCC REQUESTS ST. JOHN PARISH SHERIFF MICHAEL TREGRE REVOKE BADGES ISSUED TO HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN
The MCC verified that Sheriff Michael Tregre bestowed St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy status and commissions to his wife, son, and daughter which is prohibited pursuant to provisions of Louisiana’s Code of Governmental Ethics including the nepotism statute. The MCC called for Sheriff Michael Tregre to immediately rescind the reserve deputy commissions and badges he issued to his family members. Sheriff Tregre publicly announced that he would comply with the MCC’s request to rescind the commissions given to his family members.
MCC PRESS RELEASE – MCC Requests St. John Parish Sheriff Rescind Family Members’ Commissions
Letter to Sheriff Michael Tregre – Delivered by Hand on August 8, 2016
Louisiana Revised Statutes 42:1112, 42:1113, 42:1119
St. John Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy Listing
Pictures of Jared Tregre Wearing Sheriff’s Badge During National Police Week
Mrs. Tregre’s Facebook Comments Re Jared’s Badge – June 10, 2013
“Sheriff Mike Tregre shouldn’t hand out badges to his wife and kids: Editorial” August 10, 2016; The Times-Picayune
“‘I did what I saw was done previously’: St. John sheriff to revoke law enforcement credentials he awarded wife, children amid accusations of nepotism” August 9, 2016; The Advocate
“St. John sheriff deputized wife, 2 children, broke law, watchdog says” August 9, 2016; The Times-Picayune
TWO LONGTIME DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S CONVICTED IN FEDERAL COURT
In 2016, the MCC was acknowledged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for our role in the conviction of former St. Charles Parish District Attorney Harry Morel, as well as former St. Tammany Parish District Attorney Walter Reed and his son, Steven Reed. Mr. Morel plead guilty to felony obstruction of justice in federal court relating to harassing a witness and asking her to destroy evidence prior to a potential grand jury investigation involving his misconduct while District Attorney. Morel was sentenced to serve three years in prison and the Louisiana Supreme Court has permanently barred him from practicing law. Former District Attorney Reed and his son were charged with wire fraud, money laundering, and misuse of campaign funds. At the conclusion of trial, Walter Reed was found guilty of 18 counts and Steven Reed was found guilty of 3 counts by a federal jury. Reed was sentenced to four years in prison and his son received probation.