Sheriff: Man charged with molesting boy, 9

A 32-year-old Morgan City man was charged Thursday with molesting a 9-year-old-boy after the sheriff's office receive a June 3 complaint, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
—Nathan Starling, 32, of the 1000 block of Fifth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:26 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for molestation of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile. On June 3, the Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of the molestation of a juvenile.
During the investigation, the detective learned that Starling inappropriately touched a 9-year-old boy while at a residence in Morgan City, Hebert said. Starling came to the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office in Morgan City in reference to the investigation and was subsequently taken into custody on the warrant. Bail is set at $35,000.
Hebert reported responding to 44 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Tamoz D. Allen, 20, of the 200 block of Grandwood Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 9:21 a.m. Thursday on the charge of simple escape and on a warrant charging him with simple burglary. Detectives located Allen at his residence on the warrant.
Following his arrest, a detective was escorting Allen from the residence when he freed a hand from the handcuffs and fled on foot, Hebert said. A detective gave chase and located Allen attempting to conceal himself behind a tree in a wooded area off of Shady Grove Drive, Hebert said. Allen was jailed with no bail set.
The warrant for simple burglary stems from a complaint received June 5 regarding a suspect seen rummaging through a vehicle on Shivers Street in the Patterson area, Hebert said. During the investigation, detectives identified the suspect as Allen, the sheriff said.
—Brittany N. Thomas, 25, of the 3000 block of Lesley Drive in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:46 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. Thomas was located at her residence and jailed with bail set at $1,120.
—David Pearce, 39, of the 1400 block of Evergreen Avenue in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 5:54 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug para-phernalia and transactions involving drug proceeds.
—Fonzie Wade, 39, of the 100 block of Southwest Boulevard in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 5:54 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of possession of methampheta-mine.
Detectives with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division, accompanied by members of the Morgan City Police Department Narcotics Division, executed a search warrant at a residence in the 1400 block of Evergreen Avenue, Hebert said.
The search warrant was obtained as a result of an investigation into complaints and information regarding illegal narcotics activity taking place at the residence. Detectives learned that Pearce was selling methamphetamine from the location, Hebert said.
During the search, detec-tives located several bags of methamphetamine and items of drug paraphernalia including small plastic bags and a digital scale.
Also, Wade was found to be in possession of a bag of methamphetamine, and Pearce was in possession of $510 in cash believed to be derived from illegal drug sales, Hebert said. Pearce and Wade were jailed. No bail is set.
—Stacy A. Galeas, 46, of the 1400 block of Roberts Drive in Houma, was arrest-ed at 4:42 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of theft of goods. A deputy responded to a complaint of shoplifting at a store in Bayou Vista and learned from store personnel that Galeas passed the final point of sale in the store without paying for several items in her shopping cart. The deputy released Galeas on a sum-mons to appear in court Sept. 16.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Sonya Mclemore, 25, of Joey Street in Patterson, was arrested at 4:02 p.m. Thursday on the charges of simple criminal damage to property and criminal mischief.
Mclemore, who had been processed into the jail, was arrested after she flushed a blanket in her cell, Blair said. This flooded her cell as well as several other nearby cells and caused water to leak from the second floor of the jail into an office on the first floor. The water caused damage to some items in the office below. Mclemore remains incarcerated.
—Lamarcus Francois, 21, of Francis Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:13 a.m. Thursday, resisting an officer and obstructing public passage.
Officers on patrol in the area of Fifth Street observed a person walking in the middle of the street talking on the phone. As officer approached the suspect, later identified as Francois, he fled from officers, Blair said.
After a short foot chase the officer caught Francois, who stated that he ran from officers because he thought he had a warrant for his arrest. Francois was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department jail for booking.
—Dylan Keller, 32, of Kem Street in Patterson, was arrested at 10:54 a.m. Thursday on warrants charging him with hit and run, careless operation and no insurance.
Keller turned himself in at the Morgan City Police Department. Keller was involved in a vehicle crash that occurred Feb. 12 in which he fled the scene, Blair said. Keller was booked and released after posting cash bail.
—Lance Ashmore, 21, of Fifth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:35 a.m. Wednesday on the charge of simple criminal damage to property.
Officers were dispatched to a residence on Fifth Street in regard to a disturbance. When officers arrived, the victim stated that Ashmore had gotten into a verbal altercation with another individual, Blair said. During that altercation, Ashmore kicked her vehicle, causing damage to one of the vehicle’s doors, Blair said. Ashmore was jailed.
—Passion Harris, 18, of Garber Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:56 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of theft by shoplifting value $3.25.
Officers were dispatched to a local store on Brashear Avenue in regard to a theft.
When officers arrived, an employee stated that a woman had come into the store, concealed an item and left running out the store, Blair said.
Through video surveillance, the suspect was identified as Harris, who admitted to taking the item, Blair said.
Harris was jailed and later released on bail.
—Chad M. Adams, 32, of Third Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:13 a.m. today on the charges of driving under suspension and two tail lights required.
A patrolling officer in the area of Federal and Brashear avenues noticed a vehicle with improper lighting.
The officer conducted a traffic stop and discovered Adams had a suspended driver’s license. Adams was jailed.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrest:
—Brent Cunningham, 25, of the 1600 block of St. Charles Street in Houma, was arrested at 1:13 a.m. today on the charges of speeding, driving under suspension, driving while intoxicated first offense, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and no proof of insurance.
He was jailed at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center in Centerville with no bail set yet.
—Megan Gaudet, 23, of the 100 block of Parro Lane in Berwick, was arrested at 8:05 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of simple battery on a juvenile and disturbing the peace. Gaudet was jailed on $1,500 bail.
—Sonia McLemore, 25, of the 500 block of Joey Street in Patterson, was arrested at 8:05 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of disturbing the peace and aggravated battery on a juvenile. No bail was set yet.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

This story was written by Zachary Fitzgerald of The Daily Review staff. Reach him at By Zachary Fitzgerald
zfitzgerald@daily-review.com
A 20-year-old Patterson man, charged in a June 5 burglary, was caught Thursday initially attempting to escape police custody, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
—Tamoz D. Allen, 20, of the 200 block of Grandwood Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 9:21 a.m. Thursday on the charge of simple escape and on a warrant charging him with simple burglary. Detectives located Allen at his residence on the warrant.
Following his arrest, a detective was escorting Allen from the residence when he freed a hand from the handcuffs and fled on foot, Hebert said. A detective gave chase and located Allen attempting to conceal himself behind a tree in a wooded area off of Shady Grove Drive, Hebert said. Allen was jailed with no bail set.
The warrant for simple burglary stems from a complaint received June 5 regarding a suspect seen rummaging through a vehicle on Shivers Street in the Patterson area, Hebert said. During the investigation, detectives identified the suspect as Allen, the sheriff said.
Hebert reported responding to 44 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Nathan Starling, 32, of the 1000 block of Fifth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:26 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for molestation of a juvenile and indecent behavior with a juvenile. On June 3, the Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of the molestation of a juvenile.
During the investigation, the detective learned that Starling inappropriately touched a 9-year-old boy while at a residence in Morgan City, Hebert said. Starling came to the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office in Morgan City in reference to the investigation and was subsequently taken into custody on the warrant. Bail is set at $35,000.
—Brittany N. Thomas, 25, of the 3000 block of Lesley Drive in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:46 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. Thomas was located at her residence and jailed with bail set at $1,120.
—David Pearce, 39, of the 1400 block of Evergreen Avenue in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 5:54 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug para-phernalia and transactions involving drug proceeds.
—Fonzie Wade, 39, of the 100 block of Southwest Boulevard in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 5:54 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of possession of methampheta-mine.
Detectives with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division, accompanied by members of the Morgan City Police Department Narcotics Division, executed a search warrant at a residence in the 1400 block of Evergreen Avenue, Hebert said.
The search warrant was obtained as a result of an investigation into complaints and information regarding illegal narcotics activity taking place at the residence. Detectives learned that Pearce was selling methamphetamine from the location, Hebert said.
During the search, detec-tives located several bags of methamphetamine and items of drug paraphernalia including small plastic bags and a digital scale.
Also, Wade was found to be in possession of a bag of methamphetamine, and Pearce was in possession of $510 in cash believed to be derived from illegal drug sales, Hebert said. Pearce and Wade were jailed. No bail is set.
—Stacy A. Galeas, 46, of the 1400 block of Roberts Drive in Houma, was arrest-ed at 4:42 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of theft of goods. A deputy responded to a complaint of shoplifting at a store in Bayou Vista and learned from store personnel that Galeas passed the final point of sale in the store without paying for several items in her shopping cart. The deputy released Galeas on a sum-mons to appear in court Sept. 16.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Sonya Mclemore, 25, of Joey Street in Patterson, was arrested at 4:02 p.m. Thursday on the charges of simple criminal damage to property and criminal mischief.
Mclemore, who had been processed into the jail, was arrested after she flushed a blanket in her cell, Blair said. This flooded her cell as well as several other nearby cells and caused water to leak from the second floor of the jail into an office on the first floor. The water caused damage to some items in the office below. Mclemore remains incarcerated.
—Lamarcus Francois, 21, of Francis Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:13 a.m. Thursday, resisting an officer and obstructing public passage.
Officers on patrol in the area of Fifth Street observed a person walking in the middle of the street talking on the phone. As officer approached the suspect, later identified as Francois, he fled from officers, Blair said.
After a short foot chase the officer caught Francois, who stated that he ran from officers because he thought he had a warrant for his arrest. Francois was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department jail for booking.
—Dylan Keller, 32, of Kem Street in Patterson, was arrested at 10:54 a.m. Thursday on warrants charging him with hit and run, careless operation and no insurance.
Keller turned himself in at the Morgan City Police Department. Keller was involved in a vehicle crash that occurred Feb. 12 in which he fled the scene, Blair said. Keller was booked and released after posting cash bail.
—Lance Ashmore, 21, of Fifth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:35 a.m. Wednesday on the charge of simple criminal damage to property.
Officers were dispatched to a residence on Fifth Street in regard to a disturbance. When officers arrived, the victim stated that Ashmore had gotten into a verbal altercation with another individual, Blair said. During that altercation, Ashmore kicked her vehicle, causing damage to one of the vehicle’s doors, Blair said. Ashmore was jailed.
—Passion Harris, 18, of Garber Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:56 p.m. Wednesday on the charge of theft by shoplifting value $3.25.
Officers were dispatched to a local store on Brashear Avenue in regard to a theft.
When officers arrived, an employee stated that a woman had come into the store, concealed an item and left running out the store, Blair said.
Through video surveillance, the suspect was identified as Harris, who admitted to taking the item, Blair said.
Harris was jailed and later released on bail.
—Chad M. Adams, 32, of Third Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:13 a.m. today on the charges of driving under suspension and two tail lights required.
A patrolling officer in the area of Federal and Brashear avenues noticed a vehicle with improper lighting.
The officer conducted a traffic stop and discovered Adams had a suspended driver’s license. Adams was jailed.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrest:
—Brent Cunningham, 25, of the 1600 block of St. Charles Street in Houma, was arrested at 1:13 a.m. today on the charges of speeding, driving under suspension, driving while intoxicated first offense, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and no proof of insurance.
He was jailed at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center in Centerville with no bail set yet.
—Megan Gaudet, 23, of the 100 block of Parro Lane in Berwick, was arrested at 8:05 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of simple battery on a juvenile and disturbing the peace. Gaudet was jailed on $1,500 bail.
—Sonia McLemore, 25, of the 500 block of Joey Street in Patterson, was arrested at 8:05 p.m. Wednesday on the charges of disturbing the peace and aggravated battery on a juvenile. No bail was set yet.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

This story was written by Zachary Fitzgerald of The Daily Review staff. Reach him at zfitzgerald@daily-review.com.