Sheriff: Two charged after AR-15 found

A man and woman were arrested Friday in Morgan City on drug and firearm charges during a traffic stop after a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office detective located an AR-15 rifle with a homemade suppressor, methamphetamine and pills during a traffic stop, Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.
—Jonathan G. Sarmento, 34, of the 100 block of Aristile Road in Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 7:27 p.m. Friday on the charges of failure to use turn signal, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of Schedule II Norco, possession of drug paraphernalia, transactions involving drug proceeds, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of Schedule IV Xanax.
—Amy Morrison, 25, of the 300 block of Nicholas Street in Berwick, was arrested at 7:27 p.m. Friday on the charges of possession of methamphetamine, obstruction of justice and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance.
A detective with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division observed a vehicle fail to signal a turn onto Victor II Boulevard off La. 70 in Morgan City, Hebert said.
The detective conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Sarmento, and passenger, Morrison. During the stop, the detective learned that Sarmento had an AR-15 rifle inside the vehicle, Hebert said. The detective was given consent to retrieve the rifle and check to make sure it was not stolen, the sheriff said.
While doing so, the detective located a homemade suppressor in the gun case the rifle was in, the sheriff said. Also during the traffic stop investigation, the detective learned that Sarmento was convicted on felony marijuana and methamphetamine charges out of state, Hebert said.
Sarmento was detained pending further investigation. The detective received consent to search and located a Xanax pill in Sarmento’s pants pocket and a bag of methamphetamine inside the vehicle, the sheriff said. The methamphetamine included several large shards of the illegal drug, Hebert said.
Norco pills, small plastic bags, a digital scale, and a spoon were also located inside the vehicle. Sarmento was also found to be in possession of $381 in cash, Hebert said.
Morrison, who was detained as well, threw a bag of methamphetamine on the floorboard of a patrol unit during the investigation, Hebert said.
Sarmento and Morrison were jailed with no bail set. The detective who investigated the case notified the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives regarding the homemade suppressor that was located during this investigation, the sheriff said.
Hebert reported responding to 118 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—A juvenile female, 16, of Gore, Oklahoma, at 8:53 p.m. Saturday for being a runaway juvenile.
—Chris Turner Jr., 23, of the 100 block of Lake Palourde Road in Amelia, at 11:59 p.m. Saturday on the charge of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.
A deputy responded to a complaint of a welfare concern regarding a runaway juvenile at the above listed residence in Amelia. During the investigation, the deputy learned that Turner and the juvenile female met on Facebook, Hebert said.
During their conversations with each other, the juvenile claimed to be of age, Hebert said. Turner assisted the juvenile in coming to his residence in Louisiana where the two engaged in sexual intercourse, the sheriff said. The juvenile, who had been reported missing in Oklahoma, was released to the custody of the Louisiana Department of Child and Family Services. Turner was jailed and later released on a recognizance bail.
—Rebecca Matherly, 32, of Bees Road in Lumberton, Texas, at 10:40 a.m. Friday on the charges of disturbing the peace and criminal trespass. A deputy responded to a complaint of a disturbance at a business on La. 182 in Amelia. The deputy learned that a woman yelled and cursed at an employee.
While searching for the subject, the deputy received a second complaint of the same woman trespassing on school property on Julia Street, Hebert said.
The deputy located the suspect on Lake Palourde Road and identified her as Matherly, who was jailed and later released on a summons to appear in court Oct. 14.
—Ashleigh Rowen, 22, of the 1700 block of River Road in Berwick, at 3:01 p.m. Friday on a warrant from Assumption Parish for failure to appear on the charge of remaining where forbidden. A deputy made contact with Rowen at a business in Bayou Vista and located the active warrant for her arrest. Rowen was jailed with no bail set.
—Chantal Burke, 21, of the 100 block of Main Street in Patterson, at 11:37 p.m. Saturday on the charge of driving under suspension.
—Dustin Macaluso, 32, of the 4500 block of La. 182 in Patterson, at 1:12 a.m. Sunday on a warrant charging him with criminal damage to property.
A deputy investigating a complaint of a suspicious vehicle on La. 182 in the Patterson area made contact with Macaluso and located an active warrant for his arrest. Continuing the investigation into the complaint, the deputy observed the suspect vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed onto U.S. 90 from Zenor Road and conducted a traffic stop.
The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Burke, and learned that she was driving with a suspended license. The deputy released Burke on a summons to appear in court Oct. 14. Macaluso was booked at parish jail and later released on $500 bail. The warrant for his arrest stems from an investigation into a complaint received July 6. The responding deputy learned that Macaluso cut the tires of a vehicle parked on Arcemont Lane in Bayou Vista, Hebert said.
—Russell Q. Francis Jr., 30, no known address, at 4:30 a.m. Saturday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of theft and resisting an officer. A deputy conducted a spot check on Cane Road in Bayou Vista after receiving a complaint of a suspicious vehicle in the area.
The deputy located the suspect vehicle. As the deputy attempted to make contact with a man standing by the vehicle, the subject fled into a nearby mobile home, Hebert said. The deputy ordered Francis to exit the residence, and Francis complied, the sheriff said. As the investigation progressed, the deputy learned of the active warrant for his arrest. Francis was jailed with no bail set.
—David J. Hayes, 29, of the 1800 block of Pine Street in Franklin, at 10:43 a.m. Sunday on two warrants for failure to appear for a drug court status conference. A deputy investigating a separate complaint at Teche Regional Medical Center made contact with Hayes and located the active warrants for his arrest. Hayes was jailed with bail set at $200,000.
—Patrick McEniry, 47, no address given, at 4:47 p.m. Sunday on the charge of disturbing the peace. A deputy responded to a complaint of a disturbance at a business on Degravelle Road in Amelia. The deputy learned that McEniry was arguing and yelling at another person. The deputy made contact with McEniry and smelled the strong odor of alcohol on him, Hebert said. McEniry was booked and released on a summons to appear in court Oct. 14.
—Paris Durkins, 28, of the 600 block of Egle Street in Morgan City, at 10:12 p.m. Sunday on the charge of telephone harassment. A deputy responded to a report of telephone harassment at a business on Southeast Boulevard in Bayou Vista.
During the investigation, the deputy learned that Durkins made threats of bodily harm to a woman over the phone, Hebert said. The deputy located Durkins at her residence and transported her to the parish jail. Bail is set at $500.
Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:
—Larandan K. Hawkins, 25, of Southeast Boulevard in Morgan City, at 9:21 p.m. Thursday on the charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of synthetic cannabinoids, transactions involving proceeds from controlled dangerous substance activity, violation of controlled dangerous substance law and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Morgan City Police Department Narcotics Division along with the patrol officers were dispatched to a residence Fifth Street in regards to an illegal tattoo parlor at the residence.
When officers arrived they observed a subject, later identified as Hawkins sitting in a vehicle outside the residence.
As officers approached, they observed suspected marijuana on the center console.
Hawkins was asked to exit the vehicle. Hawkins subsequently gave officers consent to search the vehicle. Officers located more suspected marijuana, drug paraphernalia, suspected synthetic marijuana and a large amount of currency, Blair said.
Hawkins was asked why he was in the area and stated he was there to get a tattoo, but no one would answer at the residence, Blair said. Hawkins was jailed.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following the arrests:
—Charlie Bennett Jr., 43, of Violet Street in Thibodaux, at 7:45 p.m. Saturday on the charges of theft by shoplifting, resisting an officer by force, aggravated flight from an officer and driving under suspension.
At about 7 p.m. Saturday, a Berwick Police officer arrived at the Dollar General in Berwick to conduct a follow up investigation into an unrelated matter, Richard said.
Upon arrival, the officer saw a store manager confronting an individual outside the store, who had been observed rummaging through a vehicle and stealing things from the store, Richard said.
The officer confronted the suspect, who resisted the officer’s attempts to detain him, Richard said. Upon doing so, the suspect entered his own vehicle in an attempt to flee the scene and briefly drug the officer with his vehicle, Richard said. The officer then got into his police unit and chased the suspect’s vehicle into Morgan City, eventually stopping the suspect vehicle on Veterans Boulevard in Morgan City, Richard said.
Morgan City Police assisted in apprehending the suspect, identified as Bennett, Richard said. Morgan City Police also have warrants for Bennett’s arrest, Capt. Betty Augman said.
—Lennis Paray, 30, of Fourth Street in Berwick, at 6:26 a.m. Saturday on the charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated. Paray was jailed.
—Herman Solone, 23, of Sixth Street in Berwick, at 1:59 a.m. Sunday on the charges of domestic abuse battery and resisting an officer by giving false information.
—Larry Eddy, 51, of California Street in Berwick, at 8:30 a.m. Saturday on the charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated. Eddy was jailed on $195 bail.
—Kalli Paray, 33, of Ceylon Street in Berwick, at 8 p.m. Sunday on the charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated and on a warrant charging her with telephone harassment. She was jailed on $475 bail.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:
—Charlie Salas III, 49, of the 500 block of Taft Street in Patterson, at 7:39 p.m. Friday on the charges of aggravated battery involving domestic violence and aggravated assault involving domestic violence. Salas was released on $10, 000 personal surety bail.
—Randolph Vilo, 54, of the 900 block of Washington Street in Patterson, at 8:21 p.m. Friday on a Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant charging him with forgery. Vilo was jailed on $25,000 bail.
—Levar Variet, 35, of the 400 block of Clements Street in Patterson, at 9:06 p.m. Friday on the charge of resisting an officer. Variet was jailed on $217 bail.

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