Louisiana news briefs

Judge: Lawyer guilty of criminal mischief in taxi sex report
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An Orleans Parish Criminal Court judge has convicted a lawyer of criminal mischief for accusing a taxi driver of trying to extort money by sending her attorney cellphone video of her sexual advances toward him.
Judge Arthur Hunter convicted Jennifer Gaubert of a misdemeanor on Friday.
She could get up to six months in jail. She also could face state bar sanctions.
Prosecutors had charged her with filing a false police report against cab driver Hervey Farrell, who was booked with extortion after Gaubert told police he had threatened to make an explicit video of her public unless she paid him $1,000.
Farrell, who called 911 shortly after the cab ride to say Gaubert had sexually assaulted him, was arrested after Gaubert went to police nearly a year later. He was in jail nearly 30 hours before District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro found problems with Gaubert’s story.
In the end, prosecutors refused to bring charges of extortion and voyeurism against Farrell.
Gaubert testified that the sexual encounter was consensual and that she went to police to ensure that the video would be confiscated. She said she moved to Thibodaux and gave up her law practice, terrified of exposure.
Gaubert, who was convicted last year of simple battery against Farrell, is free on $25,000 bond.
Two lawsuits filed by Farrell are still pending. One is a civil lawsuit against Gaubert. The other is a civil rights lawsuit against her, Mayor Mitch Landrieu, former police Superintendent Ronal Serpas and three officers, claiming he was the victim of false arrest, false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and kidnapping.

3 killed, 4 injured in wreck
in Natchitoches Parish
NATCHITOCHES (AP) — Louisiana State Police are investigating a wreck in Natchitoches Parish that left three people dead and four injured.
Police said in a statement that a Nissan headed north on U.S. 71 south of Clarence crossed the center line, colliding with a Pontiac around 5 p.m. Sunday.
The driver of the Nissan, 41-year-old Stacey N. Lachney of Pineville, was killed. Twenty-two-year-old Chelsee N. Martin of Pineville was her only passenger. She was hospitalized with moderate injuries.
Police say the driver of the Pontiac, 31-year-old Jennifer L. Tell of Montgomery, was killed. Also killed was Brian S. West, whose age and hometown were not immediately available.
Three juvenile passengers in the Pontiac were hospitalized with injuries that ranged from minor to serious. They were not immediately identified.
Police say routine toxicology tests are pending.

2 shot, killed Sunday in Baton Rouge, 2 others Saturday
BATON ROUGE (AP) — Baton Rouge police say two men apparently shot and killed each other.
Cpl. Don Coppola Jr. says the bodies of 38-year-old Jamiya Owen of Baker and 34-year-old Jeff Baker of Port Allen were found about 5:20 a.m. Sunday. Witnesses told investigators the men had recently had a disagreement.
The shootings occurred a day after two other shooting deaths.
Police say 16-year-old Robert Thomas was shot in the torso while he and a 17-year-old friend were playing with a gun.
They say 23-year-old Trevor Washington was shot at his home, apparently while arguing about a drug deal.
Police say the 17-year-old was booked with negligent homicide in Thomas’ death and 26-year-old Demond Sanders on a charge of second-degree murder in Washington’s death.

Judge won稚 block work on Rampart Street streetcar line
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge says she won’t stop construction on a new streetcar line in New Orleans while a group sues to get detailed archaeological and environmental studies of the project.
District Judge Nannette Jolivette Brown says plaintiffs did not offer any evidence that the job involves federal money. That’s a key requirement for such a lawsuit.
A local bond issue is paying for the $41.5 million North Rampart Street line.
Plaintiffs say federally required reviews are warranted by use of federal money to study whether a line including that route would be feasible the Regional Transit Authority’s general use of federal money.
Federal Transit Administration attorney Jason Bigelow noted that the federal government repeatedly turned down requests to pay for the line.

Historical marker for father
of musical Marsalis family
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — It was time to unveil a historic marker for low-key civil rights figure Ellis Marsalis Sr. but the pale blue sheath around the marker stayed fast. Officials heaved and jumped, tugged at corners, pulled ribbons in all directions. Finally it gave way.
It seemed almost fitting, said relatives of Marsalis, who died in 2004 in a house near the marker’s location on River Road in Old Jefferson. He raised a family of musicians prone to the limelight but was never one to toot his own trumpet.
His achievements publicized themselves. A black business owner and political voice during the segregation era, Marsalis raised a family that became internationally known for jazz. His most familiar business, the Marsalis Mansion motel, was patronized by black intellectuals, political leaders and performers who were invited to preach, lecture and play in downtown New Orleans but could not stay in its hotels.
The motel grew to include a swimming pool and restaurant. People who stayed there included Martin Luther King Jr.. Thurgood Marshall, Ray Charles and Nat King Cole.

15 people displaced after fire at 6 Shreveport apartments
SHREVEPORT (AP) — A fire at an apartment complex in Shreveport damaged six units and displaced 15 people.
Two residents and one firefighter were taken to local hospitals for treatment of minor injuries as a result of the Saturday morning blaze.
Traveon Swinney said he and his 3-year-old son were sleeping on the couch in their living room when flames woke them. He said a TV and table in his living room were on fire. He escaped with the 3-year-old and also got his 7-year-old out of the building.
Shreveport fire investigators were investigating the possible cause.
The Red Cross will help families who were living in five of the damaged units. The sixth was vacant.
From The Associated Press.