By: CARISSA HEBERT

Managing Editor

The 13th Judicial District had a busy week recently. On Tuesday, March 24, one trial was continued until April when the defendant, Donald Johnson, collapsed in the courtroom during pre-trial motions and had to be rushed to the hospital by Acadian Ambulance. The case stems from 2006, and Johnson has been charged with one count of oral sexual battery, one count of sexual battery and three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile.

The next trial on the docket involved narcotic charges. Brian Keith Thomas pled straight up to possession of illegal narcotics with no recommendation from the district attorney’s office.

Thomas pled guilty to two felony charges, possession of Schedule II narcotics and possession of Schedule IV narcotics, and to two misdemeanors, possession of drug paraphernalia and battery on a police officer. He was sentenced to five years on each of the felony charges, running concurrent (at the same time) and six months on each of the misdemeanor charges, running consecutively (meaning he will serve one year for both charges).

Thomas is also the defendant in multiple murder cases, currently under investigation and scheduled for trial in this parish.

The district attorney has a trial scheduled to begin Monday, March 30, involving possession of illegal narcotics.