Opelousas Police Chief Candidate Yolanda Lewis Arrested Again on Obstruction Charges
Yolanda Lewis, running for Opelousas police chief, was re-arrested by Louisiana State Police on charges of conspiracy, computer trespassing, and obstruction of justice.
Police Chief Candidate Re-Arrested Ahead of December Runoff
Yolanda Lewis, a 49-year-old police officer and candidate for Opelousas police chief, was arrested for the second time by Louisiana State Police on Thursday, 12 November, according to kplctv.com. Evangeline Parish Jail records show she was booked on charges of conspiracy, computer trespassing, and obstruction of justice. No bond has been set.
Lewis was first arrested in April on similar charges. Authorities allege she and others accessed state or government computer databases and shared sensitive information — including details about alleged victims in active investigations — with a man who had already been arrested in connection with his own ongoing criminal case.
She is challenging incumbent Opelousas Police Chief Graig "Twin" LeBlanc in a runoff election scheduled for 12 December. LeBlanc himself faces separate charges stemming from a love-triangle shooting in December 2023.
St. Landry Parish Clerk of Court Charles Jagneaux addressed how the arrests of both candidates would affect the race. "The two candidates, of course, can still run because naturally, you're still innocent until proven guilty," he said. "If either one or both or whatever ... becomes chief, and is, through the court process, found guilty of whatever they're charged with, then they're suspended until the final appeal runs out, and then they have to resign."
Early voting in the runoff begins on 28 November.
Two other individuals connected to the original investigation were also re-arrested. Chasessica Basco, 42, was booked into Evangeline Parish Jail on charges of trespassing against state computers and prohibited acts. Darrian Guillory, 34, was booked on charges of criminal conspiracy and unauthorised use of a movable. Bond has not been set for either of them.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)