The Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office has refused charges against sixteen men arrested in New Orleans on guns charges, raising new questions about that office's commitment to fight violent crime in New Orleans.
Doug Sunseri, host of WWL's All Things Legal, questions the timing of the decision. According to him, the district attorney's office typically follows several steps before accepting or declining charges. Sunseri says the assistant district attorney handling a case would decline charges without going through that process if there's a mistake or a misunderstanding on the part of the police.
In these particular cases, Sunseri says he doesn't know why an assistant district attorney would toss these charges so quickly.
"This was done at the bail hearing before the arrest records were even completed," Sunseri said. "If you're caught with a gun that is concealed without a license, that is a felony per se. So therefore, I don't understand why it didn't even get through a bail hearing and into the screening process."
Sunseri, citing Metropolitan Crime Commission president Rafael Goyeneche, said District Attorney Jason Williams knew nothing about the decision to refuse those charges. Sunseri added that the decision is so peculiar that Williams should consider taking action against the assistant who made the decision to let the men walk.
"If someone on my staff is making that unilateral decision without consulting me, he should be fired," Sunseri said. "It is very, very unwise, and (it's) probably a policy that contributes to the crime that you have in New Orleans, especially at Mardi Gras."
Sunseri says Mayor LaToya Cantrell and the New Orleans City Council have a way to hold Williams and his office accountable.
"The council could haul the district attorney in front of the council and ask him why were these charges refused," Sunseri said. "What is the impact on society? What is the impact on deterrence? The council can be a bully pulpit to hold the district attorney accountable and, at least, embarrass him into compliance."
According to the latest data from the Metropolitan Crime Commission, the Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office refused or dismissed more than 66 percent of violent felony cases between January and September of 2021--the first eight months of Jason Williams's term. By contrast, the previous district attorney accepted 67 percent of violent felony arrests in 2019 and 75 percent in 2020.
Related
