Committee on Parole grants medical parole, adds conditions for others and revokes multiple paroles

The Committee on Parole met March 18, 2025, in Baton Rouge with remote appearances from several detention centers to consider multiple parole revocation and release requests. The panel reviewed six contested cases and issued a mix of grants, continuations with conditions and revocations.

The most consequential vote granted medical parole to Karen Harrison (DLC 764139). Jermica Speed, social services director at Harmony House long-term nursing care, described Harrison as unable to move from the shoulders down, requiring 24-hour care and assistance with feeding and medication. Derek Johnson, representing the Rapides Parish District Attorney’s Office, opposed release citing the seriousness of Harrison’s convictions. Committee member Danny Barra moved to grant medical parole; other members concurred and the medical parole was approved so Harmony House can continue her care outside Department of Corrections custody.

The committee also reviewed a revocation consideration for Christian Marcel (DLC 510862). Marcel denied a battery allegation but acknowledged pleading guilty to a reduced charge of disturbing the peace and received a 90-day sentence with credit for time served. The board noted a prior domestic battery arrest while on supervision. The committee voted to continue Marcel on supervision rather than revoke, adding conditions: completion of anger management, substance-abuse treatment, a mental health evaluation (and compliance with recommended treatment), and no contact with Dicey Peri Age (a no-contact condition added by the board).

Terry Duane Taylor (DLC 424652) appeared for a revocation consideration after an aggravated-battery arrest that was later dismissed. Taylor pleaded not guilty with a statement; he said he was employed and denied the charged conduct. The committee voted not to revoke Taylor’s parole but required completion of an anger-management class as a special condition.

At Saint Landry Parish Jail, a parolee identified in the record as Derek LeCount (DLC 742503) pleaded guilty to multiple technical violations (failing to report and provide correct residence information, a DWI-related conviction and unpaid supervision fees). The Committee voted to revoke parole based on those violations.

At Rapides Parish, Darnell Crow (DLC 703970) was accused of repeated incidents involving a single complainant and multiple criminal charges. Although the complainant later said she had acted out of jealousy and some charges were dropped, the committee found Crow had ongoing conduct that generated repeated law-enforcement responses. The committee voted to revoke Crow’s parole; one member proposed reinstating supervision only if Crow agreed to strict no-contact and distance conditions, but the final votes resulted in revocation.

Also at Rapides, Willie Andrews (DLC 465514) faced a domestic battery allegation captured on store surveillance, according to the board. Andrews denied touching the complainant; the district attorney later dismissed charges, but the committee concluded the available evidence supported a violation of the rule prohibiting criminal activity and voted to revoke parole.

Votes at a glance - Karen Harrison (DLC 764139): medical parole granted. Rationale: permanent, severe medical impairment; Harmony House to provide long-term care. Opposition: Rapides Parish DA. Implementation: immediate release to Harmony House custody upon paperwork. - Christian Marcel (DLC 510862): parole continued; not revoked. Conditions added: anger management, substance-abuse treatment, mental-health evaluation and no contact with Dicey Peri Age. - Terry Duane Taylor (DLC 424652): parole continued; not revoked. Condition added: anger-management class. - Derek LeCount (DLC 742503): parole revoked for multiple technical violations, including failure to report and a DWI conviction. - Darnell Crow (DLC 703970): parole revoked for repeated incidents and victim-related complaints; board noted a pattern of calls for law enforcement and potential safety concerns. - Willie Andrews (DLC 465514): parole revoked after board reviewed incident captured on surveillance and considered victim statement; DA had dismissed charges but board concluded rule violation occurred.

Context and process notes The committee repeatedly distinguished between allegations that led to criminal charges and instances where the district attorney later dropped charges. In several cases the board noted the absence of cooperative victims or formal prosecutions but said its standard is whether a parolee violated parole rules (for example, rule 4: refrain from criminal activity; rule 9: permit residence visits; rule 10: payment of supervision fees). Where the evidence or circumstances were disputed, the board sometimes imposed treatment or no-contact conditions instead of revocation.

Board members conducting hearings identified themselves and the committee throughout the session; they heard some matters remotely from jail staff and health-facility representatives. The committee recorded specific, case-level conditions when it continued parole rather than revoking it. For medical parole, the board emphasized the parolee’s inability to perform activities of daily living and the receiving facility’s ability to provide care as the basis for approving the release.

Ending The Committee on Parole concluded the session after completing the scheduled hearings and directing staff to process paperwork for grants and to return revoked cases to Department of Corrections custody. Several board members urged parolees to comply with added conditions and warned that future violations would likely lead to revocation.