The Committee on Parole met June 12, 2025, by remote connection at multiple correctional facilities and in Baton Rouge. The panel revoked parole in one case, denied parole in several others and conditionally granted release in one matter, setting program and supervision requirements where the board continued an individual’s release.

The actions matter because they determine whether people leave custody subject to supervision and conditions or remain incarcerated; several votes cited victim opposition, outstanding treatment or registration issues, and public‑safety concerns.

Revocation: Scott Leonard
The board revoked parole for Scott Leonard (DOC no. 112870) following a revocation hearing at a remote site identified in the record as Boer Guard. The panel read an arrest and conviction record into the record showing a conviction on amended charges of disorderly conduct stemming from an April 14, 2025 incident, and found Leonard violated parole condition No. 4. Chair Cheryl Renantz announced the finding and said she would vote to revoke. The effective date of the revocation was recorded as the hearing date.

Parole continued with added conditions: Willie James
Willie James (DOC no. 122179) appeared for a revocation decision after recorded violations, including travel outside the state without permission, a 2019 charge of criminal damage to property that the applicant said was dismissed, and an outstanding supervision fee. The board found the violations but voted not to revoke James’s parole. Danny Barra (committee member) summarized his vote: he found the violations but said he would not revoke and instead would add special conditions. The conditions recorded on the public record require James to report to his parole officer within 48 hours of release, to observe a 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew at his daughter’s house, and to complete the substance‑abuse treatment program ordered by the judge handling his misdemeanor matter.

Denied parole — work release, registration and victim opposition cited
- Reagan Bruce (DOC no. 764714), assigned to Ouachita Parish work release, requested parole. Deputy Marchand reported no institutional incidents while she has been in work release, but the victim’s family described ongoing social‑media contact the family said violated a protective order. Chair Cheryl Renantz said her vote would be to deny parole. The board denied Bruce’s request, citing proximity to her release dates and victim/family opposition.

- Patrick Watney (DOC no. 780087) appeared with strong formal opposition from law enforcement and the victim. Victim Timothy Geo delivered a prepared statement to the board describing the offense as “a deliberate abuse of power” and urged the board to deny early release. The Committee denied Watney’s request, explicitly citing law‑enforcement opposition, victim opposition and the seriousness of the underlying offenses against juveniles.

- Derek Young (DOC no. 753142) was denied parole after the board noted community‑official opposition and that Young had dropped out of required sex‑offender programming. Members said the nature of the offense and the victim’s age weighed against release.

- Robert White (DOC no. 444181) was denied parole at Catahoula Correctional Center. The board cited multiple prior revocations, ongoing substance‑use issues in his record and law‑enforcement opposition. The district attorney urged more treatment and vocational programming before any release.

Denied but with program recommendations — Dario (Adario) Berry
At Raymond Laborde Correctional Center the board denied parole for Dario Berry (DOC no. 506511). Panel members described a lengthy history of drug‑related arrests and a 2019 traffic stop that produced firearms and controlled substances. The warden and parole staff recommended completing the facility’s victim‑impact and substance‑abuse programming and, if appropriate, enrollment in the facility’s Boys‑to‑Men program before reconsideration.

Granted parole with conditions — Julian Neldell
The Committee conditionally granted parole for Julian Neldell (DOC no. 401468). Board members noted Neldell’s lengthy institutional record of past disciplinary writeups followed by several years of program completion and steady conduct, acceptance into a reentry program (the Louisiana Parole Project), and completion or near‑completion of victim‑awareness programming. Carolyn Stapleton (committee member) announced a conditional favorable vote and specified the conditions: finish the victim‑impact class before release, be released to the Parole Project for at least two years, have no contact with the identified victim, avoid the victim’s hometown, and perform community‑facing work such as speaking to at‑risk youth as part of supervised reentry. The Parole Project told the board it would provide transitional housing and case‑management support if Neldell is released.

Votes at a glance
- Scott Leonard (DOC 112870): parole revoked (found to have violated condition No. 4 related to the April 14, 2025 arrest/conviction). Outcome: revoked; effective date recorded as hearing date.
- Willie James (DOC 122179): parole continued; not revoked. Added conditions — report to PO within 48 hours, curfew 10:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m., complete court‑ordered substance‑abuse treatment.
- Reagan Bruce (DOC 764714): parole denied (victim/family opposition and program/timing considerations).
- Patrick Watney (DOC 780087): parole denied (strong law‑enforcement and victim opposition; serious nature of offenses).
- Derek Young (DOC 753142): parole denied (offense seriousness; dropped out of required treatment).
- Robert White (DOC 444181): parole denied (multiple revocations and program needs; district attorney opposition).
- Dario/Adario Berry (DOC 506511): parole denied; board recommended finish victim‑impact class, enroll in Boys‑to‑Men program, and complete long‑term substance‑abuse programming before reapplication.
- Julian Neldell (DOC 401468): parole granted conditionally — finish victim impact class, release to Parole Project for at least two years, no contact with victim, do not return to the victim’s hometown, and participate in supervised outreach to at‑risk youth.

What board members said
Chair Cheryl Renantz and members Danny Barra and Carolyn Stapleton framed decisions around three recurring themes: (1) documented violations or criminal convictions, (2) the presence of victim or law‑enforcement opposition, and (3) whether the person had completed or still needed key in‑custody programming (substance treatment, sex‑offender or risk programs, victim‑impact programming). Victims and victim families made direct statements in two hearings; Timothy Geo asked the board to deny early release for Patrick Watney, saying the harm was ongoing.

What happens next
When the board recorded a denial it directed applicants to pursue the specified programs and said they may reapply after completing recommended treatment. In the conditional grant for Neldell the board required finishing victim‑impact work and approved placement with a reentry provider.

Sources and limits
All factual assertions in this article come from the June 12, 2025 Committee on Parole hearing transcript (remote locations listed above). The article does not infer outcomes beyond recorded board votes or speak to future parole‑supervision case management decisions that are not on the record. Where the transcript listed only partial names or inconsistent spellings, this report uses the spellings as they first appeared in the hearing record.