Louisiana Committee on Parole hears multiple revocation cases; panel continues some, orders treatment or restrictions in others

The Louisiana Committee on Parole met Feb. 25, 2025, in a series of virtual and in-person hearings across multiple parish detention facilities to consider parole-revocation allegations against several offenders. The panel continued one case pending a March court hearing, kept others on supervision with added conditions (drug testing, treatment, no-contact orders, or day‑reporting assessments), and revoked parole in one case.

The panel’s decisions affect inmates at Franklin Detention Center, East Baton Rouge, Rapides Parish, Patterson City Jail, Jefferson Parish, and Beauregard Parish maximum-security facility. The committee alternated between public questioning, executive sessions to clarify release dates or records, and roll-call votes; most outcomes were decided by majority vote.

Why it matters: The committee’s rulings determine whether individuals remain under community supervision with added conditions or return to custody. Several cases included requests for treatment or referrals (DOC substance‑abuse programs, day‑reporting center assessments) and no‑contact orders intended to protect alleged victims while preserving opportunities for supervised reentry.

Panel actions and notable outcomes

Votes at a glance - Donald Richardson (DOC 622248, Franklin Detention Center): Continued — The panel voted 2–1 to continue Richardson’s revocation hearing until after his March 25 court appearance on related probation matters. The committee described allegations that Richardson failed to register an address in Winnsboro and disputed an allegation of marijuana use; Richardson pleaded not guilty to the possession/use allegation and admitted failing to register. The panel deferred a revocation decision pending the court disposition.

- (Mister) Thomas (DOC recorded as 755516, East Baton Rouge): Do not revoke — The panel voted unanimously to return Thomas to supervision (no revocation). Panel conditions: routine random drug tests; employment requirement; reprimand and return to supervision. Thomas’s attorney (Zachary Hyer) provided medical documentation that Thomas traveled to Texas for his mother’s stage‑4 cancer treatment; the panel accepted the exigent‑circumstances explanation and required confirmation/documentation and monitoring.

- Ashton (Ashton Blaze) Basco (DOC 779450, Rapides Parish): In lieu of revocation — The panel ordered completion of a long‑term DOC substance‑abuse program (Steve Hoyle/DEEP Hoyle) and imposed a no‑contact requirement with the protected party named in the protective order. The panel noted Basco’s history of substance use, prior unsuccessful treatment attempts, and recommended intensive, sustained treatment rather than revocation.

- Claude Charlotte (DOC 588499, Patterson City Jail): Revoke — The panel revoked Charlotte’s parole by majority vote because of multiple alleged violations (failure to notify/residence issues, home‑invasion/domestic‑abuse allegations, possession of a weapon, lack of stable employment, and supervision arrears of $441). The panel stated revocation with a recommendation that Charlotte be considered for work release when appropriate.

- Ronald Delaney (DOC 610388, Jefferson Parish): Do not revoke — The panel voted to continue Delaney on supervision, citing support from family and an employer willing to rehire him at $13.50/hour. Conditions added: no contact with the alleged victim (Deja Pendleton) and continued supervision; the panel emphasized the need to address relationship instability and arrears ($1,701 reported).

- Tavarius (Tavarius) Fleming (DOC 583083, Beauregard Parish maximum security): Do not revoke — The panel voted not to revoke and ordered an assessment at the day‑reporting center for parenting/conflict‑resolution services because the matter involved a domestic incident with injuries to a former partner and a lost pregnancy noted in the hearing. Fleming will remain on supervision with the assessment condition.

Discussion highlights and evidence offered

- Failure to register and residence disputes: In the Richardson matter (Franklin Detention Center), staff alleged Richardson lived at 2422 Lone Cedar Road in Winnsboro without registering that address with the Franklin Parish Sheriff’s Office; officers reported seeing children’s items in the residence. Richardson said the children’s items belonged to the household members and that he had messaged his parole officer about the address but conceded he was ‘‘sidetracked’’ and did not timely complete registration.

- Travel for medical necessity: In the Thomas matter (East Baton Rouge), the offender’s attorney, Zachary Hyer, submitted that Thomas’s mother had stage‑4 cancer and that Thomas transported her to Galveston for treatment. The panel heard that Thomas did not obtain a travel permit; Hyer offered to provide medical documentation. The panel continued Thomas’s case until additional court or documentary outcomes were clarified, then returned Thomas to supervision with conditions.

- Substance abuse and treatment recommendations: The Rapides Parish case (Ashton Basco) featured panel concern about repeated failed treatment attempts and domestic incidents tied to substance use. The panel ordered completion of an intensive DOC substance‑abuse program (Steve Hoyle/DEEP Hoyle) in lieu of revocation and prohibited contact with the protected party.

- Multiple‑violation revocation: The Patterson hearing for Claude Charlotte involved numerous alleged violations (failure to notify, home invasion/domestic battery allegations, alleged use of a hammer as a weapon, unstable housing and employment, and arrears). The panel voted to revoke parole; members recommended consideration for work release as a reentry step when appropriate.

- Employment and community supports: In Jefferson Parish (Ronald Delaney), family and a manager from Island Fresh Solutions told the panel Delaney was a reliable employee and had a job available at $13.50 an hour; the panel kept Delaney on supervision but added a no‑contact condition to protect the alleged victim.

- Family and parenting concerns: The Beauregard Parish case (Tavarius Fleming) involved allegations of domestic battery against a pregnant partner and photographs of injury. The alleged victim told the panel she was not afraid of Fleming and sought co‑parenting; the panel nonetheless required a day‑reporting center assessment for parenting and conflict‑resolution supports prior to further changes in supervision.

Panel procedure and next steps

The committee used executive sessions in several hearings to confirm inmate out‑dates and related court dates. When the panel ordered treatments, it named DOC programs (long‑term inpatient DOC substance‑abuse programming) or a day‑reporting center assessment; in one revocation the panel recommended (but did not order) work‑release consideration. Where courts had pending probation/violation dockets, the panel deferred final action until those outcomes were known.

Ending note

The committee’s actions on Feb. 25 preserved supervisory options for several offenders while imposing additional conditions intended to protect victims and encourage treatment and employment. One parole was revoked; others were continued or returned to supervision with monitoring and program mandates. The panel scheduled follow‑ups and, where appropriate, required documentary evidence (medical records, court dispositions) or assessments before reconsidering final dispositions.