Parole committee hears multiple cases Aug. 28; panel revokes several paroles, grants one

The Committee on Parole convened Aug. 28, 2024, in Baton Rouge and considered a series of individual parole cases, hearing testimony from inmates, victims, family members and program staff before issuing a mix of revocations, denials and a single grant.

The three-member panel, chaired at the opening by Chuck Tellis, considered cases involving absconding and supervision-fee arrears, sex offenses involving juvenile victims, and multiple drug-related convictions. Board members repeatedly said public-safety concerns, the seriousness of the underlying convictions, and whether inmates had completed relevant programs or posed a risk of reoffending guided their decisions.

Several hearings centered on absconding and unpaid supervision fees. Ernest Reed (DOC number read into the record) told the panel he traveled to Minnesota to secure work and intended to return, and he said supporters and former employers vouched for his job performance and character. Despite those statements, the panel voted to revoke Reed’s parole, noting that he had left his listed residence without permission, had not reported as required and accrued arrears in supervision fees.

A later case with similar facts ended the same way: the panel revoked parole for a hearing participant who had left the state and not paid supervision fees, citing recent absconding, agent workload and long lapses in contact with supervision. In those votes the board emphasized that parole requires adherence to reporting rules and payment obligations so parole agents can perform supervision duties.

The committee also heard several sex-offense cases involving juvenile victims. In one contested matter, the victim and family members described long-term trauma and opposed release; the board denied parole, citing the seriousness of the convictions, the number and age of victims and the short portion of the sentence served. In another sex-offense case, a victim read a prepared statement describing ongoing fear and harm; the panel denied parole by unanimous vote.

Not all hearings ended in denials. In the case of Demetrius Bradley, staff and program leaders presented him as a mentor and leader in the state’s STEP rehabilitation pilot. Audrey Thorne, identified in the hearing as director of programs at Louisiana Workforce, told the board, "He has been a vital part of our team here," and other witnesses described Bradley’s peer counseling, class leadership and work with veteran-focused programming. After an executive-session discussion and questions, the panel voted to grant Bradley parole, citing his record while incarcerated and demonstrated leadership in rehabilitation programs.

Votes at a glance - Ernest Reed (DOC 382292 as read in the record): revoked; reason cited — absconding, failure to report, supervision-fee arrears; panel vote: unanimous to revoke. - Terry Huggins (DOC 414440 as read): revoked; reason cited — out-of-state travel without authorization and arrears; panel vote: unanimous to revoke. - Patton (identified in the record as a parolee who failed to report and owed fees): revoked; reason cited — failure to stay in contact and failure to make payments; panel vote: unanimous to revoke. - Terry Mitchell (DOC 612396 as read): denied; reason cited — serious sex-offense conviction involving juvenile victims and limited time served; panel vote: unanimous to deny. - Demetrius Bradley (DOC number read in record): granted parole; reason cited — sustained leadership in rehabilitation programs and favorable support testimony; panel vote: unanimous to grant. - John Drogan (DOC 774514 as read): denied; reason cited — seriousness of molestation conviction and victim/DA opposition; panel vote: unanimous to deny. - David Bagwell (DOC 766674 as read): denied; reason cited — insufficient time served and need for additional programming; panel vote: unanimous to deny. - Benjamin Masters / related third‑offense drug cases (Masters identified as DOC 633264 in the record): denied; reason cited — extensive criminal history and insufficient progress on addiction treatment; panel vote: unanimous to deny in the cases recorded.

What the panel said Board members repeatedly told parolees that reporting to their parole officers and paying supervision fees are baseline requirements of parole. In several cases members said they were not persuaded that employment or family support outweighed gaps in reporting, payment and supervision contact. In cases involving juvenile victims the panel explicitly cited victim impact, the number and age of victims and statements from the district attorney’s office as decisive factors.

Who spoke Witnesses for inmates included family members, employers and program staff; victims and their family members provided in-person and written statements in the sex-offense matters. Supporters for Demetrius Bradley included Audrey Thorne of Louisiana Workforce and Antoinette Bradley, who identified herself as an attorney; a licensed counselor and other program staff also spoke on his behalf. Victims in the juvenile-sex cases described long-term trauma and urged denial of release.

What happens next When the panel revoked parole, the transcript records that parolees were told to follow up with parole-office staff about counsel and next steps. Denied parole cases remain in custody unless other relief is provided by court action or administrative process. The transcript shows the committee completed the scheduled hearings and adjourned the session after the final votes.

Provenance This article summarizes the Committee on Parole session called at 09:13 on Aug. 28, 2024, and draws on the hearings and votes recorded throughout the transcript (see committee start at SEG 001 and case spans listed in the meeting timeline).