Louisiana parole board holds multiple revocation hearings; several paroles revoked, one continued for counsel

The Louisiana Committee on Parole convened at Department of Corrections headquarters in Baton Rouge on March 5, 2026, and conducted a series of remote final revocation hearings, revoking parole for several people and continuing one case to allow for attorney representation.

The three‑member panel, led by Chair Steve Prater, began with a hearing for Aaron Williams (DLC 710561), who pleaded not guilty to an allegation that parole officers found a pistol tucked into a mattress at his registered address. Witnesses in Williams’s defense urged leniency: Jacqueline Northern told the board, “I believe that mercy triumphs over judgment,” and a relative said Williams is a devoted father to five young children. Williams said he was often away for work and that the gun belonged to his wife; his wife told the panel she kept the firearm because she feared people were “running past my window…with big guns” and that she had placed cameras for security. After questioning and deliberation, the panel voted to revoke Williams’s parole and notified him the revocation was effective at 09:02 that morning.

At a subsequent hearing Keandra Young (DOC 767115) acknowledged that two firearms were found at her registered residence and said the guns belonged to her stepfather; she disputed an affidavit entry that said she admitted carrying firearms during a post‑Miranda interview. Board members pressed Young about prior arrests and alleged affiliations and about whether she completed recommended evaluations. The panel voted to revoke Young’s parole.

In a separate Williams matter that included victim and family statements and oral argument from defense counsel Terry Bonnie, the board reviewed incident reports and considered a video the board did not have on file. The panel met briefly in executive session and, on returning to public session, voted not to revoke parole in that case and returned the person to supervision with a caution from Chair Prater that “when you're on parole, it's easy” to trigger revocation.

Daryl Nickerson (DLC 749686) faced allegations tied to an arrest for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; a witness, Devin Francis, told the board the firearm was in a vehicle he had been driving and said he believed the gun was his. Board members questioned why a search was not authorized at the stop and whether Nickerson had been truthful about his contacts and license status. The panel voted to revoke Nickerson’s parole and recommended placement in a Department of Corrections facility with mental‑health evaluation and enrollment in a cognitive‑behavioral program such as Thinking for a Change to address risk factors.

Darren Blasio (DLC 780487) appeared on allegations stemming from a traffic stop and related drug counts; he told the board his attorney was pursuing motions, including an unlawful‑search argument, and said he had lost housing and employment since the arrest. The panel cited a recorded positive THC test and other compliance concerns and voted to revoke his parole, urging that he pursue substance‑use treatment while in custody.

Verts (recorded in the transcript as "Wild") Belt (DLC 489817) faced multiple driving‑related charges, including a second‑offense DWI. Belt disputed some allegations and said criminal proceedings were still pending or delayed; the board questioned the extent of substance‑use treatment and prior convictions and voted to revoke parole while recommending treatment services be provided during confinement.

Finally, the board heard John Johnson (DLC 711021), who said he had retained counsel and asked for a continuance so his attorney could attend. The panel agreed and continued the hearing to allow representation; no revocation decision was made in that matter.

Votes at a glance - Aaron Williams (DLC 710561): alleged firearm found at residence — panel voted to revoke (revocation effective 09:02). - Keandra Young (DOC 767115): firearms observed at registered address — panel voted to revoke (revocation effective 09:16). - Williams family matter (defendant returned to supervision): panel returned person to supervision after executive session and did not revoke (09:34). - Daryl Nickerson (DLC 749686): alleged firearm possession; pretrial pending 04/17/2026 — panel voted to revoke and recommended mental‑health and CBT programming. - Darren Blasio (DLC 780487): drug and traffic allegations, arrears — panel voted to revoke (10:00). - Verts/Wild Belt (DLC 489817): DWI and related charges — panel voted to revoke (10:15) and recommended substance‑use treatment. - John Johnson (DLC 711021): hearing continued for counsel (continued at 10:24).

What the board cited most often was the presence of firearms or evidence of criminal conduct while on supervision and, in some cases, prior gun convictions or ongoing substance‑use concerns. In several revocations the board also recommended programming or mental‑health evaluation be provided while the person is in DOC custody.

The panel said several hearings were scheduled throughout the day and that decisions, including where to place individuals after revocation, would depend on DOC space and available programming. The board did not announce further calendar dates for continued matters at the close of the session.