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Department of Corrections Committee on Parole revokes several paroles, denies parole for man convicted in 2005 armored‑car robbery
Summary
At hearings in Baton Rouge on May 13, 2026, the Committee on Parole continued one revocation, revoked multiple paroles after testimony and medical reports, and denied parole eligibility for Ezekiel McInness following victim and prosecutorial opposition to his release.
The Department of Corrections Committee on Parole met in Baton Rouge on May 13, 2026, to hear a series of revocation and parole‑review cases. Over the morning the three‑member panel heard testimony from parolees, attorneys, facility staff, medical personnel and victims before taking votes on each matter.
The committee continued the revocation hearing for Andre Batist (Assumption Parish Detention Center, DOC #552855) while criminal charges remain pending. Batist pleaded not guilty; his retained counsel, Stros Pengalopoulos, asked the committee to treat the paperwork lapse as a technical violation and noted the arrest recorded on Jan. 6, 2025 for obstruction, possession of marijuana and alleged CDS totaling about 1.55 grams. The committee voted to continue the revocation until the outcome of those charges.
The panel revoked parole for Edwin Lee (Louisiana State Penitentiary). Lee told the board he missed an intake window because he was hospitalized and said he has been on and off medications; treating psychiatrist Dr. Matthew Gamble told the committee that Lee “is diagnosed with schizophrenia” and receives high‑dose injectable antipsychotic treatment and ongoing mental‑health care at Angola’s treatment unit. After hearing medical testimony and the attorney’s statements the committee voted to revoke Lee’s parole and ordered continued custodial psychiatric care.
In a parole‑eligibility review, the committee denied release for Ezekiel McInness, who had sought parole following a commutation that made him eligible. Supporters, including Kevin Jenkins and Carrie Myers of the Louisiana Parole Project, emphasized trustee status and training completed in custody. Rapides Parish prosecutors and law‑enforcement letters opposed release; district attorney Philip Terrell described the 2005 armed robbery in downtown Alexandria and told the committee McInness “came prepared for battle,” citing an AK‑47, a handgun and a bulletproof vest in the incident. The committee denied McInness’s request.
Other cases: the panel denied release and revoked parole for Jerry Styles (Allen Correctional Center) after an executive session; it revoked parole for Marie Touché and for Antonio Brantley (Lincoln Parish Detention Center) for failures to report and other alleged violations; it revoked parole for Jason England after a victim provided a statement and the committee reviewed evidence about new criminal conduct and missed mental‑health follow‑up; and it revoked parole for Xavier Tate after confirmed reporting and address‑change violations and pending conduct concerns. Several hearings included family and facility staff testimony in support of release and defenders citing mental‑health or procedural explanations for missed reporting.
The committee repeatedly cautioned respondents about supervision conditions and the appearance of impropriety. As Chair Steve Prader told one parolee, “don’t be around a bunch of people like that,” framing the committee’s concern about proximity to alleged criminal activity while on supervision.
Next steps: where the committee continued a revocation, hearings will resume after the underlying criminal cases are resolved; for cases where parole was revoked, respondents will remain in DOC custody. The Committee on Parole did not announce a schedule for rehearings in the transcripted session.
