District Attorney Billy Joe Harrington announced the sentencing in a second degree murder case and two court of appeal rulings in two other cases. A. L. Simmons, 23 of Campti, was convicted by a jury in June of second degree murder for a 2020 robbery and shooting in Clarence. Simmons robbed and shot the victim after receiving a ride from the victim to a convenience store in which he later demanded money and a ride to Campti.
Judge Lala Sylvester sentenced Simmons to a mandatory life imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence. The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jason Methvin and assisted by Assistant District Attorney J. Chris Guillet.
Additionally, Harrington announced that the Third Circuit Court of Appeal affirmed the conviction and sentencing of Freeman Tucker. Tucker was convicted by a jury in 2022 of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Judge Lala Sylvester sentenced Tucker to 20 years at hard labor and a $5,000 fine. The appellate court upheld the prison sentence and ordered a hearing to determine the defendant’s ability to pay the fine. Assistant District Attorney J. Chris Guillet prosecuted the case.
In a separate case, the court of appeal affirmed the conviction and the revised sentencing of O’Shay Hicks. Hicks pleaded guilty in 2017 on charges of forcible rape and second degree kidnapping. Judge Lala Sylvester sentenced Hicks to 30 years at hard labor for forcible rape and 15 years at hard labor for second degree kidnapping. In the appellate court ruling affirming the sentence, the court noted the crimes committed by Hicks were “exceptionally violent and heinous.” Assistant District Attorney J. Chris Guillet prosecuted the case.
