[Kreweoftruth] DA'S Prosecutors Secured Five Convictions TODAY

[cbrylski at aol.com]

Prosecutors Secured Five Convictions TODAY--Four of Them for N.O. 
Violent Crimes

(New Orleans, LA) – Today, Orleans Parish prosecutors secured 
convictions in four violent crime cases, one of which occurred as 
recent as November 2008.

Delloyd Rayfield was found guilty of attempted first degree murder for 
a shooting that occurred on August 4, 2008 inside the Iberville Housing 
Development at approximately 3 a.m. Moments prior to the shooting, 
Rayfiled and other armed men held the victim in this case hostage 
inside of an abandoned apartment within the complex. When the victim 
attempted to escape, Rayfield opened fire, shooting the victim in the 
head, back and hip. NOPD officers responding to the fired shots and 
arrested Rayfield near the crime scene, where he was apprehended while 
carrying the semi-automatic weapon he used to inflict injury on the 
victim. At trial and during intial statements to NOPD detectives, the 
victim positively identified Rayfield as the man who shot him. Rayfield 
faces a maximum of 50 years in prison for this crime and will be 
sentenced on June 18, 2009.

Assistant District Attorneys Margaret Parker and Stephen Collins 
prosecuted the case.

Mills Haults Jury Selection to Enter a Guilty Plea

During jury selection for sexual assault charges involving a juvenile 
victim, Ernest Mills pled guilty to forcible rape for an incident that 
occurred in May 2007. Mills was immediately sentenced to 3
0 years in 
prison for this crime. Assistant District Attorneys Rachel Arlick and 
Eusi Phillip prosecuted the case.

Mother and accomplice convicted for attempting to seek street justice

Shawntrell D. Hills was found guilty of attempted simple burglary of an 
inhabited dwelling, and Robert Monroe was convicted for attempted 
aggravated burglary of an inhabited dwelling. On November 20, 2008, 
both defendants entered the home of a wheel-chair bound New Orleans man 
who they believed had information regarding the shooting death of 
Hills' son. The victim in this case testified during the judge trial 
today that Monroe pointed a gun at him during the altercation; however, 
the victim successfully wrestled the gun away from Monroe during the 
occurrence of the crime.

Hills waived all sentencing delays in this matter and was sentenced to 
five years suspended sentence, and 5 years active probation. Monroe 
faces 15 years in prison as charged; however, the State intends to file 
a multiple bill in this matter. He will be sentenced on April 22, 2009

In a separate case, the defendants Terrence Ducre and Michael Venable 
pled guilty to their respective roles in an attempted armed robbery, 
which occurred on October 19, 2006 inside of the Eastside Urban Trends 
clothing store in New Orleans East. Ducre pled guilty to attempted 
armed robbery and was sentenced to one year in prison. Venable pled 
guilty to accessory after the fact to armed 
robbery and was sentenced 
to 4 years active probation. Assistant District Attorney Lynn Schiffman 
and volunteer attorney Laura Cannizzaro handled this case.

Also today, Kelly Regis was convicted of attempted possession with the 
intent to distribute crack. Regis faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years 
in prison as a multiple offender and will be sentenced on April 17. 
Assistant District Attorneys Tania Faia and Nick Noriea prosecuted the 
case.

-END-


Nayita Wilson
Deputy Director, Communications
Orleans Parish District Attorney's Office
2601 Tulane Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70119
nwilson at orleansda.com
(504) 309-8035 ext. 235
(504) 234-3769