Former Ville Platte Police Officer, Larry Paul Fontenot, and his attorney, Jacob Fusilier, entered into a plea agreement in open court today (Friday) with the Evangeline Parish District Attorney’s Office. Fontenot was arrested in August of last year for malfeasance in office, extortion and video voyeurism for his role in intimidating two females during a traffic stop to exposing their breasts. In the original complaint, he was also accused of taking pictures of their breasts and showing other officers. The two females have settled a lawsuit filed against the Ville Platte Police Department for an undisclosed amount.
In the plea agreement, the bill was amended to One (1) count of Abuse of Office; and Two (2) counts of Intimidation by an Officer. By pleading Guilty to all three counts, Fontenot was sentenced to Five (5) year hard labor with Five (5) years suspended and Five (5) years active and supervised probation. For each of the two (2) counts of Intimidation by an Officer, Fontenot will receive Six (6) months in jail; Six (6) months suspended and One (1) year of probation. The two years of probation will be served concurrently with the larger charge.
The plea agreement also comes with two special conditions: 1) Fontenot is not allowed to hold any type of law enforcement position; and he is to attend court ordered counseling approved by Parole and Probation. That counseling could include Anger Management or Abusive Behavior.
Fontenot was also order to pay a $1,000.00 fine, plus additional court fees and costs.
Assistant District Attorney, Kelly Tate handled the case and presented it to The Honorable Chuck West who accepted the plea agreement into the record.