Colonels optimistic at SLC Media Days
August 3, 2016
Sheriff’s warrants raise questions and ire
August 5, 2016
A 35-year-old Thibodaux man was arrested Wednesday in connection with the theft of countertop donation boxes at convenience stores meant to raise money for children with cerebral palsy.
(See surveillance video of the incident by CLICKING HERE)
Walter Richard was booked into the Terrebonne Parish jail on four counts of theft under $750. He also had warrants for failure to appear in court for prior theft cases and as of Wednesday afternoon no bonds for his charges had been set.
Video of a man later identified as Richard were circulated on Facebook by Tracy LeBlanc, the manager at BJ’s Country Corner convenience store on Bayou Blue Road, and drew outraged comments.
“It happened on July 25th but we didn’t realize it wasn’t there until our other donation jar fell and broke Sunday,” LeBlanc said. “So we looked on the camera and came across what really happened. So I called the Sheriff’s Office after I had the footage and made a report.”
Maj. Malcolm Wolfe, Chief of Detectives for the Terrebonne Sheriff’s Office, said the video directly led to Richard’s apprehension.
“Yesterday we got calls from people identifying who it was on the video after it was placed on social media,” Wolfe said.
The money Richard is accused of stealing, placed in the donation can by shoppers willing to donate change from their purposes, was intended for the use of Cerebral Palsy of Louisiana, a non-profit organization headquartered in Houma. The group gives direct assistance in the form of medical supplies such as wheelchairs and braces along with other expenses to more than 700 adults and children.
“We don’t get any state or government assistance,” said Kathy Arceneaux, the organization’s executive director. “The canister program is statewide, and we have had it for years. It brings us in a good bit of revenue for individuals. We will pay for whatever their other programs would not cover. We are sort of the last resort.”
The money was not recovered, although the can was.
In addition to the theft from B.J.’s, Richard is accused of similar thefts at Southland Shell on West Park Avenue, Smoke Plus on West Main and Express Convenience on Bayou Gardens Boulevard.
Warrants were outstanding for failure to appear in court in connection with theft complaints at Rouses on East Park Avenue and Best Buy on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Sheriff Jerry Larpenter asked that anyone who has experienced similar thefts call 876-2500.
A woman who lives at Richard’s home on Juniper Lane was asked if there was any explanation for his actions, in light of the nature of the thefts. She said she did not wish to comment other than to say that if people are going to be judgmental they will do so no matter what she might say.
Asked how she might wish Richard’s case to be handled by the authorities once he goes to court, Arceneaux said that perhaps a day spent with one of the families her organization serves would be appropriate, in addition to restitution.
The containers used to collect the money, she noted, cost the organization about $45 each; thefts like this one, she said, are not uncommon.
Cerebral Palsy is a Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects to varying degrees the body’s ability to move, usually due to damage to a developing brain during gestation or shortly after birth.
The organization has an opportunity to recoup stolen money – and generate income altogether – this weekend when its annual telethon is held on public channels of several local cable companies.
The bayou region’s Cerebral Palsy Telethon is scheduled for 12 noon till 10 p.m. Saturday and Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Live from the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, it can be seen on Charter Communications Channel 198 and Comcast Channel 190. It will also be live-streamed at www.cerebralpalsyla.com
