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The battle over computers and cell phones seized by deputies in connection with a misdemeanor criminal defamation investigation took a new turn Monday night when Sheriff Jerry Larpenter disclosed information regarding the criminal history of one of the owners on a local television program.
During a segment of Bayou Time, television personality Martin Folse’s public affairs program on HTV-10, Larpenter said the information is relevant because as litigation over the search warrant his deputies executed continues, “we would like to bring it to the courts … maybe show a history.”
Larpenter said his office was informed, after news of the warrant execution became public, that Jennifer Anderson had served time in federal prison in connection with an electronic fraud charge. Federal court records and separate state records in Georgia confirm Larpenter’s claim.
Anderson’s attorney, Jerri Smitko, said she wished to defer comment for now.
“I haven’t seen it because I don’t normally watch HTV,” Smitko said. “But I will take a look and if I have any comments I will let you know.”
Litigation filed by Smitko against Larpenter on behalf of the Andersons, filed last week in federal court, seeks to quash a warrant approved by State District Judge Randy Bethancourt, alleging that it was based on an unconstitutional application of Louisiana’s criminal defamation statute. Larpenter’s office is no longer handling the investigation, which has been turned over to the Louisiana Attorney General.
The seizure on which the litigation was based occurred in connection with a July complaint made by insurance broker Tony Alford. It arose from allegations on a website and Facebook page called Exposedat, which holds itself out as a local political watchdog. The Facebook page connected with the site is maintained by a fictitious individual named John Turner, whose true identity has not been determined.
Exposedat alleges that Alford’s insurance contracts with the Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government and the Sheriff’s Office resulted from cronyism, citing the fact that Larpenter’s wife, Priscilla, works for Alford’s firm. The site also suggests that Parish President Gordon Dove arranged for Alford’s contract with the parish was payback for an alleged old business debt. The Larpenters have vehemently denied any impropriety. Dove and Alford have both denied that anything other than the best deal possible for the parish on premiums – in particular a guarantee of a price lock for three years – was the reason for Dove’s recommendations to the Parish Council.
Wayne Anderson, a City of Houma police officer and his wife, Jennifer, have not been charged with a crime in connection with the defamation case, nor have authorities identified them as suspects. After their electronic items were seized Smitko sought to have a stay placed on further action and a hearing was held before Bethancourt, who refused to overturn his decision to issue the warrant. Jennifer Anderson, who served as campaign manager for former Parish President Clayton Voisin under the name Jennifer Goulas, also worked for two years in Smitko’s office. The judge placed a temporary stay, pending a request by Smitko for a writ from Louisiana’s 1st Circuit Court of Appeal.
The attorney also filed an unusual concurrent action in federal court, seeking to have the investigation halted on the grounds of its alleged unconstitutionality. A date for a hearing has not yet been set.
The cases Larpenter referred to began in 2003, when Jennifer Anderson, under the name Jennifer Richeson, opened a bank account in the name of a Grovetown, Ga woman. Checks from that account, according to a report obtained Monday from Georgia prosecutors, were deposited into an account in Richeson’s name. She was arrested and charged with “theft by taking.” Two felony counts were dismissed and a misdemeanor charge remained. She pleaded guilty, paid a $1,000 fine and was placed on two years’ probation. In addition to the woman identified in the complaint, First Bank of Georgia was also named as a victim. The Times has chosen not to identify her after an attempt to reach her was unsuccessful.
Simultaneously, Anderson was also investigated by the U.S. Secret Service in connection with a case originating in Savannah that included multiple defendants. The Secret Service’s Atlanta bureau confirmed some details of the case but said the defendant’s arrest was effected in Nebraska.
The Times was aware of Anderson’s history due to communication last week from an anonymous person, and was still in the process of checking the information Monday night. Available details, therefore, are still sketchy.
The Federal court record does show that on July 29, 2005 Richeson pleaded guilty to fourteen counts of “fraud and related activity in connection with access devices.” She was sentenced to two years in federal prison, ordered to pay $13,990.97 in restitution and a $1,200 fine.
During his television interview with Folse, Larpenter reiterated his objection to suggestions that he had been heavy handed in his approach to the case. The matter, he said, was treated no differently by his office than if people he knew were not involved.
An independent check of prosecution records by The Times shows that the defamation statute has been employed in past Terrebonne prosecutions, three times this year.
Interviews with individuals charged indicate that it is usually brought concurrently with other charges, more recently from abuses through social media. One man who was charged with defamation said he had taken over his ex-girlfriend’s Facebook account and published embarrassing photos of her on the page.
Larpenter said during the Monday night interview that he encourages people who feel they have been defamed by anyone to press charges.
The Sheriff balked at suggestions that his actions caused the Andersons embarrassment, noting that he did not publicize execution of the warrant.
“Miss Smitko is saying we are embarrassing these people,” Larpenter said. “She ran to the media. If nothing else she has blown it out of proportion.”
Jennifer Anderson
