The Grinch hard at work in Houma
December 12, 2015
William Gautreaux
December 16, 2015
A change of address for convicted killer and rapist Chad Roy Louviere was in order last week, following objections from the disgraced former deputy’s victims communicated to state officials by local prosecutors.
Louviere’s death sentence, imposed 15 years ago in connection with the murder of bank teller Pamela Duplantis, was set aside in April by District Judge Johnny Walker, in return for a promise to drop his quest for a new trial. In return the former Terrebonne Parish deputy accepted an unconditional sentence of life in prison.
Duplantis was shot to death during Louviere’s 25-hour siege at the former Argent Bank on Grand Caillou Road in 1996, during which he raped other bank employees.
Louviere had sought a new trial through a civil post-conviction relief action, which could have also resulted in years of appeals.
Once he was no longer facing a death penalty Louviere, who had languished on death row at Angola, had to be moved.
Victims and members of the Duplantis family were under the impression that he would remain somewhere in the state penitentiary, but plans were made by state correction officials to move him.
He was assigned to Elayn Hunt Correctional Center near Houma, department spokeswoman Pam Laborde confirmed. Prior to that transfer Louviere was temporarily housed at the David Wade Correctional Center in St. Gabriel, for what law enforcement sources described as a need for unspecified medical treatment.
Terrebonne Parish District Attorney Joe Waitz Jr. protested the move to Hunt on Dec. 4, filing a formal objection with DOC, which included a reference to crimes Louviere committed while awaiting trial, housed in the Lafayette Parish jail.
“He took a guard hostage, and forced a fellow inmate to engage in sexual intercourse,” wrote Waitz, rankled because his office was not notified of the move. “I am not sure if DOC was completely aware of the violent, dangerous background of Mr. Louviere when the decision to transfer him was made. We would respectfully request that Mr. Louviere be moved back to Angola to finish his life sentence.”
DOC spokeswoman Laborde said confinement decisions are made on the basis of factors that include the nature of a crime, prior disciplinary history with DOC, capacities of prisons and needs of the offender.
Louviere, being a former law enforcement officer, would not in any event be eligible for housing in a general population setting, a corrections official confirmed, because of the potential for violence against him. “His daily life and routine at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center (wouldn’t) be any different than if he was at LSP (Angola) or David Wade Correctional Center, as he is currently assigned to a closed-cell restriction tier. His movements are closely monitored and restricted, similar to his confinement when he was on death row.”
A corrections official said the department was never consulted regarding Louviere’s housing arrangements, but on Dec. 9 Laborde confirmed that Louviere was re-assigned to Angola, where he will be confined to his cell, generally, for 23 hours per day.
“It was the right thing,” Waitz said, upon learning that Louviere was returned to Angola. “These victims have been through a lot over the past 19 years. He will spend the rest of his life at Angola and that is where they were told he would stay.” •
