One St. Mary inmate at large after escape

A man accused of robbing the Family Dollar Store Amelia last week, and an accomplice, escaped from the St. Mary Parish Jail in Centerville Sunday night shortly before 8:30 p.m. Early Monday, deputies captured one of the suspects, while the second remained at large.

Sheriff David A. Naquin said James A. Wilson, 29, 520 Bowman St. in Morgan City, and Barack P. Landry, 26, 301 Adrienne St. in Lafayette, escaped through a small vent in the ceiling and then, through the roof of the law enforcement center, located on Hwy. 90 in Centerville.

Lafayette Sheriff’s Office deputies captured Landry Monday morning, Naquin reported. Deputies were continuing to search that area for Wilson, he said.

Wilson was being held on four counts of armed robbery, first-degree robbery, second-degree kidnapping and several drug-related crimes, Naquin said. Other charges against the Lafayette man include armed with a dangerous weapon, two counts of false imprisonment, probation violation and failure to appear waiting trial, the sheriff said.

Wilson is also accused of robbing the Family Dollar Store in Amelia last Monday, where he went inside with a gun, tied all of the employees up, and took off with the cash inside the store, Naquin noted.

Wilson is described as a black male, standing 5 feet, 9 inches and weighing 250 pounds. His date of birth is Nov. 10, 1976.

Landry was serving six months for criminal trespassing and possession of drug paraphernalia, the sheriff said.

Jailed since Sept. 11 for violating parole, the Morgan City man was being held on two counts of simple burglary and theft.

Landry was also awaiting trial in Iberia Parish on charges of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of aggravated burglary, aggravated kidnapping, two counts of armed robbery, two counts of possession of stolen things and theft, Naquin said.

Landry is described as a white male, standing 5 feet, 6 inches and weighing 150 pounds.

His date of birth is Feb. 14, 1980.

Naquin requested anyone with information in reference to Wilson to contact the St. Mary Sheriff’s Office at (337) 828-1960 or (985) 384-1622.