Several years ago, we published “A Stench Along The Teche – Outcomes of the St. Martin Parish Criminal Justice System.” Not long after that publication, the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office Supervising Attorney for St. Martin Parish, Robert Chevalier, departed. There were also a few items surrounding the St. Martinville Police Department, which we covered in “Back the Blue vs. Black and Blue.”
That was published around the same time the newly elected “leaders” of St. Martinville were just getting settled into their roles. Has anything changed under the new leadership? Join us as we discuss recent developments in the City of St. Martinville.
St. Martinville Gets a New Council and Mayor
In July 2022, the City of St. Martinville’s council was almost completely replaced by new incoming members. The new council included Carol Frederick, Jonah Fontenette, Janise Anthony, and Flo Chatman. Only one seat remained unchanged, District 1, held by long-time Councilman Mike Fuselier.
Additionally, in 2022, the City of St. Martinville voters elected a new Mayor, Jason Willis. Willis received 58% of the vote to defeat incumbent Mayor Melinda Mitchell. Willis previously served as a St. Martin Parish Councilman for three terms.
A year after being elected, Janise Anthony was targeted for removal from her seat. That recall initiative, spearheaded by Kenrell Francois and Ernest Bing, was started following a disagreement between Anthony and Willis during a council meeting in late 2024. It met a similar fate to nearly every other recall effort attempted in Louisiana: it failed.
With Willis halfway through his term in office, has there been any forward momentum in the City of St. Martinville? Or is it just more of the same?
Open Meetings and Criminal Violations?
An organization we have partnered with before, the Professional Association of Law Enforcement Officers, has been paying careful attention to the activities of the St. Martinville Municipal Police Civil Service Board for some time. They have alleged a series of open meetings and even criminal violations with multiple agencies having jurisdiction, but is anything being done?
On January 28, 2025, the St. Martinville Municipal Police Civil Service Board convened a meeting with two of the three Board members present. That meeting was in response to a notice issued by the Attorney for the City of St. Martinville, Allan Durand, instead of the Chairman or Secretary for the Board. The notice indicated that the meeting was to “hear the appeal from former Police Officer Cody Lapeyrouse of certain disciplinary action taken against him…” The agenda notice did not indicate that an executive session may occur. Further, it is alleged that the Board failed to cause the notice to be posted at the St. Martinville City Hall, where the Board meets, or at the St. Martinville Police Department, where notices are occasionally posted.
The Board allegedly held an unlawful meeting and took testimony from several people, including Chief Ricky Martin and Deputy Chief Andrew Broussard. It is further alleged that Martin and Broussard perjured themselves after being placed under oath to provide testimony. During Cody Lapeyrouse‘s testimony, the transcript records Martin intervening and saying to Lapeyrouse, “The gloves are off now, pal!”
These actions and others led to a complaint filed with the St. Martinville Municipal Police Civil Service Board. Additionally, the St. Martin Parish Sheriff was contacted concerning the criminal implications of the conduct of both individuals and the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, who have an ethical obligation to turn over Brady information to criminal defendants.
Attorney General’s Office is Involved
Both the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Louisiana Office of the Attorney General were also put on notice of the obvious open meetings violation, which extends past just ‘notice’ violations. Following the meeting, Board members Michael Formella and Anastasia Potier allegedly continued conversing about the matter, which was another open meeting violation. Those conversations are recorded in text messages and e-mail. The Board then agreed to a decision on the matter outside the open meeting, yet another violation.
The Attorney General’s Office has been clear that “a vote may not be taken during executive session and simply announced at the resumed meeting.” In fact, the Attorney General’s Office previously advised the Slidell Municipal Police Civil Service Board that it was violating the Open Meetings Law by engaging in a similar practice. The Slidell City Attorney requested an opinion from the AG’s Office regarding the “custom of the Civil Service Board to hear all of the testimony in… an appeal, and at the conclusion of the testimony retire behind closed doors in executive session to deliberate and consider the decision.”
The AG’s Office opined that it was “clear” that this practice “would violate the open meeting law by deliberating behind closed doors as to the validity of disciplinary action.” The AG’s Office specifically stated that this practice did not fall within the exception from “investigative proceedings regarding alleged misconduct.” Yet, between January 28, 2025, and February 3, 2025, the Board deliberated and determined it would not reinstate Laperouse during the executive session and simply provided a written ruling days later.
No Meetings Held
Interestingly, on February 5, 2025, when we asked the St. Martinville Municipal Police Civil Service Board Secretary, Shekia Garrick, for a “Copy of all public notices for meetings of the Civil Service Board for the period of January 1, 2025, through present,” we were simply told, “We have not had a meeting as of this year.” Perhaps she meant they hadn’t held a “lawful meeting.”
The St. Martinville Municipal Police Civil Service Board would convene another meeting on March 10, 2025. Again, the Board did not provide the requisite public notice for the meeting, making it abundantly clear that there is an ongoing pattern and practice to deprive the public of their constitutional right to direct participation. Yet another meeting would be held that same week, on March 13, 2025. This time, the Board announced it would publicly vote on the “findings of the board’s executive session that commenced January 28, 2025, concerning the appeal of Cody Laperouse.”
That statement alone makes clear they had reached a decision long before the public meeting. They don’t even try to hide that they had already decided on the outcome of the Executive Session before it took place!
Moving on to Mayor Willis
If these things were just confined to the illegal open meetings violations committed by a few citizen-volunteers serving on the Civil Service Board, we may be able to chalk it up to ignorance and error. But we know it doesn’t stop there. There are allegations of criminal misconduct by Chief of Police Ricky Martin – perjury, witness intimidation, injuring public records, etc. However, potential criminal misconduct doesn’t end there.
According to records we have reviewed and obtained, Mayor Willis and his staff may have engaged in unlawful misconduct. On March 13, 2025, we requested records concerning City employee Leroy Robertson. We simply sought a timecard confirming the hours worked by Mr. Robertson and log/records detailing the work performed. We were provided a timecard explaining, “Mr. Roberston is an employee of the Public Works Grass Cutting Crew. The crew cuts grass throughout the City. It has been confirmed that he was present and was working on the grass cutting crew on February 27, 2025.”
The response was absent any log or records detailing the work performed that day. We simply asked, “Does the City not keep records/logs of the specific sites where they cut grass?” The City Attorney, Alan Durand, informed us, “To the best of my knowledge, no.” Interestingly enough, a review of Council meetings for the City of St. Martinville reveals Councilman Mike Fusilier asking that he be provided with work logs of City employees. However, at no time have we observed the Mayor or City Attorney tell Fusilier, ‘they don’t exist.’
Sources tell us and even provided photographs that allegedly capture Mr. Robertson cutting grass on private property, violating state law. The property is at 816 Harold Street, St. Martinville, Louisiana, with “Pat” Valsin registered as owner. Valsin happens to be the same individual who allegedly filed the complaint accusing Cody Laperouse of misconduct, prompting his swift termination. Remember, we already mentioned that Chief Martin and Lieutenant Broussard have allegedly committed perjury in an attempt to uphold the findings. Coincidence? Don’t bet on it!
We have filed an official complaint with Mayor Willis concerning the matter, but have yet to learn what action is being contemplated or taken. Under state law, Louisiana Revised Statute 24:523:
“An agency head of an auditee who has actual knowledge of or reasonable cause to believe that there has been a misappropriation of the public funds or assets of his agency shall immediately notify, in writing, the legislative auditor and the district attorney of the parish in which the agency is domiciled of such misappropriation.”
Willis’ Response
In response to the complaint filed with Mayor Willis, we were contacted by City Attorney Allan “Sprinky” Durand. Durand thanked us for providing the information and indicated “The Mayor has viewed the evidence, and intends to give the employee a reprimand.” We advised Durand that swift action was appreciated, but also reiterated the lawful duty of Mayor Willis to “immediately notify, in writing, the legislative auditor and the district attorney.” In response, Durand told us, “…we do not believe that sufficient evidence of criminal intent exists to warrant a referral to the District Attorney.”
Willis and Durand seem to miss the fact that it is not within their discretion whether to report or not. The law requires them to report! Durand was then advised that we believe this is not an isolated incident. The only question left is: how many others were complicit? After all, there is no harm in reporting, right? Unless the concern is that it may expose others.
Willis seems to have turned a blind eye to the alleged misconduct of Chief Ricky Martin and Deputy Chief Andrew Broussard. He also doesn’t seem very interested in fulfilling his legal duties concerning Robertson. This continued course of conduct is rife with malfeasance in office (a felony). Louisiana Revised Statute 14:134 states:
“Malfeasance in office is committed when any public officer or public employee shall: Intentionally refuse or fail to perform any duty lawfully required of him, as such officer or employee…”
Happy Birthday Darling!
In yet another example of alleged misappropriation of public funds (a constitutional violation), a recent audit report revealed that Mayor Jason Willis improperly spent $30,000 on a contract City employee. Why? Sources say Mayor Willis allegedly fronted the money so the recipient could purchase a birthday gift. No explanation was ever provided, despite public funds being involved.
On July 25, 2024, Jason Willis entered into a contract with Kimya Cruz, hiring her as “Chief Operating Officer.” The agreement says it was effective July 1, 2023, and provided for an annual salary of $61,000.00 to be paid bi-weekly. Those bi-weekly installments should come out to about $2,346.15, but that is not what happened. Cruz submitted an invoice seeking $17,500 by July 10, 2023 (before the agreement was even signed) as a “deposit on services to the City of St. Martinville… as a Contract Worker in the position of Chief Operating Officer.”
Cruz then submitted a second invoice seeking $17,500 by July 11, 2023 (again, before the agreement was even signed) for “services rendered to the City of St. Martinville… as a Contract Worker in the position of Chief Operating Officer.” The City, with the express approval of the Mayor, then issued a check on July 12, 2023 for $17,500.00 and again on July 24, 2023 for $12,500.00, totaling $30,000.00 or 49% of the total value of contract before even a month of work under the twelve month contract had been completed.
Both the Robertson and the Cruz incidents clearly violate Article VII, Section 14 of the Louisiana Constitution, which prohibits the loaning, pledging, or donating of public funds. Such violations don’t just represent bad judgment; they’re unconstitutional and may be prosecutable. But the violations don’t stop there.
In Comes the Don…
Beginning in December 2023, the City of St. Martinville began paying La Louisianne. La Louisianne is a lobbyist organization operated by Don Cravins. Two payments of $6,000.00 were made in December, followed by $6,000.00 in February 2024, $12,000.00 in May 2024, and $6,000.00 on June 11, 2024. Interestingly, while the Council approved entering into a one-year agreement with La Louisianne in September of 2023 for consulting in economic development, the agreement was not consummated until June 12, 2024. The agreement says it “shall commence immediately upon execution… and shall end after twelve (12) months…” Despite the absence of an executed contract, $36,000.00 in payments were made to La Louisianne!
The payments continued over the next several months, with an additional $18,000 being paid between July and September 2024. The matter then came before the council for renewal on October 21, 2024. The Council was split on whether the agreement should be “renewed” for one or two years. It was ultimately renewed for two years, stipulating that the “writing and administration of grants” also be included in the contract. This was anything other than a “renewal.”
The original agreement outlined services, as such:
“Our firm will provide consultation and expertise regarding community engagement, Capital Outlay planning and Master Plan Development for the City of St. Martinville including:
- Developing, promoting, and executing the message of the City of St. Martinville to stakeholders.
- Serve as a statewide liaison between City of St. Martinville, the Louisiana Legislature, and other governmental agencies pertinent to the mission set forth by the City of St. Martinville.
- Take a proactive approach to seeking capital outlay funding and other economic opportunities that can be beneficial to City of St. Martinville agenda. This includes, but is not limited to; seeking out grant opportunities, infrastructure development, economic development opportunities, and cultural preservation.
The new agreement was executed on October 22, 2024. Make no mistake, it is a “new agreement” with clearly different language, not a renewal as authorized by the Council. It now states:
“Our firm will continue to provide expert consultation and strategic support for the City of St. Martinville in the following key areas:
- Master Plan Completion: Facilitate the continued development and completion of the City of ST. Martinville’s comprehensive Master Plan, ensuring alignment with the city’s long-term objectives.
- Funding and Developer Outreach: Proactively seek new funding sources and engage with developers to support the execution of the Master Plan’s initial phases, helping to ensure successful project implementation.
- Capital Outlay Assistance and Compliance: Continue assisting in securing additional capital outlay funds while maintaining compliance with all necessary state and federal regulations.
- Business Development: Develop and implement programs that stimulate local business growth, fostering economic development and identifying new business opportunities for the city.
- Grant Identification and Acquisition: Assist the City of St. Martinville in identifying and securing new grant funding opportunities to support its ongoing and future initiatives.
- City Promotion and Cultural Highlights: Promote the City of St. Martinville, its cultural events, and heritage, with a focus on increasing visibility, tourism, and engagement from both state and local stakeholders.
The City of St. Martinville is hosting several forums promoting abandoning its existing special legislative charter for a government under the Lawrason Act. Perhaps the real reason for a push to move to a Lawrason Act municipality has little to do with an alleged “antiquated charter,” as it has been called. A charter could be easily amended. So, we can only assume the change involves power and control.
Knowing the sheer level of incompetence and/or corruption within the City of St. Martinville, every reasonable person should pause before relinquishing any further authority to the Mayor or Chief of Police.
