2008 Woodie Awards
Changes in store for DWI
According to a survey by the Council on Alcohol & Drug Abuse, there is strong support in the New Orleans area for a DWI Court, which would force second time DWI offenders to choose jail time or an 18-month treatment program. The survey showed that 80 percent of New Orleans participants under the age of 25 would support the DWI Court.
Con Artist on the Run Again
Police are searching for Hope Ballantyne, 34, who is wanted on a $20,000 bench warrant. In December 2004, she was charged with passing a bad check and sentenced her to five years probation and a five-year suspended prison term. Ballantyne is a notorious con artist who has many aliases, three Social Security numbers, a knack for writing rubber checks and a habit of stealing from family and friends.
Campaign funds no longer allowed to cover court fees
The Louisiana Board of Ethics ruled Wednesday that politicians and candidates are no longer allowed to use campaign funds to pay legal fees to defend themselves against criminal charges. This comes after State District Judge Ronald Bodenheimer was permitted to use campaign funds to cover his defense in a corruption investigation. Shortly after this decision, Judge Alan Green, who was involved in the same investigation was not allowed to use his remaining campaign funds to pay for his defense. Green claims that this discrepancy is due to political affiliation bias and racism.
Bar loses liquor license over violence
The New Orleans Alcoholic Beverage Control Board has revoked the liquor license of local bar Club Treme. This came as a result of a history of violence and the testimony of a cop who witnessed employees dragging a murder victim out of the bar and attempting to clean the murder scene with bleach. Club owner Abram Chartrian and employees Ronald Jenkins and Albert Carter were charged with obstruction of justice.
-compiled by Kim Borneman
news co-editor