A 14-year veteran of the Lafayette Police Department has been placed in the Acadia Parish Jail charged with Principal to Felony Theft and conspiracy to Commit felony theft following a nine-month investigation.According to Acadia Parish Wayne Melancon his office began receiving report of farm equipment thefts including tractors, bulldozers, and bobcats throughout the parish in November of 2008.
Melancon said that a break in the investigation came when his office received a report that a John Deere tractor with front loader was stolen from a shop on South Riceland road near Rayne. A local bank contacted law enforcement officials when someone attempted to make a loan to purchase the tractor that was stolen on South Riceland Road. Investigators learned that when the serial numbers were ran through John Deere in came back as stolen.
Investigators from Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office, Vermilion Parish Sheriff's Office, Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office, St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office, Louisiana State Police, Louisiana Livestock & Brand Commission and Federal Bureau of Investigations joined forces to investigate the 28 thefts that occurred in five neighboring parishes.
Following an extensive investigation Bobby Howard, Jr., age 39, of Scott was arrested by Investigators with the Acadia Parish Sheriff's Office Tuesday afternoon in Lafayette and charged with principal to felony theft and conspiracy to commit felony theft.
Howard was transported to the Acadia Parish Jail where his bond was set at $250-thousand-dollars.
Also, arrested was Brad Sonnier, age 29, of Scott. He is also being charged with felony theft and conspiracy to commit felony theft. He is presently being held in the Lafayette Parish Jail.
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