OPELOUSAS, La. (KLFY) — A Port Barre man and an Opelousas man were indicted for murder and rape, respectively, in separate cases, prosecutors said.

Jared Eugene Wells, 23, of Port Barre, was indicted today by a St. Landry Parish grand jury of second degree murder in the death of David Joachin, also from Porte Barre. The grand jury heard evidence of the shooting which occurred on Jennings Road in Opelousas on June 11. Joachin died of a single gunshot wound to the chest, officials said.

Second degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence of imprisonment at hard labor without probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Wells will be arraigned on Nov. 6.

Felton Leday, 74, of Opelousas, was inducted for three counts of first degree rape and three counts of sexual battery. The allegations stem from the complaints of three victims concerning acts by Leday that happened over a period of several years when they were under the ages of ten, prosecutors said.

First degree rape also carries a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. Leday will be arraigned on Nov. 20.

An indictment is not a conviction, but a determination by a grand jury that enough evidence exists for the accused to stand trial for the crimes for which they were indicted.

Latest news