Bienville sheriff investigating town of Gibsland
A criminal investigation of the town of Gibsland is under way after complaints of misappropriation and misuse of public funds were taken to the Bienville sheriff’s office.
Sheriff John Ballance confirmed Tuesday that court subpoenas delivered to Town Hall late Monday seek bank records, official meeting minutes and assorted other financial information and documents. He said he’s optimistic he’ll know “fairly quickly” if the investigation will lead to criminal charges.
“I’m not going to play politics and shirk my responsibility. The allegations have been made, and we’re going to get to the bottom of it.”
Bienville District Attorney Jonathan Stewart said his office is not actively involved in the sheriff’s investigation. Assistance is only being offered with court subpoenas.
Stewart said it’s likely he’ll have to recuse his office from involvement because of a conflict. Stewart and his father formerly served for decades as the town’s attorney.
06/20/2012 at 6:08 am |
Sure wish he would recuse himself from the Jonesboro ordeal. He’s surely not gonna do anything!
06/20/2012 at 6:48 am |
That is not necessary……the Attorney General could have already stepped in…..go back and review the archive of the Legislative Audit Committee when they had the President of the Louisiana District Attorney’s Association speak and explain to them the law that is in place for the Attorney General to over ride the local District Attorney. It’s not all about Stewart now, it’s BOTH OF THEM. Perhaps someone should define recuse for Stewart and responsibility for both of them.
06/20/2012 at 6:58 am |
Buddy Caldwell and the Stewarts may be personal friends…since Jonnie’s daddy has been a lawyer for many, many years.
06/20/2012 at 6:13 am |
Does the “J” in Jonesboro and Jonathan stand for “JOKE”?
The “G” in Gibsland is for Genius!
Gibsland’s citizens will see justice and an honest investigation as Jonnie Boy will recuse himself.
Gibsland’s citizens will not have to suffer for so many years as the council members have spoken out and are seeking justice.
The a few council members of Jonesboro need to ride on over to Gibsland and be a quick study of the elected officials in that little town!
Go Gibsland!!
06/20/2012 at 7:07 am |
I have made numerous trips to Baton Rouge, at the request of the Legislative Auditor, to attest to the issues that prevail in the Town of Jonesboro. I don’t have to make another road trip just around the corner to see how or why a Town can have cooperation and anticipation of a complete investigation with the hope of an answer as to why one Town can get assistance and the other one can just be allowed to run free and never have to answer to the Public regarding irregularities. One thing that boggles the mind is the fact that the Compliance Audit that was conducted the Legislative Auditor and subsequent investigation by the Jackson Parish Sheriff was never acted upon and the other most glaring issue one could ask why would be the fact that a Deputy Clerk was arrested for theft of public funds, and there has been no answer to the Town of Jonesboro, for just this charge, why? The list is endless, the facts are there, the evidence is there, but two men, District Attorney Stewart and the Louisiana Attorney General have the ability and responsibility do their job but the Town of Jonesboro is not on the grid when it comes to following the Lawrason Act, Louisiana Code of Ethics and Revised Statues of the State of Louisiana. So, if you question how one town can have help, namely Gibsland I suggest you call the District Attorney and ask him where he lives. Maybe he could move to Jonesboro and help us too.
06/20/2012 at 7:19 am |
Thanks Renee….we know you have done all you could do…I guess we still can maintain a flicker of hope that a change will come.
06/20/2012 at 10:54 am |
Maybe instead of sending the evidence to the D.A. for a grand jury, the Sheriff, if enough evidence was uncovered, should have made an arrest. Thus, forcing action to have been taken in some form. Continuences in court can only go on for so long but we may never see the grand jury!
06/20/2012 at 7:17 am |
“The investigation is welcomed by Alderman Marketris Jones, who is joined by at least two other aldermen”
Mr. Jones, will you please help the council members from Jonesboro…namely Charla Thompson, Devin Flowers and LeStevic Cottonham….educated them on how your elected position is suppose to function.
They do not seem to understand the importance of their job.
Has the Rev David Dill from your parish ever worked with your Mayor?
Thanks!
06/20/2012 at 8:02 am |
You forgot Lumpkins, you always leave him out, why? He rides that horse too………sits tall in the saddle specially when he wants to be known to Les as da go along kid.
06/20/2012 at 10:12 pm |
Thank you for adding this. It amazes me they leave him out as well.
06/20/2012 at 8:46 am |
I wouldn’t get to excited for Gibsland just yet. The sheriff is doing an investigation and I’m sure they will do a good job ,but doesn’t all this sound familiar. Wait and see if the anybody jumps on this case when the S.O. gives it to them.
06/20/2012 at 10:57 am |
Wait and see if the “S.O.” makes an arrest or sends it to stewart! That will be an interesting move to see.
06/20/2012 at 1:30 pm |
I bet he makes an arrest, Ballance don’t play, and that ain’t no story.
06/21/2012 at 1:07 pm |
Ouch….sounds like things in Gibsland are not as good as we have it in Jonesboro.
I remember our Mayor Thompson telling the good folks in Baton Rouge at one of those auditor meetings he would have Jonesboro running so good….he mentioned going out and helping other towns straighten out their own troubles with the Legislative Auditors.
Gibsland, you just call our Mayor…well, better call the Rev Dill….and let him know you want to take him up on his offer to help other towns.
I am sure he can squeeze you all into his busy schedule….he has a town own car with unlimited gasoline so he can come visit your office and help out a neighbor.
He is so nice….all is good here and we hope you troubles all just disappear soon too!
06/21/2012 at 2:14 pm |
I would like to nominate you for a very special award Messy, it comes complete with your very own sash and or banner, a crown or beret, a parking place…..just for your bicycle, a year’s supply of I.Q. Journal, a shovel for the sand your head is buried in and a light to illuminate your dim way of thinking. Messy, on behalf of all the bloggers here on LPNO….I nominate you for OFFICIAL IDIOT OF THE YEAR !!!!!! Take a bow Messy,. your audience is cheering for you and your esteemed posse.
06/21/2012 at 3:14 pm |
Two bits, four bits, six bits, a dollar. All for “Messy” stand up and holler.
Strange, I do not hear one cheer! Poor ole “Messy”. I will bet he is tearing up at this very minute.
06/21/2012 at 4:33 pm |
Cause to change direction by interposing something; turn aside from a straight course.
Why you want to deflect on me?
06/21/2012 at 9:26 pm |
You have got to be one of the most cracked out writers i have ever seen.
06/25/2012 at 4:57 pm |
Messy you described yourself to a tee. You are interposing something alright……….lies upon lies interposed upon what we, the bloggers, know as truth. Too, you are traveling down a very crooked road and slippery slope but NO ONE will ever be able to convince you of this.
That is the truth! You are a very mixed up person, Messy!
06/21/2012 at 3:15 pm |
Anyone know the mayor’s name in Gibsland? Is he white or black?
06/21/2012 at 4:12 pm |
What does his skin color matter to you?
06/25/2012 at 5:12 pm |
FYI: Gibsland mayor’s name is indeed, Odis Key, a black democrat. Key was the former mayor in Gibsland a few years back and got in trouble when a lot of money came up missing. He was defeated in the next election by a white guy by the name of Pat White who was a just and honest mayor and a good man for the little village of Gibsland. But, not to worry, come election time again, he was voted out by the blacks in order that they could get the crook back into office.
See what they got once again? A crook. But, do they care one iota? No. Sounds just like Jonesboro. Turn your head while the mayor destroys our town. But, it does not matter….just as long as a black is in office. As I have said several times before, they just do not have any business sense.
06/21/2012 at 3:54 pm |
Odis Key 12/31/2014 Democrat
1218 Shady Lane St., Gibsland LA 71028 Black
318-843-6461 Incumbent Male
06/21/2012 at 4:13 pm |
you made up that name
06/21/2012 at 5:11 pm |
no the name is not made up. you can search it on the sect. of state website..elected offical database…it is correct info
06/21/2012 at 5:23 pm |
Not Mayor Key…it is real…the Vince Davis is made up
06/21/2012 at 9:23 pm |
Messy-FYI-my parents gave me this name. Both of them, both a mother and a father, not a single parent, not a baby momma, but my mother and father. I am proud of it and have been for 63 years.
06/21/2012 at 5:28 pm |
Leave it to SunriseSunset to be concerned about race. I feel so sorry for her being imprisoned in that little world she lives in. And Messy is being sarcastic, has been all along, for you idiots who think his writings are sincere, lol.
06/21/2012 at 9:21 pm |
WOW, I feel so sorry for you being imprisoned in your chip laden world, how minute it must be. You are the epitome of one concerned with race.
06/25/2012 at 5:20 pm |
WOW:
Not concerned about race one bit. Just concerned that everything that happens in Jonesboro & Gibsland is being caused by an inept black.
If a black person ran for office and he/she was qualified and had a great business sense, I would have no trouble in voting for he/she. No, I am not racist. I worked for 20 years among both races and had no problem whatsoever. I have black friends as well as white.
All Jonesboro and Gibsland needs is someone that is QUALIFIED for the job. Get it? Are you racist? I bet you are.
06/21/2012 at 8:24 pm |
So what, Messy. You made up your “name.” Surely your parents didn’t name you that, even though it does fit.
06/22/2012 at 2:32 pm |
To WOW: Doesn’t matter to me whether “Messy” is being sarcastic or not. He or she reflects the thinking of a lot of others, including you, as indicated by your characterization
of writers who don’t represent your views as “idiots.”
06/25/2012 at 7:20 am |
Does Gibsland have an airport? Thinking about our Mayor needs a plane ride on over and help them out.
I am feeling one of those white folks with a plane sitting out at the wonderful Jonesboro airport needs to be taking the Mayor on rides.
They all need to thank Mayor Thompson….he got them over 1.5 million to spend on the airport and most of them do not live in Jonesboro!
See all is well in Jonesboro and at the Jonesboro airport….it is so nice…kinda like a private airport….for just a few to use.