Merrell pleads guilty to sexual battery, felony carnal knowledge

On June 25, 2015 Pine Prairie police officer Josh Estes arrested 23-year-old Adrian Joseph Merrell, better known as A.J., for felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile and sexual battery.
Merrell, who is a resident of Pine Prairie, opted for taking a plea deal offered by the Evangeline Parish District Attorney’s Office. On January 7, 2016, just over six-months after he was arrested, Merrell faced District Judge Gary Ortego in an Evangeline Parish courtroom to learn his fate after he pled guilty to one count of sexual battery and felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile.
Merrell originally was charged with three counts of sexual battery and one count of felony carnal knowledge, but as a part of his plea bargaining deal, Assistant District Attorney Timmy Fontenot informed the court that the district attorney’s office would be dropping two of Merrell’s sexual battery charges.
For the charge of felony carnal knowledge, Merrell was sentenced to 15-years at hard labor, with 10-years being suspended, leaving Merrell with five-years at hard labor to be served. Merrell will also spend five-years on probation following his release.
For the crime of sexual battery, Merrell was sentenced to five-years at hard labor to be served concurrently, or at the same time, with his sentence for the crime of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile. Merrell will also be given credit for the time he has already served.
Judge Ortego also ordered Merrell to stay away from his victims upon his release from jail.
Also appearing in court last Thursday was Willie Melvin, who led Ville Platte Police Department officers on a vehicle chase back in September of 2015.
A warrant had been issued for Melvin’s arrest after a woman who he had held against her will managed to escape from Melvin when he stopped at a convenience store. The female ran into the store that Melvin had stopped at, and was asking for help. Store employees informed local law enforcement about the situation, which led to the warrant being issued for the charge of aggravated battery, kidnapping, and unauthorized use of a moveable.
The hunt for Melvin continued for about three-weeks before he was finally brought in to the Evangeline Parish jail.
Thursday was Melvin’s arraignment, which is where he learned when his probing and trial dates would be set for and also which courtroom his case will be heard in.
Melvin’s probing date was set for March 17, 2016 and his trial date was set for April 4, 2016. His case will be heard in Division B, which is District Judge Chuck West’s courtroom.
Melvin is facing the following charges: simple escape, resisting an officer with force or violence, simple battery, simple assault, public intimidation, unauthorized use of a movable, aggravated battery, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated flight from an officer, failure to stop at a stop sign, resisting an officer, reckless operation, and driving under suspension.
While appearing before Judge Ortego, Melvin refused to stop speaking out of turn, even after being warned repeatedly by the judge to stop. When Melvin was handed the notice of his court dates he proceeded to crumple the paper up and throw it on the ground.
Melvin’s time in the courtroom ended with Judge Ortego ordering that Melvin be held in contempt of court.