If no lawyer is listed, call 918-582-6422 and MoreLaw will help you find a lawyer for free.

Description: Shreveport, Louisiana criminal law lawyer represented defendant charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

Derrick J. Thomas, 28, of Vivian, Louisiana, was indicted in September 2021 for assault with a deadly weapon and he pleaded guilty to the charge on March 22, 2022. According to information presented to the court, on August 12, 2021, a rural carrier associate working at the Vivian Post Office began servicing her mail route in Vivian which she had been doing for two years. Shortly after starting the route that morning, the rural postal carrier passed Thomas sitting outside his residence (which was an abandoned residence) and parked nearby to begin to deliver mail to the street.

Soon after, the postal carrier got back into her vehicle and began driving but stopped after being flagged down by Thomas. Thomas had a 10” butcher knife hidden on his person and stabbed the postal carrier, who was 5 months pregnant at the time, in the right front shoulder. The carrier hit the accelerator and fled the scene before Thomas could stab a second time. The incident was reported to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and after an investigation, Thomas was charged with assault with a deadly weapon.

“Our federal employees and contractors must feel safe while in the course and scope of their employment,” stated U.S. Attorney Brandon B. Brown. “This is especially true when our employees are working in rural areas where law enforcement resources are limited. This defendant, without provocation, committed a violent, inexcusable crime and deserves every day in the jail that the court gave him. We will continue to prosecute those who commit such heinous acts against federal workers.”

The case was investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Louisiana State Police, and the Vivian Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cytheria D. Jernigan.

ASSAULTING/RESISTING/IMPEDING OFFICERS/EMPLOYEES - Assault with a Deadly Weapon
(1)

Outcome: 03/22/2022 28 MINUTES for proceedings held before Chief Judge S Maurice Hicks, Jr: CHANGE OF PLEA HEARING as to Derrick J Thomas (1) held on 3/22/2022, PLEA ENTERED: Guilty Count 1. Presentence investigation ordered. Sentencing set for 8/3/2022 03:00 PM in Shreveport, Courtroom 1 before Chief Judge S Maurice Hicks Jr. Defendant remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing. (Court Reporter: Marie Moran Runyon) (crt,Bray, K) (Entered: 03/23/2022)
03/22/2022 29 ORAL ORDER OF REFERRAL to Probation for Pre-Sentence Investigation and Report as to Derrick J Thomas (1) by Chief Judge S Maurice Hicks, Jr on 3/22/2022. (crt,Bray, K) (Entered: 03/23/2022)
03/22/2022 30 PLEA AGREEMENT Accepted as to Derrick J Thomas (1) (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit of understanding, # 2 Elements of offense)(crt,Bray, K) (Entered: 03/23/2022)
03/22/2022 32 WITNESS LIST filed under seal by USA as to Derrick J Thomas (1) (crt,Bray, K) (Entered: 03/23/2022)

Defendant was sentenced to 115 months in prison.

Plaintiff's Experts:

Defendant's Experts:

Comments: