LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / December 1, 1999

EDGARD – Cart Davis, president of the South Louisiana Port Commission, will spend 15 days in jail some time during the next six months as a result of his second DWI conviction.

Whether this will affect his future with the commission is yet to be seen, but St. James Parish President Dale Hymel Jr., who recommended Davis’appointment to the commission, guessed, “The way I see it, he’ll be replaced by somebody.”Davis, 45, of Hester, has served with the Port of South Louisiana since 1993 and is employed by Star Enterprises in Convent. He was out of townMonday and unavailable for comment.

Davis was first arrested on June 1, 1995, on Interstate 10 and charged with driving while intoxicated. He was convicted of the misdemeanorcharge on Jan. 2, 1996.The second arrest came on July 17, 1999. Louisiana State Trooper MilanaWalters, in his written report, stated on that date at 12:27 a.m., Daviswas observed weaving in and out of traffic on Airline Highway, crossing the center line five times. Sgt. Troy Cassioppi of the St. John ParishSheriff’s Office paced Davis at 60 miles per hour in a 40-mph zone and pulled him over.

Walters was called in by Cassioppi and both noted slurred speech and strong alcohol breath. Davis also asked several times to be let go, sayinghe was going to see a friend.

Instead, Davis was handcuffed and arrested and later refused to take a breath analyzer test.

Davis was arraigned on the DWI charge Aug. 17, entering a plea of notguilty. Trial was set for Dec. 13.However, he soon entered a guilty plea under the advice of attorney Bobby Faucheux before 40th Judicial District Judge Madeline Jasmine. Davisreceived a six-month suspended sentence, was fined $750 plus $246 in court cost, was sentenced to spend 15 days in the parish jail within the following six months and was ordered to enter a substance abuse treatment center.

While the court has ruled on Davis’s immediate future, his future with the port commission is in the hands of the St. James Parish Council and theLouisiana Senate.

Hymel said Parish Councilman Ralph Patin Jr., who’s district Davis residesin, still supports Davis.

However, Hymel said he feels sure the second DWI conviction will have its effect among the council members when names are submitted for the new term of office, beginning in January.

“Some are already talking about replacing him,” Hymel added.

Various nomination agencies submit names, then Hymel presents one name to the parish council, which votes on the person. That nomination thengoes to the Louisiana Senate for confirmation.

Hymel said no new names have yet been submitted to replace Davis, and the parish president expressed his personal regrets about Davis’s conviction.

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