ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / June 10, 2000

LAPLACE – A Reserve man in the St. John Parish jail for simple arson hasalso been charged with attempted second-degree murder in connection with the beating of a St. James Parish man on May 14.Authorities say that Randolph Jones, 32, 265 E. 27th St., Reserve, is thesuspect for the May 14 assault on John Duquette of St. James Parish. Duquette was struck on the head and is still in a coma at Charity Hospital in New Orleans.

On May 14, police answered a call in Reserve to what was believed to be an automobile accident. Instead they found Duquette lying next to his truckwith a severe head wound.

At the time, police believed that Duquette was the victim of a robbery, because the pockets of his pants had been turned inside out.

Capt. Michael Tregre of the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office said that anongoing investigation showed that Duquette and Jones were involved in a transfer of electronic equipment.

“Something went wrong with the deal,” said Tregre, “and Jones hit Duquette on the head with a handgun.”A week later, Jones was arrested for setting fire to his neighbor’s house.

He was also charged as a fugitive from another agency. Records show anoutstanding warrant for Jones in St. James Parish.While Jones was sitting in jail on the simple arson charge, St. Johndetectives managed to link him to the beating of Duquette and Jones was charged with attempted second-degree murder.

Jones was being held on $100,000 bond, but after receiving the second charge, his bond was raised to $200,000.

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