LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / August 19, 2000

HAHNVILLE – Second-quarter crime statistics released by the St. CharlesParish Sheriff’s Office indicate a 4 percent decrease from the previous quarter, and only a minute increase from the same period in 1999.

“We don’t get excited with small increases or decreases,” Sheriff Greg C.

Champagne said.

A total of 729 crimes were charted in the Uniform Crime Reports Index reported to the FBI for April-June 2000, which lists incidences of murder, rape, assault, robbery, burglary, theft and auto theft.

The preceding quarter, January-March 2000, charged 764 crimes. In thesecond quarter of 1999, 700 incidents were recorded.

A breakdown was provided by Capt. Patrick Yoes of the Special ServicesDivision.

In crimes against the person, no murders were reported in the second quarter of 2000, and only one in the preceding quarter. In April-June 1999there was one murder charted.

Incidents of rape totaled five in the second quarter of 2000, with three in the preceding quarter and six in the April-June 1999 span.

Assaults numbered 263 in the second quarter of 2000, with 302 early this year, and 265 in the same period last year.

Robberies totaled seven in the second quarter of 2000, dropped from 13 in the first quarter, and six were recorded during the same period of 1999.

Burglary totaled 112 incidents in the second quarter, down from 129 in the first quarter of this year, and down from 114 during the same period last year.

Theft totaled 313 in April-June 2000, up from 281 in the first quarter of this year and from 275 during the same period last year.

Auto theft totaled 29 incidents in the second quarter, down from 35 in the first quarter of this year and from 33 during the same period of 1999.

Since Champagne first took office in mid-1996 crime has generally dropped in St. Charles Parish. In calendar year 1997 there were 2,768incidents. This dropped to 2,753 in 1998 and in 1999 the number droppedagain to 2,737 incidents.

So far in 2000, 1,493 incidents have been reported for the first six months.

One major problem for the sheriff’s office is repeat criminals, those who go through the parish jail seemingly in a revolving door due to insufficient jail space.

“We’re really hopeful with the new jail,” Champagne said, pointing out that when inmates must be released to make room those involved in violence or drug crime are kept behind bars while others can get back to the streets, only to steal again. “I hope we can get some real dramaticdecreases in property crime,” the sheriff said.

All in all most violent crime is down, Champagne stressed, despite concern about domestic violence. “We’re in a safe parish,” he commented.”We’re not crime-free, but we’re maintaining.”

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