By VICKIE JAMBON, Staff Reporter

LAPLACE – A previously convicted felon pleading guilty recently to drug charges was sentenced to serve 25 years in the Department of Corrections. Instead of being handcuffed and taken to jail, the Garyville man was allowed to post bond and leave the courtroom.

James Cambre, 28, of 453 S. Emily St, pled guilty to possession with the intent to distribute marijuana and possession of 200-400 grams of cocaine, according to the St. John Bureau of Narcotics.

This was the second time in four years Cambre pled guilty in a court of law and this was the second time he was released.

Assistant District Attorney William O’Regan III said, “This is a very involved case.”

The elaborate four-year case began on Jan. 1, 2000, when authorities with the Bureau of Narcotics arrested Cambre.

According to Lt. Octavio Gonzales with the Bureau of Narcotics, authorities recovered 20 pounds of marijuana and 271.06 grams of cocaine from a closet in Cambre’s house.

Gonzales said Cambre was sent to jail after he pled guilty to three separate drug charges.

“The judge ordered a post sentence investigation and sentenced him (Cambre) to 20 years. He (Cambre) wasn’t happy with his sentence,” said O’Regan.

According to O’Regan, Cambre filed an appeal on his sentencing claiming he had been misrepresented. He fired his first lawyer and came in with a second lawyer.

“Cambre alleged his first lawyer promised him a 10-year prison term in exchange for a guilty plea,” said O’Regan.

After the appeal was heard, the court overturned Cambre’s plea and released him from prison. Cambre was free to enter a new plea.

O’Regan said Cambre fired his second lawyer and hired a third lawyer.

According to O’Regan, the third attorney filed a motion to suppress certain evidence – claiming the evidence was seized illegally.

“Judge Mary Hotard Becnel denied the motion,” said O’Regan.

The assistant district attorney said he decided to offer Cambre a plea agreement.

“I wanted to see the case over. I decided to compromise,” said O’Regan.

O’Regan offered Cambre a plea arrangement known as the Crosby Plea.

In the plea agreement, Cambre pled guilty in exchange for a 25-year prison sentence.

O’Regan also stipulated (separate from the Crosby Plea) that Cambre could be released on bond while Cambre appealed Becnel’s ruling on the motion to suppress with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal.

The complicated case does not stop here.

According to authorities, Cambre was arrested in 1998 for stolen property and was placed on probation until the year 2000.

When Cambre was arrested for drugs on Jan. 1, 2000, the arrest violated his probation.

O’Regan was asked why a convicted felon – who violated parole – was released on bond after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute narcotics.

The assistant district attorney sighed and paused before answering that he trusted Cambre to show up in court.

Asked if Cambre’s release was part of the Crosby Plea, O’Regan said, “No.”

He said Cambre could have been forced to remain in prison while he awaited the appeal on Becnel’s motion but that he (O’Regan) decided to place Cambre’s release as part of the plea deal.

O’Regan was also asked if he thought there was a possibility that Cambre would jump bail if he were denied his appeal. He was asked if he ever considered the idea that Cambre was only hanging in there because he thought there was a possibility he could get off. If Cambre loses his appeal, would he run?

O’Regan replied by saying Cambre’s family put up bond for him. The assistant D.A. said Cambre’s family would lose their money if Cambre jumped bond.

The final question posed to O’Regan was, “After this appeal is exhausted, does that mean Cambre will give up and serve his 25 years?”

O’Regan answered the question by saying, “There is one thing I have learned in my years as an attorney, nothing is certain.”