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HAHNVILLE — Kevin Comardelle, 25, was sentenced by Judge Timothy S. Marcel on January 27, 2023 after pleading guilty as charged on October 31, 2022 for the crimes of vehicular homicide and four counts of the first-degree vehicular negligent injuring.

According to Judge Marcel, Comardelle’s operation of a motor vessel under the influence of alcohol on July 4, 2020 led to the death of Audrey Higgins and negligent injuring of Blake Comardelle, Braxton Tregre, Dakota Tregre, Brock Tregre and Caitlyn Comardelle.

For the offense of vehicular homicide, the defendant is sentenced to serve 20 years at hard labor with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, eight years of which shall be served without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence, with 12 years suspended.

It was further ordered that for each offense of first degree vehicular negligent injuring, the defendant is sentenced to serve five years at hard labor with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. Sentences shall be served concurrently, with credit for time served.

“Our office worked diligently to obtain the defendant’s plea of guilty to all charges,” said First Assistant District Attorney Juan A. Byrd. “It is my sincere hope that the guilty plea and sentence imposed today will provide the family of Audrey Higgins, as well as the surviving victims and their families, the necessary closure that they will undoubtedly need to begin the healing process.”