9 alleged negligent parents arrested, 9 sought in Caddo

CADDO PARISH, LA (KSLA) - At least 26 Caddo Parish children ages 6-17 missed a total of 1,568 days of class during the 2017-18 school year.

And five of those children each missed at least 100 days.

Now the Caddo district attorney's office plans to file, as necessary, bills of information charging some of their parents or guardians with improper supervision.

And last week, Caddo sheriff's deputies and Shreveport police arrested nine parents or guardians for allegedly failing to show up for truancy court.

Authorities say they have warrants to arrest another nine.

"As promised and forewarned, I am demanding that parents get their children in school in regular attendance and cooperate in addressing reasons for their child's non-attendance," District Attorney James E. Stewart Sr. says in a statement about the sweep conducted June 13-15.

"While we strive to work with parents and provide services when we can, our community can no longer tolerate parents who refuse to cooperate in their children's education."

The arrests stem from cases that began in the fall and ran through the end of the 2017-18 academic year in May.

All but one of those who were arrested are from Shreveport.

Shreveport police arrested six people whose alleged neglect affected at least 10 children, the district attorney's office reports.

They are:

• Jo Ann Alex, 54, of the 4900 block of Haywood Place,
• Nancy Silverstein Anderson, 40, of the 2900 block of Bolch Street,
• Ericka Denise Dewitt Dillard, 39, of the 400 block of Kemper Street,
• Shantarra Gwenell George, 36, of the 8200 block of Pines Road,
• Donielle Lynette Goree, 34, of the 4600 block of Bethune Drive, and,
• Casey Lee Wogan, 30, of the 3000 block of Burson Drive.

Caddo sheriff's deputies arrested:

• Lekasha Robinson Gates, 33, of the 4500 block of North Market Street,
• Barbara Diane Hope, 43, of the 6500 block of Caspiana Lane in Keithville, and,
• Herman A. Taylor, 58, of the 600 block of West 75th Street.

Caddo also had another case that was cleared because the parent or guardian reported to court before the warrant could be executed.

The parish cases impacted the lives of at least five children, the district attorney's office reports.

Authorities say they still have warrants to arrest these Shreveport residents:

• Michael Anderson, of the 2900 block of Bolch Street,
• Deanna Burks, of the 200 block of East 68th Street,
• Keisha Jackson, of the 1500 block of Russell Road,
• Sacondria Johnson, of the 8500 block of Roitan Drive,
• Twanda McCoy, of the 500 block of West 82nd Street,
• Rosaline Osborne, of the 6600 block of Canal Boulevard,
• Satterica Scott. of the 2000 block of North Hearne Avenue,
• Fatimah Slack, of the 3700 block of Richmond Avenue, and,
• Brittany Thomas, of the 500 block of East Stoner Avenue.

Their ages were not immediately available.

"These parents have been brought to our attention for having not cooperated in multiple efforts to get their children into school," Stewart says in the statement. "And, as promised and forewarned, they will be prosecuted."

The district attorney announced in March 2017 that his office would be working with Caddo School District and law enforcement agencies to crack down on curfew and truancy violations and other legal-educational issues.

He warned parents and guardians that they, too, will be prosecuted if their child is caught committing a crime during curfew hours.

Shreveport's curfew generally says those under the age of 17 must be home between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. except on Fridays and Saturdays, when the curfew begins at midnight.

Other cities and towns in the parish have similar curfews.

In addition, Louisiana law prohibits anyone under 17 years old from driving between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless they are accompanied by a licensed parent or guardian, a licensed adult over age 21 or a licensed sibling aged 18 or older.

Louisiana law also requires that children attend school.

Parents and guardians who are convicted of improper supervision of a minor can be ordered to jail for up to a month, fined $250 and ordered to serve 40 hours of community service.

Copyright 2018 KSLA. All rights reserved.