What Happened to That Boy?

Note: The title’s a lyrical reference to a New Orleans hip-hop track, and of course there’s a (NSFW) mix if you want some musical accompaniment to what follows.

NOLA Hop from editor_b on 8tracks Radio.

It is rare for me to remove a post from my blog but it has happened a few times over the years. The most recent case involves something I posted on Wednesday, February 7th, 2007. I am reproducing that post below along with the comments that it attracted. The reprint is verbatim identical to the original with one important exception: I’ve removed the name of the young man in question, and replaced his name with his initials. The old post had become the number one search result for this man’s name. If you read it all, you’ll see why I removed it from its original location. I’ll include a further comment of my own at the end.

Whatever Happened to L— H—?

Three years ago, a 15-year-old kid was murdered one block from our house, in broad daylight. We didn’t know the victim, but we knew the shooter. His name is L— H—. He was 18 at the time.

We didn’t know L— well, but he helped Xy with her groceries once. He seemed like a nice young man.

Fast forward three years. When I spoke at the January 11 rally at City Hall, I wanted to make the point that violent crime was not a Katrina problem. I mentioned this shooting. That caught the attention of a reporter at the Times-Picayune:

Though the killings of Hill and Shavers have served as critical touchstones, galvanizing anger over the surge in violent crime, Everson took care to list the other victims killed in recent days. He also recalled the May 2004 shooting of 15-year-old Preston Turner, who was shot near Everson’s Mid-City home.

Police eventually arrested L— H— for the shooting, with a grand jury indicting the then-18-year-old on a charge of first-degree murder in July 2004. But H—’s trial has yet to go forward, according to court records.

Even though we didn’t witness the shooting ourselves, I’m pretty sure that L— did it. That was the word on the street at the time. The clincher came one week later, when he turned himself in.

According to the OPCSO Criminal District Court Docket Master, this is Case #450095. It appears that L— sat in jail for over a month before he was indicted on July 8, 2004. A week later he entered a “not guilty” plea, and he’s been sitting in jail ever since.

There’s a lot of activity in the record I don’t understand, such as “hearing on motions” and “motion to suppress identification” and “habeas corpus ad prosequendum.” I really don’t know what to make of it.

A trial was set for February 2005 but the “case was set in error.” Another trial was set for May 2005 but didn’t take place for reasons I don’t understand. “The state’s witness Edward Pons appeared after this matter was reset.” Does that mean he was late?

Another trial was set for August 29, 2005. I wonder why that didn’t happen? Oh yeah. Never mind.

Most of the activity seems to center around determining counsel. It would appear the court just couldn’t find a public defender for L—. Finally someone from the Louisiana Capital Assistance Center stepped up last September and counsel was finally assigned.

There’s talk of a “contempt of court” hearing, but I’m not sure what that’s about. One phrase that shows up again and again: “L— H— did not appear.” If he’s in jail, why didn’t he appear? The court ordered L— transferred to an Orleans Parish Prison facility in December of 2005, which raises the question, where was he anyway, up to that time? Where was he when the city flooded?

There is one entry since last month’s newspaper story:

01/18/2007 LONDONC
>DEFENDANT, L— H— APPEARED WITH COUNSEL, R.JENKINS/C.ROBY FOR HEARING ON MOTIONS
>CONTINUED ON STATE MOTION
>HEARING ON MOTIONS SET FOR 03/01/07
>SEND NOTICES.
>PDOJL

So I guess something will happen on March 1st, but it appears they keep having “hearings on motions” and the case never comes to trial. I wonder if this case will ever be resolved. I thought the right to a speedy trial was guaranteed by our Constitution.

I’ve read about these problems in the newspaper, but this case is bringing them to life for me.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 7th, 2007 at 2:16 pm by Editor B.

32 Responses to “Whatever Happened to L— H—?”

1. Mominem Says:
February 7th, 2007 at 4:23 pm e

I’m not an expert or a lawyer, but this seems fairly typical, and screwed up.

2. Marco Says:
February 7th, 2007 at 7:15 pm e

The criminal justice system in Orleans is a disaster. A law prof from Loyola said on WWL radio today that the system here is one of the worst in the country. Eddie Jordon is a joke. A friend of mine is an Asst. U.S. Attorney and Jordan used to be his boss. He told me that Jordan let others run the office because he was too incompetent to do it himself. The voters of this city have to vote him out of office when the time comes for the election. Anything short of that will just deepen an already dysfunctional up system.

3. Varg Says:
February 7th, 2007 at 9:32 pm e

The more I look at the problems facing the city in regards to violent crime, the more it becomes apparent that Eddie Jordan’s removal has to be the first step in getting the city’s crime problem more manageable. If there was some way the city could simple streamline their efforts to have him removed based on his incompetence, then I think we will have cleared a significant hurdle.

And we would then have so much further to go…

4. rickngentilly Says:
February 8th, 2007 at 12:33 am e

would be interested in dangerblonde’s and ernie the “atoinie’s” take on this.

5. Mr. Orleans Says:
February 8th, 2007 at 1:01 am e

Underground NOPD blog. Get the real truth:

http://www.signal26.com/

6. jeffrey Says:
February 8th, 2007 at 11:39 am e

Believe me when I tell you I’m wearing my political handicapper’s and not my screaming pessimist’s hat when I say that Jordan is pretty much untouchable electorally. The DA is the most powerful man in the city. It’s a crucial race to get involved in when the seat is open.. but it’s practically impossible to turn out an incumbent…. maybe on the first reelect go ’round… but you’ll need more than just incompetence… you’ll need MAJOR scandal.

7. Ray Says:
February 8th, 2007 at 9:21 pm e

A shame that dead bodies as far as the eye can see doesn’t constitute a major scandal. I suppose you need a good old-fashioned dick sucking when you want to get your scandal on.

8. jeffrey Says:
February 8th, 2007 at 10:16 pm e

Even then it might not matter.

9. j mc d. Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 1:02 am e

i,m a native new orleanian . anytime i see a future suspected murderer helping a lady with groceries i suspect he,s really sizing up the situation for a crime. get real.

10. mike Says:
February 9th, 2007 at 1:29 am e

Keep it up, Bart. Research and thought. Research and thought.

11. daddy o Says:
February 11th, 2007 at 6:39 pm e

First degree murder requires a jury trial. Those didn’t start until the courthouse was back up and running in July. After that, the PD’s office had new management installed that took all the capital lawyers off of cases and farmed out the defense of 1st degree murder and capital aggravated rape. So L— just got his “new” lawyers (you get 2 for 1st degree) this past fall. They’re gonna have to get up to speed, figure out a defense, then file dozens of motions to try to drag it out as long as possible so the witnesses lose interest. I doubt he goes to trial before Summer, if at all. Though watch for some of the other 1st degree murders from the past coming to trial in mid to late spring: the Japanese girl that was strangled in Algiers and the Juicy’s Bar shootout.

I agree with the others, Jordan is a chump–dangerously incompetent.

12. concerned Says:
September 30th, 2007 at 1:48 am e

i just heard today that he may be staying id dayton ohio

13. Unknown Says:
October 3rd, 2007 at 4:54 pm e

Yeah Gina Doyle you would say something like that.

14. Ceo Says:
October 3rd, 2007 at 5:29 pm e

He has an album coming out Decemer 15, 2007 called ‘Count That Money’.

15. concerned says: Says:
October 3rd, 2007 at 5:44 pm e

i just heard today that he may be staying miami florida

16. Anonymous Says:
October 8th, 2007 at 11:31 am e

that would not have been Gina Doyle and it was not me – she doesn’t have a computer!! and yes he is living in the dayton area – he said this was him and i would like to know was he really released and if so how is he able to move to ohio isn’t there a probation officer he should keep in contact with? And if they released him and caught someone else – then why did he admit to it in this article and turn himself in?

17. MIKE THOMAS Says:
December 18th, 2007 at 6:58 pm e

LAST TIME I SEEN L.H— HE WAS IN HARLEM AND HE HAD ALOT OF MONEY ON HIM IN THE CLUB HE WAS BUYING DRINKS AND I BELIEVE HES LIVING LIFE

18. JEFF COTES Says:
February 12th, 2008 at 4:42 pm e

I JUST SEEN HIM IN NEW ORLEANS FOR MARDI GRAS WITH TWO PRETTY CHICKS AND HE DIDN’T DO THAT TO THAT BOY HE WAS SET UP I’VE KNOWN HIM ALL MY LIFE THE GUY WHO REALLY DID IT IS IN JAIL NOW ON A MURDER CHARGE

19. Anonymous Says:
March 16th, 2009 at 11:28 am e

I know this cat. He is now beating his girlfriend! I do not want disclose where he is living, but he has a sexually transmitted disease that he can not get rid of. It is not HIV!

20. concerned Says:
March 16th, 2009 at 12:07 pm e

I know this cat is staying in Dayton area. He is beating up his girlfriend and giving chicks diseases..

21. Anonyous1 Says:
March 17th, 2009 at 10:06 am e

Correct he does live in Dayton, OH. He does beat on his chick and he does have herpes and is spreading it all around town. If you know anyone that has slept with him I would recommend them get tested for AIDS. That stuff is going around too!. Dayton is a really small town.

22. CarverRam Says:
March 22nd, 2009 at 1:17 am e

Well I knew L— H— and I know for a fact he would not do anything like that, we were attending George W. Carver Sr. High when this incident occured and Preston Turner the victim, had a cousin Derwin Turner who was also freinds with me and L— we all had 5th period ROTC together, I just think it is a shame that the innocent and prominent young black men sit behind bars while the D.A. seems to just let all the killers go! This kid was a good child man 4 real he would always joke around and freindly bob ya know he didnt have a mean bone in his body so to speak! he wuz about 5′5 muscular dark skinned no tattoos no gold teeth alwayz clean shaved, i mean he was a square…Our NOPD is so damn stupid they dont convict the real murderers but they hold the innocent!

23. doa Says:
September 23rd, 2009 at 10:03 pm e

L— H— just got killed and i he did have aids and all the std’s in the world so i hope yall leave this guy alone… rest in peace to the world

24. Editor B Says:
September 24th, 2009 at 10:37 am e

I am sorry to hear this, doa. Any more details you can share? How was L— killed, where and when did this happen? I’ve been looking in the news but nothing so far.

25. Masterofbeatz Says:
September 24th, 2009 at 1:41 pm e

Damn! who would say something this sad I don’t believe this is true. But I know that he was definantly hitting on his girl and cheating on her too spreading the herpes that he has for sure.

26. doa Says:
September 24th, 2009 at 2:24 pm e

master of beatz you must really dont like this kid i know who u r and he is dead

27. masterofbeatz Says:
September 24th, 2009 at 3:50 pm e

not about not likein him its the truth he knows it is too. its jus a shame hes jus spredin it lik that. ladies be careful who u lay wit.

28. The lady down the street Says:
September 25th, 2009 at 2:44 pm e

L— is NOW DEAD, He was announced dead Sept 15 2009 Stop talkin about this man hes a goner its a wrap now DAMMMMNNNN

29. The lady down the street Says:
September 25th, 2009 at 2:45 pm e

HATERS HATERS Haters Are u mad cause hes with your ex master of Beatz cause i think so You are a Hatr Now kill yo self

30. easports Says:
September 25th, 2009 at 3:01 pm e

I think you PEOPLE should jus worry about UR SELVES and stop WORRING about SOMEONE else… I mean HONESTLY whens the last time YOUVE been CHECKED??? y u talkin about HIM… lol…
and go ahead and make up a DATE lol. Jus find somethin else to do. Get a JOB, go visit a FRIEND, go get TESTED…. something. STOP sittin around talkin about OTHERS. I mean how LAME is that for real. YOU must not hav to much of a LIFE if this is all YOU have TIME to do. LMAO!!!

31. doa Says:
September 26th, 2009 at 5:38 pm e

editor b from the 4th ward you need to take this blog off the web this shit is over. leave it L H— alone, you know new orleans justice system sucks and there never going to do shit about the murders that happen down there so just leave this guy alone it’s over………….

and i just want to say im off bienville and he did not kill pissy it was enrique oro and edward pons that killed that kid make a blog about that …..

32. Editor B Says:
September 26th, 2009 at 7:56 pm e

Yeah, these comments are out of control so I am shutting ‘em down — no more comments. I will probably take this post down soon too but I am leaving it up for now because it’s my only way to reach doa. If you read this, doa, hit my cell at 812-391-0818. Call me or text me. I’m not police. I just want to know what happened to LH.

---

OK, so whaddaya make of that? By the way, doa’s IP address appears to indicate he’s in Ohio, as do the IPs of several other commenters. One final note: As mentioned, I assumed that L— H— turned himself in because he was guilty. But I’ve come to realize that was a logical error. It’s reasonable to expect that an innocent man might turn himself in when wanted by the police; a guilty man might well find the opposite motivation. So I’d just like to say to L— H—, wherever he might be, alive or dead… I’m sorry that I jumped to that conclusion.