Latest news with #Darren Lombard
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Orleans Clerk of Courts meets with Louisiana Police regarding court documents dumped
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — The Orleans Parish Criminal Clerk of Court Darren Lombard met with state police as they investigate the dumping of court documents in a landfill. Something the clerk of court hopes once it's resolved, it never occurs again. 'Why did they decide unilaterally without checking with the clerk of court to destroy those?' said Metropolitan Crime Commission President Rafael Goyeneche. According to Lombard, about 75 percent of the documents have since been recovered. But Lombard says the process has cost both time and money. 'Going through our inventory list, legacy inventory list, to see what was there and what is not there currently. So we have to go through the process of making sure those documents get restored,' said Lombard. 'Undermines public trust,' Gov. Landry orders LSP investigation into dumped court records Lombard says the city has been cooperative, even offering a location for documents to be stored permanently. He hopes an incident like this never happens again. 'We want to make sure that it is secure and that we can safely move those documents into that location when it becomes available. Available to the public and for reporters and anyone who wants to do research,' said Lombard. Governor Jeff Landry has ordered state police to look into what happened. Both Lombard and Goyeneche welcome the investigation, with Goyeneche saying state troopers will treat this as a criminal investigation. 'Attempting to determine is if that violated any state laws. If you destroy a public record, that could potentially be a felony in this,' said Goyeneche. The city's Chief Administrative Officer Joe Threat previously acknowledged the mishap, but believes it was an accident as staff worked to demolish Hurricane Katrina trailers. Goyeneche says state police will have to determine whether it was intentional or not, adding that it shows how things can go wrong when there's a lack of communication between agencies. 'When you have city agencies that are not working together, you increase the potential of something like this occurring. Importance of communication, coordination and cooperation,' said Goyeneche. Statement from Darren Lombard, Clerk of Criminal District Court and Chief Elections Officer for Orleans Parish after meeting: 'I had an excellent meeting today with investigators from the Louisiana State Police regarding the court records that were needlessly destroyed by the City. The LSP now has a clearer understanding of the importance of these documents and the City's legal obligation to ensure their safe, secure storage—or to provide the necessary funding for the Clerk's Office to do court records is a crime of negligence at a minimum. I am confident the LSP will move swiftly to identify the individual or individuals responsible and determine the appropriate consequences.I remain grateful for their prompt attention to addressing this egregious breach of duty.'Latest Posts Lesser-known candidates look to shake up New Orleans mayoral race at Fresh Voices Forum LSU tight end Trey'Dez Green set to shine in 2025 Tariff talks with China extended, what it means for New Orleans New area to watch in the southern Gulf Hurricane Katrina documentary, 'A Reason To Stay' screening at The Broad Theater Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Yahoo
New Orleans court records reportedly moved, destroyed, Orleans Parish clerk of court says
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Concern is being raised after New Orleans city officials reportedly moved and in one case destroyed court documents, some of which had lifelong retention requirements. According to Clerk of the Criminal District Court and Orleans Parish Chief Elections Officer Darren Lombard, on Aug. 1, his office was notified of the incidents, which he says occurred without authorization. Lombard said destroyed documents were reportedly dumped into a debris field at the Department of Public Works Maintenance Yard on Clark Street. There, clerk's office personnel reportedly found that a 40 foot long by eight to 20 foot wide container of documents was dumped, mixed among general trash, strewn across the yard, caught in the wind and scattered beyond the perimeter. New Orleans Council At-Large candidates debate workers' rights, city issues at forum Lombard says his team worked to recover the remaining documents and gather what they could. Some city-controlled trailers and their contents reportedly remain unaccounted for as officials continue to search for their locations. Lombard went on to state that the records were in the custody of the city and initially stored on-site due to the absence of a secure and dedicated clerk of court storage facility, despite numerous attempts by the clerk's office to acquire one. Lombard now calls for the involvement of the Chief Administrative Officer and the Mayor's Office into a full investigation into the incident, as well as directives to city departments against the unauthorized movement or disposal of clerk of court property. WGNO reached out to the city for a response and has not yet heard Posts Fort Stewart: 5 soldiers shot, suspect apprehended after active shooter situation at Georgia Army base Texas Democrats who fled to Illinois forced to evacuate hotel after bomb threat Raceland man arrested, accused of 'sexually motivated interactions' with Terrebonne Parish teen Four firefighters, two civilians injured in Jefferson Parish fire One New Orleans summer camp could save your life Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Undermines public trust,' Gov. Landry orders LSP investigation into dumped court records
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — In a letter penned to the Louisiana State Police, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is ordering them to investigate the dumping of case files from the Orleans Parish Criminal Court. On Aug. 1, Clerk of Criminal Court and Orleans Parish Chief Elections Officer Darren Lombard's office was alerted of city officials removing and possibly destroying court documents. Former Golden Meadow Police Chief faces felony charges for malfeasance allegations He says destroyed documents were dumped into a debris field at the Department of Public Works Maintenance Yard on Clark Street. At the yard, office personnel reportedly found a 40 foot long by eight to 20 foot wide container of documents was dumped and mixed among general trash. In a post to X (Twitter) Landry says: 'This is a disgusting abuse of power and a slap in the face to crime victims. Those who participated in this deliberate crime must be held accountable.' Gov. Landry's Letter Lombard said his team was able to gather what they could while city-controlled containers remain unaccounted for. Antoine Massey's sister pleads not guilty to aiding inmates after Orleans Parish jailbreak This catastrophic failure is not without precedent. Since the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the Clerk's Office has made numerous formal requests – documented in budget hearings, capital project proposals, and interagency communications – for secure, purpose-built storage. These include submissions for the 2023-2027, 2024-2028 and 2025-2029 Capital Budgets, and direct correspondence with City leadership including the CAO's Office, Property Management, and Capital Projects. The consequences of inaction are now undeniable. We are calling for the immediate escalation of this matter to the Chief Administrative Officer and the Mayor's Office, a full and transparent investigation into the destruction of records, and clear directives to all City departments prohibiting unauthorized movement or disposal of Clerk's property. Clerk of Criminal Court Darren Lombard The city's Chief Administrative Officer, Joe Threat, says employees were in the process of moving things out of the Hurricane Katrina trailers so they could be demolished. While he says an investigation is underway, Threat doesn't believe any of the employees intentionally threw away the materials. He says the documents have been sitting there since 2006 and that the administration has been trying to move them to a secure location. 'The employees knew evidence was on that site. We had two trailers, and we got a huge building full of it. It shouldn't be there. They shouldn't have been there in the first place. The folks I worked with down there are not clerks of courts. They don't maintain records. They fill the pothole with asphalt. They don't have responsibility for court records,' said Threat. Threat says he also welcomes the investigation Landry has ordered. 'When you have something happen you have to dig into the causes of something important that takes place, you know, I'm open to any kind of investigation,' said Threat. Threat says they've selected a new location to keep civil and criminal court documents at 601 Galves Street once it's fully inspected. Until then, they'll be taken to an undisclosed location. Attorney General Liz Murril says she also plans to meet with the city to discuss how this situation Posts Early showers but not much later in the day TikTok impersonation scheme hits Florida barber shop New Orleans to honor Katrina's 20th anniversary with week of events and summit Fans may have saved Mona Lisa French Quarter restaurant Saints name starting quarterback for preseason opener versus Chargers Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
