Katie Champagne, Lafayette, Louisiana (arrested Dec 2011, June 2015) [failure to report]

Discussion in 'Cougars' started by TMP, Dec 5, 2011.

  1. TMP

    TMP Himself

    >>> For next problem in 2015 (accessory <<<
    >>> after the fact to incest & <<<
    >>> failure to report) click here <<<

    >>> Original problems in 2011 - 2012 >>>
    >>> Grand jury returned a "no true bill", <<<
    >>> i.e. no indictment, on 3 May 2012 <<<

    upload_2018-1-1_1-27-24.png
    2015 arrest mugshot​

    Facebook: Katie Butts Champagne


    Name: Katie Champagne, Lafayette, Louisiana (Lafayette Parish School System)

    Age: 30

    School: Lafayette High School, Lafayette, Louisiana

    Position: Teacher

    Victims: Six children, ages < 17

    Lafayette, Louisiana, Police Department Press Release 5 Dec 2011 Courtesy KPLC TV:

    On Nov. 15, Lafayette Police received a complaint from a 14-year-old juvenile regarding interaction she had with a teacher at Lafayette High School. The allegations indicated that the teacher had grabbed the breast and slapped the buttocks of the victim. The actions are believed to have occurred from September through November of this year.​

    Investigators with the Lafayette Police Department's Youth Service Section began investigating the allegations. Six victims under the age of 17 were identified and provided statements to police that the suspect had engaged in inappropriate touching of the students. Investigators also viewed video footage from the class room where the activity was alleged to have occurred. On several instances on the footage, inappropriate touching occurred between the suspect and the students.​

    Investigators arrested Katie Champagne, 30, and charged her with six counts of Indecent Behavior with a Juvenile. The case remains under investigation.​

    KLFY (18 Nov 2011): LHS Teacher Investigation Update

    The Advertiser (24 Nov 2011): THE BAD: Search warrant at LHS

    KATC (5 Dec 2011): Lafayette high teacher charged with indecent behavior

    The Advertiser (5 Dec 2011): Lafayette High dance teacher arrested on 6 counts of indecent behavior

    KLFY (5 Dec 2011): Police Arrest LHS Teacher

    KPEL 96.5 (5 Dec 2011): Lafayette High Teacher Arrested

    The Advocate (5 Dec 2011): Lafayette teacher arrested

    KTVU (5 Dec 2011): Lafayette teacher arrested for indecent behavior

    The Republic (5 Dec 2011): Lafayette H.S. teacher arrested for multiple counts of indecent behavior
     
    Katie Champagne, Lafayette, Louisiana, Lafayette High School, Lafayette Parish School System
  2. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Lafayette Parish Sheriff Booking Info as of 5 Dec 2011:

    champagne katie layafette parish sheriff booking info.png
     
  3. TMP

    TMP Himself

    The Advertiser (6 Dec 2011): Community split over Lafayette High teacher's arrest

    The Advertiser (6 Dec 2011): Police: Video shows charged teacher pulled student onto her lap

     
  4. TMP

    TMP Himself

    The Advertiser (7 Dec 2011): Police use videos to make case against LHS teacher

    WXVT (7 Dec 2011): Police use videos to make case

    KLFY (7 Dec 2011): Police use videos to make case

    Daily Comet (7 Dec 2011): Police use videos to make case
     
  5. Curious

    Curious Guest

  6. TMP

    TMP Himself

    When I'm aware of the outcome, it gets posted. I don't accept the "publicly posted" stories as either true or false. This web site simply pulls together news stories and other publicly available information and makes them available to people.

    KATC (1 may 2012): Lafayette high teacher's indecent behavior case goes to grand jury

    The Advocate (3 May 2012): Grand jury nixes charges against dance teacher

    The Ind (3 May 2012): LHS dance teacher won’t face charges

    Google News (3 May 2012):

    Grand jury refuses charges against dance teacher
    Herald Times Reporter
    LAFAYETTE, La. (WTW) — A Lafayette Parish grand jury has declined to accept ... afternoon on Katie Champagne, who was arrested by the Lafayette Police ...
     
  7. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Just noticed that there were six purported victims in this case. How did the prosecution go from six victims to zero? Somebody really didn't have his ducks lined up when he filed these charges.
     
  8. Moose

    Moose Guest

    Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty in this country??? You news channels ought to be ashamed of yourselves the way you tarnish peoples reputations. Why do you not post these stories when the accused are found guilty in court. Shame on you, and one day you will be held accountable for your actions ;)
     
  9. TMP

    TMP Himself

    You're absolutely right. We should shut down every newspaper and television station in the country. Shame on anyone who publishes a story before the conclusion is known!!!!
     
  10. Guest

    Guest Guest

    If you read the whole article from the advertiser on may 3 you'll see that they reviewed all the video footage and evidence and then determined that there was not enough evidence to continue with the case. In fact the overall tone of the article suggests that the police jumped the gun in the arrest. They should have reviewed the evidence first before charging her. Now, she will spend the rest of her life defending herself against this charge. Regardless of whether or not there was any real wrong doing on her part. Most applications to work with minors ask "Have you ever been accused of....". Not if you were actually convicted. It doesn't matter. Most schools won't take that risk. She will probably never work in another school system. Her only hope at continuing to work is if Lafayette Parish School System fears legal prosecution and keeps her in their employ. It is becoming more and more dangerous to be a teacher. I wouldn't do it, and I have a lot of compassion for those that do.
     
  11. TMP

    TMP Himself

    But go back to the articles in The Advertiser on 6 Dec -- they were saying the exact opposite about videos.

    Normally defense attorneys aren't allowed into grand jury proceedings, so the prosecutor (James N. Prather) managed to flub this one all on his own. Now he is conveniently "out of state" and making himself very scarce.

    Better one this Saturday ...

    The Advertiser (5 May 2012): Dance teacher hopes to return

    She is very fortunately to have been paid along. Most school districts don't do that for that length of time.
     
  12. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Google News (May 10 2012):

    C'EST BON
    The INDsider
    The university announced recently that the Louisiana Board of Regents has ... except for the police department's decision to arrest Katie Champagne, 30, ...

    PAS BON
    Local officials appear to have been simply doing their jobs in the case involving allegations of inappropriate touching by a Lafayette teacher — except for the police department’s decision to arrest Katie Champagne, 30, for indecent behavior with juveniles before collecting more evidence. Last week a grand jury declined to accept charges against the Lafayette High dance teacher, whom six students claimed had inappropriately touched their breasts and buttocks — in class, in front of other students, all while a video camera was recording. Champagne’s attorney, William Goode, says had police waited for the grand jury to hear the evidence, Champagne would not have been arrested. “In this day and time, everybody has to be hyper-vigilant,” says Goode, arguing Champagne being removed from the classroom and placed on administrative leave would have been a more appropriate course of action, one that would have spared her and her family much expense and humiliation. Champagne has a stellar teaching record, no criminal history and is married and living in the area, posing no risk of flight, he says. Asked if the students simply misinterpreted the touching as something inappropriate, the lawyer remarks, “I think it was more [that the students were] out to get her than misinterpretation.”
     
  13. TMP

    TMP Himself

    KATC: Lafayette teacher sues School Board/Superintendent to get job back (Aug 16 2012)

    A former Lafayette Parish dance teacher, Katie Champagne, is suing the School Board and Superintendent Pat Cooper after she was sent a terminiation letter last month. According to a lawsuit filed this week, Champagne is alleging that state tenure laws were broken in connection with her termination ... Champagne contends that the "willful neglect of duty and/or competency" she is being accused of, occurred before the new law was in place. The last day of school was May 24, 2012. The new law wasn't put into place until July 1, 2012. Champagne received notice of termination on July 26, 2012. Champagne is asking to be reinstated as a teacher, with no interruption to her employment with the school board.

    The Ind: Former LHS dance teacher sues LPSS (Aug 16 2012)

    The former Lafayette High dance teacher arrested in December following complaints that she inappropriately touched six students is suing the Lafayette Parish School System for what she claims is a violation of state teacher tenure laws in connection with her termination ... Champagne contends in the lawsuit that Cooper terminated Champagne, a tenured teacher, based on the new state teacher tenure laws took effect on July 1. She claims that the observations that led Cooper to fire her for “willful neglect of duty” were obtained during the 2011-2012 school year before the new law took effect ... She’s asking a judge to intervene and compel the school system to follow the procedures outlined in the old tenure law, which would automatically grant Champagne a tenure hearing before the board without her having to request one.
     
  14. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Lake Charles woman accused of accessory after the fact to incest

    9 June 2015


    A Lake Charles woman was arrested Friday accused of knowing about her husband's alleged inappropriate sexual conduct with a family member and not reporting it. Katie Champagne, 33, was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center on accessory after the fact to incest and failure to report certain felonies, Kim Myers with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office said. She has been released on a personal surety bond. Her husband, Jacob Champagne, 35, of Lake Charles, was arrested on March 12 of two counts each of incest and aggravated incest. He is accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a minor ...


    http://www.katc.com/story/29278685/lake-charles-woman-accused-of-accessory-after-the-fact-to-incest
     
  15. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Press Release:

    CPSO ARRESTS LAKE CHARLES WOMAN FOR ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT TO INCEST

    9 June 2015



    A Lake Charles woman was arrested Friday accused of knowing about her husband's alleged inappropriate sexual conduct with a family member and not reporting it.

    Katie Champagne, 33, was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Correctional Center on accessory after the fact to incest and failure to report certain felonies, Kim Myers with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office said. She has been released on a personal surety bond.

    Her husband, Jacob Champagne, 35, of Lake Charles, was arrested on March 12 of two counts each of incest and aggravated incest. He is accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with a minor beginning when she was 15 years old. The alleged inappropriate contact lasted for several years.

    "Champagne had knowledge of her husband, Jacob Champagne, having inappropriate sexual contact with the female family member and failed to report that information to law enforcement," Myers said.


    http://www.katc.com/story/29278685/lake-charles-woman-accused-of-accessory-after-the-fact-to-incest
     
  16. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Woman Arrested for Accessory in Incest Case

    9 June 2015


    On June 4 a Calcasieu Parish Grand Jury warrant was issued for the arrest of Katie Champagne, 33, 2628 S. Perkins Ferry Rd, Lake Charles, for accessory after the fact to incest; and failure to report certain felonies. Champagne had knowledge of her husband, Jacob Champagne, having inappropriate sexual contact with the female family member and failed to report that information to law enforcement. According to the revised statute 14:131.1, it is unlawful for any person having knowledge of the commission of any homicide, rape, or sexual abuse of a child to fail to report or disclose that information to ...


    http://www.watchfox29.com/story/29278240/woman-arrested-for-accessory-in-incest-case
     
  17. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Regarding her husband's crime, which she allegedly failure to report:

    upload_2018-1-1_1-42-54.png
    Jacob James Champagne

    Press release:

    CPSO Arrests Lake Charles Man For Aggravated Incest

    13 March 2015



    On February 4, the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office received a complaint regarding Jacob James Champagne, 35, 2628 S. Perkins Ferry Rd, Lake Charles, having inappropriate sexual contact with a female family member on numerous occasions for several years starting when the girl was 15 years old.

    After further investigation, Champagne was arrested on March 12 and booked in the Calcasieu Correctional Center and charged with 2 counts of aggravated incest and 2 counts of incest. A new LA law has changed the crime of aggravated incest to crime against nature but he was charged under the old law because the unlawful occurrences happened prior to the new law becoming effective.

    Judge Clayton Davis has set his bond at $1,250,000 with special conditions of bond being Champagne can have no contact with the victim or her family and he must wear a GPS monitoring device.

    CPSO Detective Cinnamon Salvador is the lead investigator on this case.


    https://www.cpso.com/2015/03/13/cpso-arrests-lake-charles-man-for-aggravated-incest/





    Lake Charles man accused of aggravated incest

    13 May 2015



    A Lake Charles man is behind bars for an alleged sexual relationship with a female family member that lasted for several years.

    According to the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office, deputies received a complaint on Feb. 4 alleging that Jacob James Champagne, 35, of Lake Charles, had inappropriate sexual contact with a female family member on numerous occasions over a period of several years.

    The sexual contact reportedly started when the girl was 15 years old.

    Following an investigation, Champagne was booked into the Calcasieu Parish Jail on two counts of aggravated incest and two counts of incest.

    Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Kim Myers said aggravated incest is considered a crime against nature in Louisiana because of a new law that was recently enacted.

    Champagne's charges, however, do not apply to the new law because the reported crimes happened before the new law took effect.

    A judge set Champagne's bond at $1.25 million, with the special condition that Champagne cannot have any contact with the alleged victim.



    http://www.katc.com/story/28462694/lake-charles-man-accused-of-aggravated-incest



    Lake Charles man indicted on child sex charges

    4 June 2015


    A Lake Charles man accused of engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct with a young girl was indicted by a grand jury Thursday. Jacob James Champagne, 35, was indicted on two counts of sex crimes involving a victim over 13 and two counts sex crimes involving children. Deputies with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office received a complaint on Feb. 4 alleging that Champagne had inappropriate sexual contact with the girl for several years, beginning when she was 15. Following an investigation, Champagne was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center. Champagne is not allowed to contact the victim or her ...


    http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/29242090/man-indicted-on-incest-charges



    Lake Charles man indicted on child sex charges

    4 June 2015


    A Lake Charles man accused of engaging in inappropriate sexual conduct with a young girl was indicted by a grand jury Thursday. Jacob James Champagne, 35, was indicted on two counts of sex crimes involving a victim over 13 and two counts sex crimes involving children. Deputies with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office received a complaint on Feb. 4 alleging that Champagne had inappropriate sexual contact with the girl for several years, beginning when she was 15. Following an investigation, Champagne was arrested and booked into the Calcasieu Correctional Center. Champagne is not allowed to contact the victim or her ...


    http://www.wbrc.com/story/29242090/lake-charles-man-indicted-on-incest-charges
     
    Last edited: Jan 1, 2018