Former WPSO jail employee charged with malfeasance after sexual incident with inmate

Bobby Riggs, who is said to be a residence of the Pine area and worked as a deputy at the Washington Parish Jail in recent days, has been charged with malfeasance of office in connection with sexual encounter with an inmate.

Sheriff Robert Crowe

Sheriff Robert Crowe confirmed the incident with wpnewsblog as he prepared to attend a campaign event in Bogalusa.

Crowe said it was his understanding that Riggs had given previously given his two weeks' notice and that the incident occurred on Sunday, his final day of employment.

Crowe said Riggs joined the sheriff's office after being laid off at Rayburn Correctional Center in Angie.

"When we took office, we said we expected our personnel to rise to a higher standard," Crowe explained. "I think we had something happen like this the first six months I was in office and we made the arrest and filed charges then, just like we did now."

If convicted of the charge, a state prison felony, Riggs could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and fined up to $10,000.

Wpnewsblog learned of the incident about 1:40 Tuesday afternoon.

(Published first at http://www.wpnewsblog.blogspot.com)
(Reader news tip story)

Holiday weekend relatively quiet

It was a relatively quiet holiday weekend, at least according to the booking log at the Bogalusa Police Department.

While there were the normal fireworks-related calls that accompany a holiday such as New Years or the Fourth of July, residents and visitors to Bogalusa were generally well-behaved over the long break.

There were a total of 16 bookings logged between July 1 and July 4:

July 1

• Tiffany Temple, Sunset Acres No. 73, Bogalusa. (Failure to appear, unauthorized use of an access card under $500, vehicle burglary). Awaiting transfer to WPSO.

• JaJoun Robinson, 900 Front St., Bogalusa. (Failure to return leased property) Transported to WPSO.

• Tiffany L. Smith Whitehead, 611 Caston, Bogalusa.  (two Failure to appear, fugitive from outside agency).

• Anthony LaChute, 637 Ave. G, Bogalusa. (Failure to appear, three counts running stop sign, three counts no turn signal, no vehicle license, expired inspection sticker, open container, failure to secure registration, no insurance, resisting an officer.)

July 2

• Colbi Massengale, 1021 Lona Rester, Bogalusa. (DWI-1^st, no turn signal, expired license plate)

• Courtney Hines, 57866 Knapp Thomas Road, Bogalusa. (Improper lane change, DWI-1^st. State police)

• Robert L. Bell, III, No. 33, Bogue Projects, Bogalusa. (Criminal damage to property, disturbing the peace-intoxication, resisting and office)

• Thomas L. Washington, 925 E. 4^th, Bogalusa. (Theft by shoplifting)

• Lawrence C. Morris, 1847 Dolly Ave., Bogalusa. (Improper lane usage, driving under suspicion)

July 3

• Jason Duhe, 123 Budget Inn, Bogalusa. (Simple battery)

• Harlon H. Irvine, 12303 Henkins Lane, Spotsylvania, Va. (Careless operation, expired license plate, driving under suspicion, DWI)

• Michael Weaver, 2946 Highway 40, Bush. (Obscenity)

• Richard Grimes, 1718 Ave. F, Bogalusa. (Aggravated battery, possession of drug paraphernalia)

July 4

• Leah Seals, 121 Ramsey Hall Road, Poplarville, Miss. (Possession of drug paraphernalia)

• Rance Smith, 1519 Marshall Richardson, Bogalusa. (Fugitive from outside agency). Awaiting transport to WPSO.

• Shadic Mark, 64070 Hollis Leslie Rd., Angie. (Two failute to appear)