Local man faces life in prison as three-time loser

By Matthew Penix
St. Tammany News
Published on Monday, April 28, 2008 9:18 AM CDT

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When St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped Slidell resident Patrick Ducre, 39, April 19, 2007, he fled his vehicle and eluded capture leaving a bag of marijuana and a pit bull inside the car.

Two days later he was arrested with another bag of marijuana while searching for the dog at the St. Tammany Parish Animal Shelter near Abita Springs on Louisiana Highway 36.

Now he faces up to life in prison as a habitual offender after being convicted this week of possession of marijuana and attempted possession of marijuana with intent to distribute during the ordeal, District Attorney Walter Reed spokesman Rick Wood said.

Ducre will face the habitual offender hearing May 12 in state Judge Peter Garcia’s courtroom, Wood said. Durcre will likely receive a life sentence if found guilty, he said. Assistant District Attorney Scott Gardner will prosecute the case. The habitual offender hearing comes on the heels of two prior convictions 1986 and 1987 for simple burglary and illegal possession of stolen things, Wood said. Details on those arrests were not available as of press time.

Ducre has had 17 arrests since 1991 that includes battery on a police officer, possession of stolen property, aggravated flight, criminal mischief and several failure to appear in court warrants among others, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

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Comments

8 comment(s)

Anthony wrote on May 12, 2008 8:49 AM:

" He was convicted in 86, then again in 87. Then since 1991 (17 Years) he has been arrested 17 more times. That is an average of once a year. I read where some think the sentence is too severe for the crime, but until the law starts to be enforced aggressively the streets will never be safe again. He ran when he was stopped by the police, which indicates guilt. It seems he was not concerned with breaking the law until he was caught, again. "

Lewis wrote on May 7, 2008 7:25 AM:

" This wasn't his first arrest there was 17 other ones for drugs, burglary, assault an battery and having stolen property in his possession. So how many more chances should he get? May be next time it might be alot worse. I say he should be put away for ever an a day or just make him exempt from the law. "

EB wrote on May 5, 2008 9:35 AM:

" Prison doesn't "teach" you anything. It just makes you more bitter at the rest of the world. Its ashame people are given such long sentences for marijuana. The only reason it is illegal is because our government can't regulate and tax it. "

bob wrote on May 3, 2008 5:06 PM:

" i agree with popo
how many times does a person needs to be arrested.before they say "hey lets give him what he wants .to be in jail"
because if he didn't want to go to jail..why keep committing crimes?

i know a few people personally who are 2 time felons..and that they still haven't learned a thing..and i pray everyday that they get caught..just so they could eventually learn from the mistakes..since it seems like when they give some people a break..they take advantage of the hand thats helping them "

Lisa wrote on May 2, 2008 11:08 AM:

" Walter Reed and his prosecutors NEED TO GET A GRIP!!! Bottom line, Dupre has 2 felony charges from almost 20 years ago when he was a kid, and it seems the 2 charges are from the same incident. Ok maybe the boy isn't the ideal citizen, not even close, and should be punished because of the 2 new weed incidents but does he really deserve life. Murderers,attempted murderers,child molesters,ect. don't even get that much time. don't get me wrong i'm not against the 3x loser thing (in certain situations). But make the punishment fit the crime. "

popo wrote on May 1, 2008 4:46 PM:

" He's not receiving the life sentence for possession, he's receiving it for possession and being arrested 19 times before hand. Three of which have been felonies. How many times should a person go to jail before he have to live there? HE MUST LOVE JAIL!!!!!! "

Amanda Davis wrote on May 1, 2008 1:39 PM:

" I would agree, had he been rehabilitated the first 1-17 arrests he may not be looking at a life sentence for what seems to minor offenses. "

Carol Sparkle wrote on Apr 28, 2008 11:57 AM:

" Should a person be sentance to life in prison for possession of marijuana, even if there was enough to file intent charges. I strongly support the aggressive nature of all the law enforcement agencies on the Northshore, and hope this messages is reaching New Orleans, but this might be a little stiff. "

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