5 Time Convicted Felon Receives 50 Years

    Darren Sterling was convicted on May 17, 2012, of the charge of Aggravated Battery and sentenced on September 17, 2012, to 50 years with the Department of Corrections.

    The defendant was arrested on January 1, 2011, for the shooting of his girlfriend in Laplace on December 31, 2010.  After a 3 day trial in front of the Honorable Judge Mary Hotard Becnel, a jury of 12 returned a verdict of guilty to Aggravated Battery.  After the defendant was found guilty, the District Attorney's Office filed a Habitual Offender Bill based on the defendant's five (5) previous felony convictions seeking to enhance his sentence.

    Assistant District Attorney William D. O'Regan, III, was the lead prosecutor and the defendant was represented by Lantz Savage from the St. John the  Baptist Parish Public Defender's Office.

    In response to the sentence, District Attorney Tom Daley said, "The defendant was a multiple offender with five (5) previous felony convictions.  Based on his criminal conduct and his criminal history, the enhanced sentence of 50 years was appropriate.