Former deputy’s alleged tampering could affect hundreds of cases

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BYLINE: Raymond Legendre, Staff Writer

Assumption Parish, LA

THIBODAUX — The impact of a former Assumption sheriff’s deputy’s alleged tampering with evidence could be felt on hundreds of drug cases, prosecutors said.

Lt. Louis Lambert, 47, who spent seven years as the agency’s evidence custodian, allegedly used cocaine, marijuana and pills from the evidence room to feed his drug addiction. He faces multiple charges, including 538 counts of malfeasance in office. Lambert, a Labadieville resident, remains free on a $70,500 property bond.

Sheriff Mike Waguespack said authorities are still determining how many of the affected cases were open. Most were closed and likely won’t be affected, said Assumption District Attorney Ricky Babin. As for those that remain open, “each case is different,” Babin said. “We’re not going to wholesale dismiss cases just because there was tampering ... But if we can’t prove our case, we’re going to dismiss it.”

Lambert came under suspension when deputies learned drug evidence for a particular case had been “mishandled,” Waguespack said. That prompted a three-month State Police probe that ended with Lambert’s arrest. Waguespack has since said he believes Lambert is a drug addict who used the evidence vault as his medicine cabinet.

The deputy avoided detection until April because there is no need to review evidence in closed cases, the sheriff said.

The outcome of affected open cases will likely be varied. Some charges will be dismissed, others could result in plea deals.

Babin said potential jurors should not be skeptical of police testimony because of the allegations against Lambert. It is important to “isolate this as one individual instead of putting a label on every police officer,” Babin said.

Lambert’s alleged mishandling of evidence can serve as a powerful learning tool for law-enforcement agencies across the state, said Hal Turner, executive director for the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association. Turner knows first-hand the difficulties Waguespack faces because he experienced a similar situation about 17 years ago while he was sheriff of Allen Parish, he said.

“We try to remind our other members to update audits on stuff,” he said, “not just think that just because somebody is a good guy that it won’t happen ... It’s a bad thing, but if you don’t learn from it, it’s more likely to repeat itself.”

Babin said potential jurors should not be skeptical of police testimony because of the allegations against Lambert. It is important to “isolate this as one individual instead of putting a label on every police officer,” Babin said.

Lambert’s alleged mishandling of evidence can serve as a powerful learning tool for law-enforcement agencies across the state, said Hal Turner, executive director for the Louisiana Sheriff’s Association. Turner knows first-hand the difficulties Waguespack faces because he experienced a similar situation about 17 years ago while he was sheriff of Allen Parish, he said.

“We try to remind our other members to update audits on stuff,” he said, “not just think that just because somebody is a good guy that it won’t happen ... It’s a bad thing, but if you don’t learn from it, it’s more likely to repeat itself.”

Staff Writer Raymond Legendre can be reached at 448-7617 or . Follow him on Twitter@cometcrime.

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