Judge dismisses suit against Williams, Brown

By: TONY MARKS
Editor

Judge Chuck West granted a directive verdict in a case challenging the candidacy of Ryan LeDay Williams and Renee Brown, who are running for mayor of Ville Platte.
A directive verdict finds there is no legally sufficient evidence and dismisses the case.
Making the motion for a directive verdict was Williams’ attorney, Chris Ludeau. Brown’s attorney, Nick Monier, joined in on the motion.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit were Rodriguez Cortez Fontenot, a candidate for Ville Platte City Council in District D, and Jarvis Richard. At the start of the day-long hearing on Thursday, Judge West granted Ludeau’s motion to dismiss Richard as a challenger because he is not a registered voter of the parish due to a felony conviction in June 2014. Fontenot is also a felon but submitted proper paperwork with the registrar of voter’s office stating he is not under an order of imprisonment.
The testimony began with Fontenot stating he had seen Williams fixing up the residence located at 123 E. Beech St. even though he has not resided at that residence over the last year.
Fontenot, later under cross-examination, admitted he qualified to run for council at an address on S. Soileau St. even though he has not resided there for three years. He further testified Williams never lived at the Beech St. home but he had seen Williams’ dog chained up at the house in question.
Tiffany Poullard Anderson then testified she lived at 123 E. Beech St. until she moved out in July 2021 and that the next person to move in was Williams. She further testified she never saw Fontenot around the house.
Kylie Soileau then testified she moved into 1629 W. Main St. in Ville Platte at the end of April 2022 following a separation from her husband. She is sharing the residence with Brown, who moved into the residence prior to April 2022.
Soileau further testified she pays the utility bills in lieu of rent even though the utilities are in Brown’s name.
The testimony of Jonathan Stelly, a private investigator, was then heard. He, along with his wife, had investigated both Williams and Brown between July 8, and August 2. The investigation contained spot checks, record checks, and garbage collection.
After the lunch recess, plaintiff’s attorney, Blane Wilson, questioned Williams and Brown under cross-examination.
Williams testified he maintained the water bills after Anderson moved out of the 123 E. Beech St. residence, the power was transferred to his name around October or November 2021, he stays at the residence located at 1049 Rachael Dr. from time to time even though he mostly stays at 123 E. Beech St., and has a recently purchased vehicle registered to the Beech St. address.
Brown stated, under oath, she moved into residence at 1629 W. Main St. at the beginning of 2021 and is usually there three to four nights a week. The other nights are spent either at 1226 Huckleberry Ln. or at Toledo Bend.
After the plaintiff’s attorneys rested their case is when Ludeau made his motion for directive verdict. Attorneys for the plaintiff will now appeal to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal.