Drug Court Grads Persevered
BOBBY ARDOIN
St. Landry Now.com Editor
(Photos By Freddie Herpin)
Two years ago many of those who graduated from the St. Landry Adult Drug And Sobriety Court on Monday were mired in destructive lives filled with chaos, self-denial and a variety of illegal substances.
If there was any doubt about the status of their previous condition, photos of their arrests were visible on a large courtroom screen as they received their completion certificates.
It was a different story on Monday, however, as 16 individuals dressed in church attire received their “diplomas” and provided testimonials in front of over 100 spectators.
More importantly the ceremony marked the official dispositions of their court cases by assistant district attorney Glenn Marcantel.
Many who completed the structured diversion program had little choice.
For most of them it was either enter the drug rehabilitation program or receive a jail sentence.
On Monday the four 27th Judicial Court judges who assist drug court executive director Norman Rene were on hand for the graduations in addition to their case and treatment directors.
Rene said the graduation was the 40th in the history of the program that began in 2002.
Since then, said Rene, the program has graduated 432, while currently there are 70 participants in the program under the direction of State District Court Judge Greg Doucet.
The diversion program, said Rene, would not be successful without the support of various civic organizations and law enforcement.
Graduate Courtney Hayes was presented with the Rising Anchor award. Artasia Viges was given the Unbroken Spirit Award.
Rene and Simmons provided anecdotes about many of those who graduated, including remarks about how they interacted with their program peers and the difficulties each overcame.
Many of those recognized have jobs as store managers and employees, while Brandon Wedlock of Eunice attended Southwest Louisiana Community College and received a degree in electricity.
Several of the men were at one time, residents of The Refinery Mission in Opelousas.
State District Judge Jason Meche received a special award for working with the drug court program since 2019.
The graduates were reminded by State District Court Judge Charles Cravins that their path through treatment and current drug free existence was not easy.
“This should be a proud day and now you must maintain it. This is not the end of what has been a life changing experience,” Cravins said.
Meche said the stories of the graduates were much different on Monday than they were over two years ago.
Their arrest photos, Meche added, are reminders of how the graduates were as they entered the program.
“Your transformation is remarkable. You are now holding yourselves responsible. You were sent to drug court and you received help along the way. There are former graduates here who were helping you,” Meche said.
Meche noted that presiding over drug court has been his most rewarding experience as a judge.
