“GRAND JURY INDICTMENTS”
Today, October 10, 2025, Jared Eugene Wells, 23, of Porte Barre was indicted by
the St. Landry Parish Grand Jury with the Second-Degree Murder of David Joachin, also
from Porte Barre. The grand jury heard evidence of the shooting which occurred at 1310
Jennings Road in Opelousas on June 11, 2025. The victim died of a single gunshot wound
to the chest. Second Degree Murder carries a mandatory life sentence of imprisonment
at hard labor without probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Mr. Wells will be
arraigned on November 6, 2025.
The St. Landry Parish Grand Jury also indicted Felton Leday, 74, of Opelousas,
with three counts of First-Degree Rape and three counts of Sexual Battery. The
allegations stem from the complaints of three victims concerning acts by Mr. Leday that
happened over a period of several years when they were under the ages of ten. Like
Second Degree Murder, First Degree Rape carries a mandatory sentence of life
imprisonment without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence. Mr.
Leday will be arraigned on November 20, 2025.
