OPELOUSAS MAN SENTENCED TO LIFE UNDER “HABITUAL OFFENDER LAW”
On Thursday an Opelousas man was sentenced to life in prison under Louisiana’s Habitual Offender law. Elliot Simms, 45, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm by a unanimous jury-verdict in March of this year. District Attorney Chad Pitre said that Simms had four prior felony convictions and was a registered sex offender. Simms has now been convicted for the fifth time.
Pitre said he expects yesterday’s court decision to send a strong message to violent felons who continue to commit crimes. “We will not stop fighting to clean up our parish,” said Pitre. He expects this will be Simms’ fifth and final conviction as his sentence was without the possibility for parole. The “Habitual Offender Law” is an enhanced sentencing process which seeks to remove certain violent offenders off the streets.
The District Attorney commended prosecutor Glenn Marcantel for handling this case and thanked the Opelousas Police Department and the Louisiana Office of Probation & Parole for bringing this defendant to justice.
د
By:
Chad P. Pitre St. Landry Parish District Attorney
