On April 25th, 2013, two individuals were arrested in connection with multiple vehicle burglaries which occurred in both St. James and Ascension Parish. In a cooperative investigation by both St. James Parish and Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office, detectives were able to arrest and charge Erick Byington (W/M, DOB 05/29/1980) and Ashley Lee (W/F, DOB 04/02/1990). The St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office was alerted by the Ascension Sheriff’s Office about numerous vehicle burglaries and a stolen vehicle taken from the parking lot of Ascension Catholic Church. At approximately 9:30am, the St. James Sheriff’s Office received a call reporting a suspicious vehicle located in the field near the intersection of LA 3125 and LA 70. Deputies responded and discovered the stolen vehicle from Ascension Parish. While deputies were at the scene of the recovered stolen vehicle, a 911 call was received from Auto Zone in Gramercy regarding two subjects inside of an employee’s vehicle.
After being confronted at Auto Zone by concerned citizens, the subjects fled the scene and were stopped by responding officers from the Gramercy Police Department and the sheriff’s office. Detectives were able to locate several items which were stolen from vehicles in both St. James and Ascension Parish. Erick Byington was charged with six counts of LA R.S. 14:62 Simple Burglary; two counts of LA R.S. 14:27:62 Attempted Burglary; one count of LA R.S. 14:69 Illegal Possession of Stolen Things; and two counts as being a fugitive for other jurisdictions.
Ashley Lee was charged with six counts of LA R.S. 14:62 Simple Burglary; two counts of LA R.S. 14:27:62 Attempted Burglary; one count of LA R.S. 14:69 Illegal Possession of Stolen Things; two counts as being a fugitive for other jurisdictions; five counts of LA R.S. 14:67.3 Unauthorized Use of an Access Card; one count of LA R.S. 67.16 Identity Theft; and one count of LA R.S. 14:72 Forgery. Both subjects are currently incarcerated at the St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office Jail in Convent, LA. The Honorable Judge Jessie Leblanc has set bond in the amount of $115,000 for Erick Byington and $127,500 for Ashley Lee. The St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Ascension Sheriff’s Office are continuing their investigation.
Released by: Sheriff Willy J. Martin, Jr.