Gerald C. Needham (alias Copperhead) was taken into custody last night by Bossier City Police Officers and charged with three counts of first degree murder. Needham has a long criminal history starting in Caddo Parish when he was 17 years old and culminating with his arrest yesterday.
Timeline
1988
Charged on October 24, 1988 in Caddo Parish with Unauthoized Use of a Movable and Simple Escape. He appeared before Judge Gahagan on May 19, 1989 and was sentenced to two years on each charge with the sentences to run consecutively.
1990
Charged with Simple Escape in Caddo Parish. He appeared before Judge Hamilton and was sentenced to 3 years to run consecutively with the sentences he was already serving.
This ended his criminal career, or at least his criminal charges – in Caddo Parish.
The remainder of the charges are all from Bossier Parish.
1992
Charged 11/23/92 with Possession of Cocaine and Battery of a Police Officer (3 counts).
The charges of battery on a Police Officer were nol prossed, and on June 22, 1994 he was sentenced by Judge Bolin to 4 years on the Cocaine charge.
1996
Charged on January 6, 1996 with Armed Robbery.
He appeared in court on September 18, 1996 and entered a plea of guilty to Simple Robbery. He was sentenced by Judge Campbell to serve 6 years with credit for time served.
2005
Charged on May 16, 2005 with Possession of Marijuana with intent to sell, Possession of Schedule II with intent to sell and charged along with Eulanda Needham with attempting to smuggle contraband (marijuana and cocaine) into the Bossier Parish Jail.
He went to court on February 13, 2006 and the marijuana charge was nol prossed. He was allowed to enter a plea to Attempted Possession of Cocaine and was sentenced by Judge Bolin to a $750 fine and 2 years at hard labor, suspended. He was put on probation for 1 year.
2007
Charged on May 17, 2007 with Armed Robbery with a firearm (he used a rifle to rob a man of $200). When he appeared in court on August 27, 2007 he was allowed to plead to Simple Battery and was sentenced by Judge Bolin to 6 months in Parish Jail with credit for time served.
2008
On February 21, 2008 Needham was charged with Battery on a Police Officer (Justin Dunn). On September 3, 2008 he pled guilty and was sentenced by Judge Self to 60 days in Parish Jail.
On July 17, 2008 he was charged with Resisting an Officer (Neil Nunnery) and for Battery on a Corrections Officer. At his court appearance on September 23, 2009 he was sentenced to Judge Craig to 90 days in Parish Jail with credit for time served.
2010
On August 13, 2010 Needham was charged with Simple Possession of Marijuana and with Resisting a Police Officer (Officer Nelson). On December 17, 2010, the resisting charge was nol prossed and he pled guilty to simple possession. He was sentenced by Judge Self to 30 days with credit for time served, and was allowed 60 days to pay fine and costs.
I think most people would question the 2007 Armed Robbery with a Firearm charge being pled down to a misdemeanor charge of Simple Battery. The Armed Robbery would carry a minimum 10 year sentence, and the use of the firearm would carry an additional five years - all of this without the benefit or probation or parole.
Was the case so weak that the DA felt he couldn't prosecute it? I will attempt to get answers on Monday.
Good luck on getting information from the DA's office. The DA has proven by the events in the Sentell case that even with video evidence contradicting the obvious he will present that which sheds the best light on his department.
ReplyDeleteThe nol processed lingo abounds in the DA's office. I don't know if its a function of incompetence on the side of the prosecution or the police department. Perhaps a combination, but the more likely scenario is a situation where criminals are pushed through the system to avoid going to court and having to present a case to the jury. When you have a career criminal like this at some point I would hope the DA would say enough is enough and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law. Had this been done, say on the robbery case, you wouldn't have three murder victims.
Jim, thanks for doing the heavy lifting on this one. It's still going to be interesting to know the motive, if this guy is the killer.
ReplyDeleteDamn shame all around.
What happened to the 3 times rule? Why was out on our streets? Some "animals" need to be caged or completely eliminated. I'm not cold hearted but evidently he is.
ReplyDeleteWhere is this information from?
ReplyDeleteDistrict Court criminal records
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the exact detail but Copperhead has been connected to murders in the past. Check into it
ReplyDeleteShane McWilliams mentioned that he had been investigated in a homicide but never charged, no details.
ReplyDeleteHe was connected to the quaduple killing in Sheveport at the Landing apartments which remains unsolved. And someone really needs to get on the Bossier DAs office about dropping or pleading down good, well worked cases. If you only knew how many criminals walk, it would amaze you. Caddo has recently (since Judge Scott became DA) taken a hard stance on repeat offenders. If the cases are good, STOP pleading them out. Diversion and Nol Prossing are the two buttons the DA needs to get rid of. It's like the Office Depot easy button over there. If they don't watch it, Bossier will easily slip away like Sheveport already has.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if these judges and the District Attorney office feels somewhat responsible for these muders. This guy has his own revolving door at the BP jail. Why all the light sentences, plea bargaining, nol processes and time served allowances. I know Judge Wilson in the Bossier City Court gives harsher punishment for shop-lifting than this guy got for fighting with police officers. The next office that needs a shake-up is the DA and lets elect some judges that wants to keep criminals off our streets.
ReplyDeleteThis article is only a fraction of his criminal history.
ReplyDeleteThe DAs office is gonna get on tv and say we did the best with what we had.They won't take any flak and won't even feel the least bit responsable.
ReplyDeleteMAYBE IF ONE OF THE DA S FAMILY MEMBERS WAS KILLED THEY MIGHT LOOK AT THIS A LITTLE DIFFERANTLY JUST SAYING PLEASE DONT DROP THE BALL ON YHIS ONE PUT HIM TO DEATH THE SOONER THE BETTER FOR THFAMILY MEMBERS AND THE REST OF BOSSIER CITY THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN BCPD FOR A SPEEDY APPREHESION OF THIS RUYHLESS KILLER
ReplyDeletehe should have been a convicted felon from the prior drug charges when he was arrested for the robbery charge. He should served the mandatory 10 years on that alone. One of the things I hate is that the first thing that is dropped is the resisting or battery against an officer charge. This should be the most prosecuted charge there is to set the example that you don't do it.
ReplyDeleteThe Bossier Parish D.A's office is worthless. They plea bargin everything down to nothing. If this guy would have gone to jail like he should have, then the victims would still be alive. RECALL MARVIN! or I will except a resignation too!
ReplyDeleteAs far as the 2007 case is concerned, I would find out who the Asst. District Attorney involved in that deal. It wouldn't surprise me of Dale Montgomery was the one responsible. Ever since Melissa Sugar was let go, ole Dale is now the weakest link.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you this. Shane McWilliams and Jimmy Stewart would have been involved in this investigation. If an arrest was made then I can promise you that he was guilty and the case was strong.
1:22 AM - You're violating Rule #1, sounds like an insult to me.
ReplyDeleteHowever, two different ADA's appeared in court on this one and Dale Montgomery wasn't one of them.
so if you Rob someone its plead down to probation. but when the sheriff's cousin robert whittington todl someone to stay off his property, this 70 year old man was given 5 years at hard labor, no probation. They found a charge to put this man away because he had pissed of Sheriff Deen. Wish they would have doen this to old COPPERHEAD.
ReplyDeleteThe last nol processed case was the ADA "Lane Pittard", another ADA involved in his cases is "jacobs".
ReplyDeleteTwo of the cases that involved battery on police officers received light sentences from both Judge Self and Judge Craig (60 and 90 days).
Gosh, if that is all they get for beating up a police officer I would hate to see if I was beat up down at the boardwalk, I guess he would receive a prize or something.
Unbelievable, isn't it? First, the most obvious, how the hell do you plead someone to a simple battery when the original charge was Armed Robbery with a Firearm? Second, why was he not charged as a felon in possession of a firearm with that charge? His first felony conviction for the Unauthorized Use of a Moveable qualifies him for it. It is considered an enumerated offense. And lastly, why the hell hasn't he been multibilled yet? He is the true definition of a habitual offender. I'll tell you why...curious? Because the ADA's in the Bossier Parish DA's office are LAZY! Bottom line...it's easier to plead someone to something than have to go through the process of having a habitual offender hearing and a trial. Shameful. I hope the families of these victims storm the DA's office and demand accountability.
ReplyDeleteIn some cases it's hard to get the victim of these crimes to show up and testify. As far as "battery on police officer" and "resisting arrest" charges, the police officers ate more than willing to show up and testify. No excuses there.
ReplyDeleteAnd I don't think this "timeline" even includes what he has been charged with at the area city courts. Although they may be misdemeanor charges there, it still lengthens his criminal history.
ReplyDeleteWow, his third conviction was not probatable by law. The judge and DA allowed for an illegal sentence to take place. This is worth looking into.
ReplyDelete