State of Louisiana Versus Emile J. Delaneuville, Jr.

STATE OF LOUISIANA NO. 19-K-469

VERSUS FIFTH CIRCUIT

EMILE J. DELANEUVILLE, JR. COURT OF APPEAL

STATE OF LOUISIANA

ON APPLICATION FOR SUPERVISORY REVIEW
FROM THE FORTIETH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, STATE OF LOUISIANA
NO. 19,47, DIVISION "B"
HONORABLE KIRK A. VAUGHN, JUDGE PRO TEMPORE PRESIDING

October 21, 2019

JUDE G. GRAVOIS
JUDGE

Panel composed of Judges Jude G. Gravois,
Stephen J. Windhorst, and Hans J. Liljeberg

WRIT DENIED
JGG
SJW
HJL

COUNSEL FOR PLAINTIFF/RESPONDENT,
STATE OF LOUISIANA
Honorable Bridget A. Dinvaut

COUNSEL FOR DEFENDANT/RELATOR,
EMILE J. DELANEUVILLE, JR.
Aaron P. Mollere
Travis J. Beslin

GRAVOIS, J.

Relator/defendant, Emile J. Delaneuville, Jr., seeks this Court’s supervisory

review of the trial court’s August 27, 2019 oral ruling, following a preliminary

examination conducted on that date, which found probable cause to charge

defendant with a violation of La. R.S. 14:94(A), illegal use of weapons or

dangerous instrumentalities. On the showing made, for the following reasons, we

find no error in the trial court’s ruling.

In his writ application, defendant argues that the trial court erred in finding

probable cause for the charged offense of illegal use of weapons or dangerous

instrumentalities, a violation of La. R.S. 14:94(A), because no evidence was

adduced at the preliminary examination hearing to prove that defendant (1) ever

fired a weapon on the date of the alleged offense and/or (2) that if a weapon was

fired, that it was done so in a manner where it would be foreseeable to result in

death or great bodily harm to a human being. Accordingly, defendant submits that

his immediate release from his bond obligation is warranted.

The purpose of a preliminary examination is to determine whether there is

probable cause to charge a defendant with a crime and hold him over for trial. La.

C.Cr.P. art. 296; State v. Strickland, 04-843 (La. App. 5 Cir. 3/1/05), 900 So.2d

885, writ denied, 05-0820 (La. 6/17/05), 904 So.2d 683. A preliminary

examination after the filing of a bill of information does not determine the validity

of the charge brought against a defendant; instead, it determines whether there is

probable cause to deprive him of his liberty pending trial. State v. Lyons, 09-2198

(La. 10/20/09), 18 So.3d 1293 (citing State v. Jenkins, 338 So.2d 276 (La. 1976)).

At a preliminary examination, the State has the burden to show probable

cause to charge a defendant with the offense or with a lesser included offense. Id.

Probable cause exists when the facts and circumstances are sufficient to justify a

19-K-469 1

man of average caution in the belief that the person has committed a crime. State

v. Baham, 13-0901 (La. 6/28/13), 117 So.3d 505, 507. At a preliminary

examination, the State is not required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the

defendant has committed the crime with which he is charged, but to meet the low

threshold of adducing prima facie evidence sufficient to justify a man of average

caution in the belief that the defendant has committed a crime. Id.

Thus, where the evidence adduced at the preliminary examination fails to

disclose probable cause to charge the defendant with the offense or with a lesser

included offense, the court shall order his release from custody or bail pursuant to

La. C.Cr.P. art. 296. Lyons, supra. This is not a judicial dismissal of the case and

the State may still proceed against the defendant. State v. Lewis, 09-0350 (La.

App. 4 Cir. 12/16/09), 28 So.3d 548, 552, writ denied, 10-0129 (La. 9/3/10), 44

So.3d 697.

In the present matter, upon review, on the showing made, we find that the

trial court did not err in finding probable cause to charge defendant with a violation

of illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities. In pertinent part, La. R.S.

14:94(A) provides that illegal use of weapons is the intentional or criminally

negligent discharging of any firearm, where it is foreseeable that it may result in

death or great bodily harm to a human being.

Officer Christopher Toups testified at the preliminary examination hearing

that defendant’s neighbor, Ray Morgan, indicated that he and defendant had

“ongoing issues.” Mr. Morgan reported to the police that on February 6, 2019,

while outside of his residence, he heard a gunshot and went to investigate. It was

at that time that he observed defendant standing by their fence with a “pistol” in his

hand yelling vulgarities. When officers arrived on the scene, defendant initially

refused to exit his residence stating that his weapons were loaded and that he was

19-K-469 2

“not coming out without weapons.” Further, upon execution of a search warrant of

defendant’s residence, multiple guns and some ammunition were found, as well as

a handgun hidden in an air vent. Despite a search outside, no spent shell casing

was found, although Officer Toups attributed that to the tall grass in the area.

Officer Toups testified that it was possible that if defendant fired a gun in the

residential neighborhood someone could have been harmed because “you never

know where a projectile goes to when you discharge or fire a weapon.”

Hearsay is admissible at a preliminary examination. La. C.E. art.

1101(B)(4); State v. Bart, 17-0038 (La. 2/2/17), 209 So.3d 698, 700. Although

circumstantial in nature, when considering the testimony adduced at the

preliminary examination hearing, on the showing made, we conclude that the trial

court did not err in finding probable cause, as the State presented prima facie

evidence sufficient to justify a man of average caution in the belief that defendant

committed the charged offense. Accordingly, this writ application is denied.

WRIT DENIED

19-K-469 3

SUSAN M. CHEHARDY MARY E. LEGNON

CHIEF JUDGE INTERIM CLERK OF COURT

FREDERICKA H. WICKER
CHIEF DEPUTY CLERK
JUDE G. GRAVOIS
MARC E. JOHNSON
ROBERT A. CHAISSON SUSAN BUCHHOLZ
STEPHEN J. WINDHORST
FIRST DEPUTY CLERK
HANS J. LILJEBERG
JOHN J. MOLAISON, JR. FIFTH CIRCUIT
MELISSA C. LEDET
JUDGES 101 DERBIGNY STREET (70053)
DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL STAFF
POST OFFICE BOX 489
GRETNA, LOUISIANA 70054 (504) 376-1400

(504) 376-1498 FAX
www.fifthcircuit.org

NOTICE OF JUDGMENT AND CERTIFICATE OF DELIVERY
I CERTIFY THAT A COPY OF THE OPINION IN THE BELOW-NUMBERED MATTER HAS BEEN DELIVERED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH UNIFORM RULES - COURT OF APPEAL, RULE 2-16.4 AND 2-16.5 THIS DAY
OCTOBER 21, 2019 TO THE TRIAL JUDGE, CLERK OF COURT, COUNSEL OF RECORD AND ALL PARTIES
NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL, AS LISTED BELOW:

19-K-469
E-NOTIFIED
40TH DISTRICT COURT (CLERK)
HONORABLE BRIDGET A. DINVAUT AARON P. MOLLERE (RELATOR) TRAVIS J. BESLIN (RELATOR)
(RESPONDENT)

MAILED
HON. KIRK A. VAUGHN (DISTRICT JUDGE)
JUDGE PRO TEMPORE
40TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT
POST OFFICE BOX 280
EDGARD, LA 70049