LOUISIANA COMPUTER THIEVES ARRESTED Two face theft charges | dailyworld.com | Daily World:

Two face theft charges
More than $40,000 in goods taken from different homes

By William Johnson • wjohnson@dailyworld.com • April 1, 2009

Two Port Barre men have been arrested and charged in connection with the theft of more than $40,000 in goods from homes in Lafayette and St. Landry parishes.

Currently being held in the Port Barre Jail are:

John Ardoin, 42, Port Barre, charged with possession of stolen property, possession of stolen firearms, possession of marijuana, possession of ecstasy, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine.

Byron Badeaux, 42, Port Barre, is facing all of those charges as well as resisting an officer, obstruction of justice and violation of an earlier probation and parole order.

Port Barre Police Chief Deon R. Boudreaux said the case began over the weekend when the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office forward to him a tip of illegal drug activity and possibly a large amount of stolen property at two residences in the 100 block of Way Street.

Deputies responded but found no one at home at either house and began a surveillance of the properties.

"On March 29, Port Barre Police made contact with the residents of the two homes. Police received consent to search both homes and properties," Boudreaux said.

He said those searches turned up eight rifles and shotguns, 10 laptop computers, numerous power and hand tools, clothing, hunting equipment, credit cards, desk top computer towers, a home theater system, car audio stereo systems and miscellaneous other items.

"Most of the seized property was stolen during a home burglary in Lafayette Parish and some credits cards from a St. Landry Parish resident," Boudreaux said.

"The owner of the majority of the stolen property estimated the items value at approximately $40,000," Boudreaux said.

He said his officers also learned that the suspects used stolen credit cards to purchase items from a large discount store and a service station in Opelousas.

His officers also seized a small amount of various drugs, including marijuana, Xanax, ecstasy and methamphetamine.

Boudreaux said more charges may be filed by other agencies, including the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office, which is conducting an investigation of the initial burglary in that parish.

"More charges may be filed through the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office and the Opelousas Police Department as well," Boudreaux said.