Donald Lloyd Jeane was sentenced yesterday by 30th Judicial District Judge John Ford to ten years of hard labor with the Louisiana Department of Corrections, laying to rest some fears among area residents that he wouldn't be required to serve any jail time.
Jeane was arrested Feb. 22, 2007, and charged with possession of crystal methamphetamine, possession of crystal methamphetamine with intent to distribute, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count possession of controlled and dangerous substance (Lorcet) and illegal carrying of a weapon. Jeane pled guilty to possession of crystal methamphetamine with intent to distribute Feb. 11, 2008.
After first publishing the story of Jeane’s upcoming sentencing, the Leader received multiple calls from concerned residents of the Evans community. All of the callers were reluctant to identify themselves or submit to a formal interview, fearing that if Jeane is not sentenced to jail they would face retribution.
Though six of the ten year sentence was suspended by Ford with credit for timed served since the date of Jeane's arrest, Jeane will serve two years of hard labor. He will also have to pay a fine of $2,500 plus the cost of court, according to a source at the Clerk of Courts.
After his release, Jeane will have to serve the two remaining years in home incarceration with electronic monitoring, the price for which he will be responsible.
After the home incarceration, he will be put on supervised probation for five years, subject to special conditions.
He will be required to observe a curfew set by probation and parole, to maintain gainful employment or attend job training, and undergo weekly, random drug testing. He will be allowed to travel to work, church and substance abuse treatment.
If necessary, probation and parole may request that he perform extra community service.
After receiving information from a confidential informant and through an investigation of their own, detectives with the Vernon parish Sheriff's Office executed a search warrant on Jeane's residence on Feb. 22, 2007 and found approximately five grams of meth amphetamines.
By the end of the investigation, detectives had seized not only the drugs but more than $4,000 and seven weapons.
Jeane posted bond and was released from the Vernon Parish Jail, shortly after his arrest in 2007.
On June 25, 2007 Jeane’s girlfriend, Linda Jeane, who was living with him at the time, died from an overdose of illegal drugs.
An investigation into that death found that there was no foul play.
Jeane was also arrested in 1984 in Beauregard Parish and charged with possession of marijuana and illegal carrying of a weapon. In 1987 Jeane was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute.
He was sentenced to six years hard labor on the 1987 charge, which was suspended to five years probation.
Kelly Moore contributed to this article.
Leesville, La. —
