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Rudolph Ellis, Jr. has been sentenced to at least 20 years of jail time by 30th Judicial Court Judge Jim Mitchell.
Ellis, 53, of Leesville, plead guilty June 22 before Mitchell to a number of offenses, including intentionally exposing another person to the AIDS virus (by smearing his blood on the face of a police officer). Ellis was represented by Elvin Fontenot, who requested a delay in the sentencing on behalf of his client so that Ellis would have a chance to set up a drug rehabilitation program in Lake Charles.
"Mr. Ellis is still adamant about the fact that he wants to pursue rehabilitation," Fontenot told Mitchell. In addition, according to his attorney, Ellis was concerned that he had not been allowed to return home to take care of personal business.
"I was told I would have an opportunity to do all those things," Ellis told Mitchell. "I asked the warden to call Mr. Fontenot, and he told me he did."
"The court can sympathize with you and your problems. Many of those you brought onto yourself with your criminal conduct," Mitchell responded before moving forward on Ellis' sentencing.
It was suggested that Fontenot might talk to the sheriff about Ellis' concerns.
Mitchell said he considered a number of issues in sentencing Ellis, including the economic harm caused to the victim and society, as well as Ellis' health conditions and criminal record, which dates back several years and includes two felonies and several misdemeanors. Mitchell said that he had determined that Ellis is in need of a correctional sentence.
Mitchell grouped the sentences so that some run concurrently with each other, but consecutively with others. In all, Ellis was sentenced to approximately 20 years, some of which will be served at the Vernon Parish Jail. The majority of the sentence is to be served with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. In addition to the jail time, Ellis was also held accountable for more than $9,000 in fines and restitution, as well as court costs for a number of the charges.
Ellis was first arrested Jan. 9 by Vernon Parish Sheriff's deputies after a deputy stopped Ellis for a traffic violation. After having providing his personal identification to the officer, Ellis abruptly left the scene and then refused to stop his vehicle.Officers with the Leesville City Police joined in the pursuit of Ellis.
Damage occurred to units that belonged to the Leesville City Police Department and to the VPSO during the pursuit.
After Ellis had been apprehended, a routine search resulted in the discovery of illegal drug paraphernalia as well crack cocaine, which was lying on the floorboard of the driver's side of the vehicle.
Ellis was arrested for aggravated assault on a police officer, open container, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of schedule II narcotics, flight from an officer, criminal damage to property and several traffic violations.
He plead guilty to the following offenses: four counts of possession of cocaine; two counts of resisting arrest; three counts of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle; resisting arrest by force or violence; two counts of aggravated flight from an officer; two counts of criminal damage to property; two counts operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated; and intentional exposure to the AIDS virus.
The sentencing took place Monday morning at the Vernon Parish Courthouse.
Rudolph Ellis, Jr. has been sentenced to at least 20 years of jail time by 30th Judicial Court Judge Jim Mitchell.
Ellis, 53, of Leesville, plead guilty June 22 before Mitchell to a number of offenses, including intentionally exposing another person to the AIDS virus (by smearing his blood on the face of a police officer). Ellis was represented by Elvin Fontenot, who requested a delay in the sentencing on behalf of his client so that Ellis would have a chance to set up a drug rehabilitation program in Lake Charles.
"Mr. Ellis is still adamant about the fact that he wants to pursue rehabilitation," Fontenot told Mitchell. In addition, according to his attorney, Ellis was concerned that he had not been allowed to return home to take care of personal business.
"I was told I would have an opportunity to do all those things," Ellis told Mitchell. "I asked the warden to call Mr. Fontenot, and he told me he did."
"The court can sympathize with you and your problems. Many of those you brought onto yourself with your criminal conduct," Mitchell responded before moving forward on Ellis' sentencing.
It was suggested that Fontenot might talk to the sheriff about Ellis' concerns.
Mitchell said he considered a number of issues in sentencing Ellis, including the economic harm caused to the victim and society, as well as Ellis' health conditions and criminal record, which dates back several years and includes two felonies and several misdemeanors. Mitchell said that he had determined that Ellis is in need of a correctional sentence.
Mitchell grouped the sentences so that some run concurrently with each other, but consecutively with others. In all, Ellis was sentenced to approximately 20 years, some of which will be served at the Vernon Parish Jail. The majority of the sentence is to be served with the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections. In addition to the jail time, Ellis was also held accountable for more than $9,000 in fines and restitution, as well as court costs for a number of the charges.
Ellis was first arrested Jan. 9 by Vernon Parish Sheriff's deputies after a deputy stopped Ellis for a traffic violation. After having providing his personal identification to the officer, Ellis abruptly left the scene and then refused to stop his vehicle.Officers with the Leesville City Police joined in the pursuit of Ellis.
Damage occurred to units that belonged to the Leesville City Police Department and to the VPSO during the pursuit.
After Ellis had been apprehended, a routine search resulted in the discovery of illegal drug paraphernalia as well crack cocaine, which was lying on the floorboard of the driver's side of the vehicle.
Ellis was arrested for aggravated assault on a police officer, open container, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of schedule II narcotics, flight from an officer, criminal damage to property and several traffic violations.
He plead guilty to the following offenses: four counts of possession of cocaine; two counts of resisting arrest; three counts of aggravated assault with a motor vehicle; resisting arrest by force or violence; two counts of aggravated flight from an officer; two counts of criminal damage to property; two counts operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated; and intentional exposure to the AIDS virus.
The sentencing took place Monday morning at the Vernon Parish Courthouse.
