On Sunday, August 24, 2014, at 1:30 am, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies stopped a car matching the description of a car that was reportedly seen in the area during recent vehicle burglaries in LaPlace. Four men occupied the car. During the stop, the driver of the car admitted to deputies that he burglarized several vehicles and briefly explained what happened during the burglaries. The driver was identified as Kevin Staes, 21, of Hebert Drive in Reserve. Detectives were notified of the incident.
During an interview between detectives and Kevin Staes, Staes implicated Corey Horton, 18, of Williamsburg Drive in LaPlace and a sixteen-year-old male juvenile of Magnolia Street in LaPlace in participating in the vehicle burglaries that occurred on or about August 17 in the LaPlace Park Subdivision. Also during the interview, Staes implicated Donald Mcelveen Jr., 20, of Linda Lane in LaPlace in participating in the vehicle burglaries that occurred on or about August 23 in subdivisions off US Highway 51 and Main Street in LaPlace.
This investigation is ongoing as investigators continue to process collected evidence and wait for the results of laboratory analysis of evidence that was sent to the State Laboratory.
Those arrested and their charges follow:
Kevin Staes was arrested and booked with 39 counts of simple burglary and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. He remains in custody in lieu of a $391,000 bond.
Corey Horton was arrested and booked with 14 counts of simple burglary and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. He remains in custody in lieu of a $141,000 bond.
A Juvenile was arrested and booked with 14 counts of simple burglary. He remains in custody pending the juvenile detention hearing that is scheduled Tuesday morning.
Donald Mcelveen Jr. was arrested and booked with 25 counts of simple burglary. He remains in custody in lieu of a $250,000 bond.