State v. Landry

871 So. 2d 1235, 2004 WL 728161
CourtLouisiana Court of Appeal
DecidedMarch 31, 2004
Docket2003-KA-1671
StatusPublished
Cited by91 cases

This text of 871 So. 2d 1235 (State v. Landry) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Louisiana Court of Appeal primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Landry, 871 So. 2d 1235, 2004 WL 728161 (La. Ct. App. 2004).

Opinion

871 So.2d 1235 (2004)

STATE of Louisiana
v.
Koty J. LANDRY.

No. 2003-KA-1671.

Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fourth Circuit.

March 31, 2004.

*1236 Charles C. Foti, Attorney General, Darryl W. Bubrig, Sr., District Attorney, Belle Chasse, LA and Gilbert V. Andry IV, Assistant District Attorney, New Orleans, LA, Counsel for Plaintiff/Appellee.

Sherry Watters, Louisiana Appellate Project, New Orleans, LA, Counsel for Defendant/Appellant.

(Court composed of Judge CHARLES R. JONES, Judge MAX N. TOBIAS JR. and Judge Pro Tempore MOON LANDRIEU).

MOON LANDRIEU, Judge Pro Tempore.

STATEMENT OF CASE

A bill of information filed August 22, 2002 charged the defendant, Koty Landry, with second-degree battery. He entered a plea of not guilty on September 9, 2002. The defense motions were waived when discovery was satisfied. A jury of six found him guilty as charged on March 11, 2003. He was continued on bond and a pre-sentence investigation was ordered. On June 23, 2003, the defendant was sentenced to serve four years at hard labor, suspended, and he was placed on four years active probation and one year inactive probation. As conditions of his probation, the defendant was ordered to: (1) pay a $1,500.00 fine; (2) complete an alcohol abuse program; (3) pay restitution in the amount of $6,998.26; (4) pay the Indigent Defender Board $3,000.00; (5) complete an anger management program; and (6) serve thirty days in custody during the days that he is onshore from his employment. The court also issued a protective order prohibiting the defendant from having any contact with his victim for eighteen months. On that same day, the defense moved for an appeal that was granted.

For the following reasons, we affirm the defendant's conviction and sentence.

STATEMENT OF FACT

On the night of August 2, 2002, at the Deuce's Wild Lounge in Venice, Louisiana, Raymond Rojas ("Rojas") and other family members were celebrating the birthday of Rojas's sister Tammy. During the course of the evening, the defendant came to the table, and Rojas told him to leave. When Rojas left the bar, the defendant followed him to his truck. He punched Rojas in the face, causing Rojas to fall on the concrete. The defendant left the scene before the police arrived. An ambulance was called, but Rojas's wife drove him to the emergency room in Port Sulphur. He did not receive treatment there because he had been knocked unconscious and there was no CT scan. Rojas and his wife then went to University Hospital in New Orleans. He suffered a broken jaw, a fractured jaw, scrapes, and bruises. The next day he had teeth removed and his jaw was wired.

Birdie Rojas, the victim's wife, testified that she was on the passenger side of the truck and Rojas was almost in front of the truck, digging for his keys. She saw the defendant come out of the bar and hit her husband. They fell between the trucks. By the time she got around the truck, the defendant was kicking Rojas. Mr. Berlin ("Blackie") Moreau came over and pulled the defendant off Rojas. Although Rojas and the defendant passed a few words when the defendant came to the table, she stated that she did not anticipate a fight breaking out when they left.

*1237 Raymond Rojas, the victim, testified that he did not pick a fight with anyone that night and he did not expect anyone to attack him. When he was getting into the truck, he got hit. He does not remember what happened after that because he was knocked unconscious. He did not put up any kind of defense because he was attacked from behind and was knocked unconscious on the first hit. When he came to, the man who hit him had fled the scene. The police took a report and took pictures.

Rojas admitted having a few words with the defendant in the bar. When the defendant came to the table, Rojas told him to get away, that it was a private party. The defendant did not like it very much, but he went back to the bar. Whenever Rojas got up, the defendant would look at him, as if he was waiting for Rojas to leave. Rojas stated that he did not make any gestures at the defendant nor did he ask to take it outside.

Rojas stated that he suffered a broken jaw on one side and a fractured jaw on the other. A wisdom tooth was pulled before they could wire his jaw shut. For about eight weeks he was on a liquid diet. He also had a "busted eye." Rojas testified that he did not refuse medical treatment. He was checked out at the scene. He was told that he did not have any life threatening injuries, but he had to go to the hospital. His wife drove him because they could not afford an ambulance.

The defendant is related to Rojas; the defendant's mother is Rojas's cousin.

Bobby Jones, a friend of the defendant, testified that he observed an argument between Rojas and the defendant at the table that lasted a few minutes. Rojas flipped off the defendant, and the defendant got angry. The defendant stood there for a minute then stuck his hand out to shake hands, but Rojas would not take it. The defendant came to the bar and sat by Jones. When Rojas and his wife were leaving the bar, Rojas flipped off the defendant again, and they exchanged a few more words. The defendant followed Rojas out the door. Jones went outside about three seconds after the defendant. He saw Rojas lying on the concrete; the defendant was standing over him, and Birdie was screaming. Jones did not see the actual punch. He left before the police arrived on the scene. He did not see Rojas argue with anyone else.

Koty Landry testified on his own behalf. He stated that he was not familiar with Rojas prior to August 2, 2002 although they are distantly related on his mother's side of the family. Rojas's sister, Tammy Bourgeois, is an acquaintance. Landry walked over to the table and sat down by Tammy to wish her a happy birthday. Before he got a chance to do so, Rojas started hollering at him to get the "F" away from there. Landry got up and went back to the bar. He stated that he bumped into Rojas later at the bar, and they had words. He tried to shake Rojas's hand, but Rojas did not want any part of it. Landry testified that he told Rojas that he did not want to fight. Landry stated that he sat at the bar for about ten minutes after Rojas left. Landry was walking to his truck when Rojas saw him. Rojas rushed at Landry with his fists clenched, saying he was going to "F" him up. When Rojas got close enough, Landry punched him. When asked at trial if there was any place for him to go or if he could have turned around and left, Landry testified that he could have gone back inside or he could have tried to get into his truck. He testified that he punched Rojas because he felt threatened. Landry hit him one time, then Rojas hit the ground. His face probably hit the concrete. Landry saw that he was knocked out, and he walked back inside. Landry testified that no one had to *1238 pull him off and he did not kick Rojas while he was on the ground. Landry stated that he did not flee the scene; he got in his truck and left.

Landry had a prior conviction for possession of marijuana. He also had a D.W.I. Landry testified that on the night of the incident he had about twelve beers. He went outside because he wanted to leave, not because Rojas had been hollering at him. He hit Rojas from the front, not the back as Rojas testified. He did not remember having prior dealings with Rojas; he had no idea why Rojas wanted him to leave. Landry stated that Rojas did not have any reason to flip him off or to be angry with him.

The defendant was sentenced on June 23, 2003. The court had ordered a PSI.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
871 So. 2d 1235, 2004 WL 728161, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-landry-lactapp-2004.