COVINGTON—-District Attorney Warren Montgomery reports that Prentice Wallace, age 31of Slidell, was found guilty on Thursday, January 15th, 2015, of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. A twelve person St. Tammany Parish Jury deliberated an hour and a half before returning the guilty verdict to 22nd Judicial District Judge Allison Penzato. Wallace was charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine before the Jury returned the responsive verdict of attempted possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Career Criminal Assistant District Attorney Nick Noriea, Jr. was in charge of preparation and presentation of the State’s case.
Wallace and Leo Charles, age 31 of Slidell, were arrested in September 2013 by the Slidell Police Department after Police observed a drug deal between persons in two vehicles. Charles and Wallace were in one vehicle making the drug sale when they sped away to avoid arrest. Charles drove the two across the twin spans to Orleans Parish at speeds in excess of 100 miles an hour while Officers pursued them. Officers observed baggies being thrown from the defendant’s vehicle during the chase. Charles crashed the car into the woods after exiting Interstate 10 at the Michoud Boulevard exit and the two fled on foot. Charles was arrested after the Slidell Police Department Canine Unit arrived. Wallace was arrested several days later on a warrant. A search of the vehicle revealed cocaine residue.
Lindsay Rolston, age 27 of Slidell, was the person in the other vehicle making the drug purchase. Rolston pled guilty to possession of alprazolam, a schedule IV drug, in May 2014 and was sentenced to 3 years probation.
Charles was found guilty in May 2014 of aggravated flight from an officer and aggravated obstruction of a highway and was sentenced to 35 years in prison as a career criminal. Charles has prior convictions for unauthorized use of a vehicle in 2003, attempted simple armed robbery in 2005, unauthorized use of a vehicle in 2007, and obstruction of justice in May 2012.
Judge Penzato will sentence Wallace at a multi-bill hearing scheduled in February 2015. Wallace could be sentenced as a career criminal due to prior convictions for possession of cocaine and 2 counts of distribution of cocaine.