Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Roderick Rushell Davis Sr. and his two children turned themselves in Tuesday morning in Baton Rouge after an arrest warrant was issued for each of them on Sept. 18 by Judge Bonnie Jackson of the 19^th Judicial District Court for East Baton Rouge Parish.

Davis was Program Director for Sabine Association of Retarded Citizens (SARC).  He was charged with one count of Medicaid Fraud and one count of Exploitation of the Infirmed.

His daughter, Athena Nichole Mitchell, was charged with three counts of Medicaid Fraud and one count of Criminal Conspiracy.

Davis’ son, Roderick Davis Jr., was charged with two counts of Medicaid Fraud and one count of Criminal Conspiracy.

All counts are felonies. The charges came down after State Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office started an investigation last Feb. 5 after a whistleblower reported the matter. Grady Kight, Special Agent for the State Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, filed the affidavit for arrest warrant.

The investigation was based on allegations that Davis Sr. used SARC and recipients’ finances to purchase appliances for his personal use and his personal rental properties. In addition, Davis Sr. fraudulently billed Medicaid for services not provided and received payment from SARC for services that never occurred.

According to the affidavit, Athena Mitchell purportedly worked as a Direct Service Worker during the same time she was enrolled as a college student in the nursing program at Northwestern State University and was performing her nursing clinical in Shreveport. Mitchell and her father submitted paperwork to SARC to be paid by Medicaid for services that were not rendered.

It was revealed Davis Jr. was employed as a Supervisor in one of SARC’s group homes in Many while he was employed as a truck driver by FTS International Services in Cisco, TX. Investigation showed that Davis Jr. submitted employment time cards for SARC for Dec. 27, 2017 through May 28, 2018 when he was actually in Texas. Time cards were submitted to SARC which totaled 343.2 of fraudulent hours, which were paid from Medicaid monies. The combined portion Medicaid reimbursed SARC for Davis Jr.’s employment amounted to $4,053.19.

The affidavit stated:  “Davis Sr.’s actions in conjunction with his son and daughter resulted in the submission of false claims by SARC to the LA Medicaid program. It is apparent from the evidence collected that Davis Sr. and his children conspired to submit claims for services not rendered in order to obtain greater compensation than legally entitled to receive.”

Several SARC employees revealed that Davis Sr. had purchased appliances with SARC funds. He would later reimburse SARC for the same appliances with funds from the recipients’ accounts. An invoice revealed a purchase from Hancock Furniture for an electric range for $479.99 for Group Home #5, but the stove in the Group Home did not match the stove purchased. Another invoice noted a Crosley Refrigerator purchased Feb. 14 for $579.99 from Hancock and it was not found in the Group Home. Employee Robert Evans was interviewed and said Davis Sr. instructed him to pick up the refrigerator and deliver it to an address on Esso Dr., which was a rental property owned by Davis Sr.

It was noted that in December of 2018 Davis Sr. purchased with his SARC Walmart credit card three television sets and a sound bar. He was questioned March 27 and advised that two of the sets could be located at his personal residence. He would not give a location of the largest of the three TV sets.

Also, on the same date, Davis Sr. was questioned about a refrigerator purchased with SARC funds on Feb. 14. SARC employee Robert Evans was instructed to deliver the appliance to Davis’ rental property on Esso St.

Davis Sr. stated he had previously purchased with his own finances two refrigerators from Sears for his rental properties. He said he installed one in a Community Home instead of the one purchased with SARC funds. He said it was a better refrigerator and he did not want to put such a nice refrigerator in his rental property.

He was questioned why he purchased an oven on July 26, 2018 and had it delivered to his rental property. He told Special Agents the stove and refrigerator could be located at his rental properties.

The affidavit stated, “Evidence has been shown that Davis Sr. took advantage of underprivileged and disabled clients by using their personal funds to purchase appliances and electronics for his rental properties and had them work for his own benefit.” It stated the crimes took place from Oct. 2017 through May 28, 2018.

The matter came to light locally somewhat after the AG started the investigation. The SARC board put Davis Sr. on paid leave for two pay periods. But in firing him, their attorney advised he would have to be paid accumulated leave and it would have to be paid within 72 hours of the firing, or they would face the possibility of having to pay him triple the amount owed. The amount they paid Davis Sr. came to a whopping $25,000.

Davis serves as a member of the Sabine Parish School Board and should resign. Bet he doesn’t.

In an audit report for the year ended June 30, 2018, a portion was dedicated to the Supervision of Personnel. It stated, “Although the Association’s personnel policies do not prohibit the hiring of family members, best practices dictate that the hiring of immediate and/or close family members should be avoided if the employment would create either a direct or indirect supervisor/subordinate relationship with a family member, or would create an actual conflict of interest or the appearance of a conflict of interest.”

It continued, “The Association is a non-profit organization, whose employees are not considered public employees. Therefore, the Association has routinely hired employees who are assigned duties under the supervision of immediate family members.”

The report said transactions between related personnel within the Association can lead to override of internal controls, which leave exposure to many risks including the risk of improper or unauthorized transactions.   

The recommendation was:  “The Association should design and implement a personnel policy which prohibits supervisor/ subordinate relationship between family members and should reassign current employees to duties to avoid such relationships.”

In another finding, the audit said their evaluation of the internal control structure revealed an absence of appropriate segregation of duties over cash receipts and payroll preparation. The receipt of funds, bank deposits and bank reconciliations are performed by the same person. That person also prepares and distributes the payroll checks, with no evidence of management approval.

The audit also uncovered several instances of lack or management review and/or approval of expenditures.

In a letter to the Legislative Auditor dated Dec. 19, 2018, Executive Director Wayne Martinez wrote:  “Management will design and implement a personnel policy which prohibits the direct or indirect supervisor/subordinate relationship between family members, and will reassign current employees to duties that avoid such relationship.”

Members of the SARC Board are:  Pete Abington, President; the Rev. Wilton Anthony, Vice-President; Vicki Sistrunk, Secretary; Mary Hariel, Treasurer; John W. Pickett, Legal Counsel; and Suzette Anderson, Gloria Ruffin, Daniel Lowe and Ted Fontenot, Board Members.

Kirby Patrick May, a native of Many, was arrested for obscenity by the Shreveport Police Department on Sept. 22. According to reports, he exposed himself while standing in the middle of Texas St. in front of the Caddo Parish Courthouse. His bond was set at $7,500. He was listed as homeless.

On Dec. 4, 2001, the Shreveport Police arrested him for Parole Violation and being a Fugitive and again on Feb. 5, 2003 on Parole Violation.

Once when Kirby was incarcerated in the Sabine Parish Detention Center, he pulled out one of his eye balls and somehow cut it off. I think it was reported at the time that he did it with a spoon.

Another time back when I had some properties, Kirby rented a house from me. Someone told me he had caused some damage to the house he was renting. I went over to check, and found all the kitchen cabinets torn apart and stacked on the kitchen floor.

“Why did you do that?” I asked Kirby. His reply, “I was watching President Clinton on TV last night and he said, ‘Kirby, tear those kitchen cabinets apart. There’s gold in there.’ So I tore them apart.”

“What did you find?” I asked. “Nothing,” he replied.

“Well, what do you think?” I next asked. To this he said, “I think Bill Clinton is a liar.”

Through the years since then, Kirby would look me up on occasion, apologize for tearing the cabinets up and tell me he was going to pay for them. He was last by here in April. I feel sorry for Kirby and wish him the best.

ROBELINE SPEED TRAP SIGNS:  At its July 18 Village Council meeting, Mayor Bobby Behan told the Council that three 24” by 36” signs saying “Speed Laws Strictly Enforced” had been ordered and paid for by the Village. The amount was $119.05 per sign for a total of $357.15. The cost for the poles and the installation by the State Department of Transportation and Development was included in the cost.  The signs are to be placed at the Village corporate limits on Hwy. 6 and Hwy. 120.

That’s been two months ago and still no signs are up.

Many Mayor Ken Freeman said the Secretary of State’s Office has informed him that a proposition to abolish the Many Police Department and let the Sabine Sheriff’s Office handle the law enforcement duties cannot be put on the Nov. 16 election ballot because Many is a “Lawrason Act town.”  He said they were informed that such action would have to be taken by the State Legislature. It is the town’s intention to ask the Legislature to act on the matter in next year’s session.

Meanwhile, the matter of whether the Many Police Chief should be appointed by the Town Council or elected by voters will be on the Nov. 16 ballot.

Early voting for the Oct. 12 primary will begin Saturday, Sept. 28, and run through Saturday, Oct. 5, except when the Registrar’s office is closed on Sunday. The daily hours are 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The Sabine Parish Police Jury has re-scheduled its public meeting to levy 2019 Ad Valorem Taxes, to adopt the adjusted millage rates after reassessment, and to roll forward millage approval. The meeting was set earlier, but now has been changed to Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 9 a.m.

It should be noted that the new meeting date is after the Oct. 12 primary election. It should also be noted that Jurors are probably going to vote to roll the millage forward, but just don’t want Mr. and Mrs. John Q. Public to know until after they cast their votes.

Mr. Open Line Tedd Dumas earlier said if your public officials vote to roll the millage forward, to vote against them. He is now saying if your public officials put off the vote until after the election, vote against them.

Commissioner of the Dept. of Agriculture and Forestry Mike Strain visited Many last week, arriving to the Sabine Parish Courthouse shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday to quickly shake hands and solicit votes before heading on to points south.

The Commissioner did not speak, except to chit chat and ask for the votes of each person he encountered.

Upon arrival, Strain was greeted by Many Mayor Ken Freeman, Pete Abington and Mr. Observations.

The incumbent Commissioner’s position is being sought by six other candidates. Strain is one of four Republicans in the race; his foremost opposition to win Sabine looks to be Democrat Charlie Greer, who has made numerous Sabineland appearances and worked many events throughout the region.

While at the Courthouse, Strain visited the Sabine Parish Sheriff’s Office, the Registrar of Voters Office, the Clerk of Court’s office, the Assessor’s office and the offices of Judge Stephen Beasley. Clerk of Court Tammy Foster, Judge Beasley and Sheriff Ronny Richardson were not in, but their staffs welcomed the Commissioner during his visit.

“My re-election campaign has been in motion for several months now and I’m happy to report we have been traveling the state and meeting with groups and individuals discussing the issues that now not only face agriculture, forestry and aquaculture, but Louisiana as a whole. I have served as your Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry for more than 11.5 years. Serving you and our state continues to be my first and foremost obligation and privilege,” the Commissioner noted.

It was a Marthaville Good Ole Days to remember this past weekend! Hats doffed to Fuzzy Hennigan, who has served as Festival Director for the past 10 years and who has also worked on the festival in some way the last 25 of its 27 years. It’s a big, big undertaking, including a pre-event beauty pageant, Gospel in the Park Friday night, their one-hour “World-Famous Parade” Saturday morning and a full slate of kids’ activities, programs and vendors throughout Saturday night, but Fuzzy and his able helpers made it all look easy.

Extra monies raised from the event will be used to put a new roof on the Marthaville Heritage Society building. We are certain they would be most appreciative of any donations from those who have not yet had an opportunity to help in that effort. Any amount will be gratefully accepted.

Please send your contribution to Marthaville Heritage Society, P.O. Box 182, Marthaville, LA  71450.

“You’ll find in your travels from Robeline to Rome a surprising number of people who call Marthaville home.” That little nugget was featured on the Good Ole Days official koozie this year and penned by none other than Judy Winn Bridges. We agree and know it to be true.

Our lifelong friend Mott Birdwell of Marthaville celebrated a milestone birthday back in August, and we want to add our heartiest best wishes to the many birthday greetings he received. Mott was an invaluable help with security and parking during the years I promoted music shows at Rebel Park near Marthaville. We could always count on him. It is a pleasure any time we see Mott, and we wish him a most-happy 70^th year.

Our own Laurie Morrow, dean of Central Louisiana Technical Community College in Natchitoches, along with Sarah Nelson, administrator/director of the Northwestern Louisiana Cancer Center, spoke recently to the Natchitoches Rotary Club. The two shared the mission of the Natchitoches Cancer Center, which provides local cancer treatment services. The Northwest Cancer Foundation was created as a fundraising effort of the center and the group recently purchased a van to transport patients to cancer treatments.

Morrow is shown at right, Nelson is shown center right. Also pictured are Rotarian with the Program Dr. Bob Gillan, left and Rotary Pres. David Guillet, center left.

Sabine Parish Tourist Commission Director Linda Curtis-Sparks and local attorney Dan Dyess were both recognized, along with others, at the Lt. Governor’s Annual Travel Summit in Baton Rouge last month for their efforts in state tourism. Shown here from left are Arlene Gould, Exec. Dir. of the Natchitoches Convention & Visitors Bureau, Rebecca Blankenbaker, Exec. Dir. of the Cane River National Heritage Area, and Curtis-Sparks, who is also chairman of the No Man’s Land partnership. Dyess (not pictured) was recognized for the Steel Magnolia House in Natchitoches.

Look up high, in the sky… it’s J.J. Blake, longtime Sabine Parish banker. A new billboard on Hwy. 171 Bypass features Blake who just went to work with Community Bank of Louisiana as a Senior Vice President to open a Many office.

The bank has already begun participating in local events, sponsoring a $10,000 Hole-in-One Contest at the upcoming Project Celebration fundraiser Golf Tourney at Cypress Bend on Oct. 19. They have also pledged $50 to Project Celebration for every touchdown the Many High School Tigers makes this season. Project Celebration offers safety and sanctuary to victims of domestic violence through the Taylor House in Many and six other safe houses across the parish where mothers and their children can seek refuge from abuse.

We appreciate much the bank and Blake’s civic-minded efforts.

Donations are coming in daily for the annual Project Celebration Golf Tournament and Silent Auction to be held at Cypress Bend Resort on Oct.19.

Cheryl Wooley, president of Project Celebration’s board of directors, said she is excited over the overwhelmingly positive support she is receiving from businesses and individuals in the seven-parish area that Project Celebration serves.

Project Celebration serves victims of domestic violence, and Wooley said she thinks people and businesses understand the importance of assisting people (often women and children) who are fleeing their homes and desperately needing a safe harbor.

“We offer safe refuges where a mother and her children can stay without any fear of being in danger,” Wooley said.

The Taylor House in Many is one of the safe houses located over seven parishes. Wooley said the funds from this year’s golf tournament and silent auction will be directed toward a badly needed renovation of Taylor House. “We need to build a new roof, to replace a lot of rotted exterior wood, to do some major repairs and restructuring on the interior, including plumbing and electrical work, with major work on the kitchen” she said. After all the renovations, the house will be completed repainted.

J.J. Blake, president  of Community Bank of Louisiana, which will soon open in Many, has notified Wooley that Community Bank will  donate $50 for each touchdown Many High School’s football team makes until the end of the football season.

Blake said the bank will also sponsor a hole-in-one contest for the golf tournament and the prize to a person who makes a hole-in-one will be $10,000.

Persons wanting to enter the golf tournament should contact Wooley at (580) 380-3297 for more detailed information. 

We are happy to report Many businessman Pete Abington is sponsoring the Sabine Parish Fair Rodeo this year in honor of his daughter Valerie, pictured above. She was injured in an automobile wreck thirty years ago, and he wished to recognize her lifelong and continued love of animals.

Dist. 9 Sabine School Board Member Dale Skinner continues to be on a rampage to get information about the School Resource Officers. Last week he sent certified letters to Schools Supt. Sara Ebarb and Sheriff Ronny Richardson seeking information. The letters were alike in the information they requested.

He told Supt. Ebarb that he has requested the information since April 4, adding, “You have not answered any of the questions as of today, which is more than five months,” and “I want responses.”

Here are his questions:

1.  What part or parts are you responsible for concerning resource officers?
2. I am aware of what Level 1 Post certified officers are. What is Level 2 and what are they allowed to do? What is Level 3 and what are they allowed to do.
3. What is the name and title or position of each resource officer? List all previous positions and how long they served in that capacity. What academy or jailer school did each officers attend and what were the dates and lengths of schooling? What was the emphasis of each academy or school? Is there certificate of completion for each officer?
4. What are the dates of any local training that has taken place during the last two years? Who was in charge of each training session and what certification did they have to have to train other officers?
5. Who decided that Negreet High was to have a resource officer at least four days per week for the last two years? When he was off-campus, was another officer assigned to Negreet that day or most days each week?
6. According to Donald Garcie, Ebarb School had a full-time officer, but that officer was also assigned to Converse and Pleasant Hill School one day per week to teach DARE and was at Ebarb three days per week. Why was this never discussed with the entire Board?
7. Why hasn’t the entire Board ever discussed the hours, jobs, salaries and everything else about resource officers?
8.  Who decided that Converse, Pleasant Hill and Many would be the only districts to pay for their resource officers plus one-seventh of the expenses for an officer for Sparks Alternative School? Who decided that all three districts would pay the same when Pleasant Hill has about $1 million, Converse close to $3 million and Many has $1.2 million? Why was Florien given a free ride when they volunteered to pay 2/3 of a salary?
9. Why was none of this ever discussed with the entire Board? If the Board is not going to be involved in decisions this big, why do we need a Board?
10. It is obvious the Superintendent wants to protect her family, relatives and friends at Negreet; but all students at all schools are just as important as Negreet students. There are three reasons for the last statement: a. The email you sent to everyone that you intended to go to Negreet only. It was deleted immediately after it went public.; b. Negreet is the only school that has had active shooter training where the students were involved; c. Negreet is the only school in Sabine Parish that has had a resource officer assigned to it for the last two years.
11.  Lastly, who was responsible for the deputy moving from the back of the room to come sit behind me at the next-to-last Board meeting. It’s a simple question that will be answered. Were you responsible for this action? A simple yes or no will be fine.”

And in the letter to Sheriff Richardson, Skinner wrote:  “I have known you for a long time and I won’t believe you would stoop to something this low until you tell me you were responsible. You must know I was threatened by Donald Garcie at the next-to-the last Board meeting and called a ‘wise-ass,’ but the deputy sat behind me, not him. Really, regardless of everything else that has happened with your deputies, at this time I just want Sara, you or the deputy to tell the truth.”

Movies in Many fans will have the chance this Saturday night, Sept. 28, to view an inspirational Christian drama film at the Many Community Center. It starts at 7 p.m. and it doesn’t cost anything.

“I Can Only Imagine” is a 2018 American Christian drama film based on the story behind the group MercyMe’s song of the same name, the best-selling Christian single of all time. The film stars J. Michael Finley as Bart Millard, the lead singer who wrote the song about his father’s (played by Dennis Quaid) death.

The true story follows Millard’s life, from a childhood of abuse at the hands of his father, his mother who leaves her troubled marriage and young child behind, teen years and young adulthood spent seeking meaning in life. Millard’s father eventually is diagnosed with cancer and then dies. Their evolving relationship inspires Millard to write the mega-hit song, “I Can Only Imagine.”

“I Can Only Imagine” was released in the U.S. on March 16, 2018. It was a massive box office success, grossing $85 million worldwide against a production budget of $7 million, earning more than twelve times its budget.

Many Mayor Ken Freeman said, “’I Can Only Imagine’ is one of the finest films we’ve brought to the Many Community Center. I can only hope that lots of people spend a few hours on Saturday watching this beautiful inspiring movie.”

“I Can Only Imagine” is brought to viewers for free by the Many Cultural District Advisory Committee, and Many Mayor Ken Freeman. It’s part of the Movies in Many program which brings top-rated movies to Many that are offered for free to citizens and residents of Many and Sabine Parish.

The Shreveport Opera is in town this morning, Wednesday, Sept.25!

They are set to appear at the Many Community Center on San Antonio Ave. downtown to entertain and teach all about opera in a program titled “OperaLicious” from 10 a.m. until noon.

Students from Sabine Parish schools who are interested in theatre and music are scheduled to attend, and the public is also invited to the free educational and entertaining program.

It’s a rare opportunity and completely free thanks to its sponsorship by the Town of Many, Mayor Ken Freeman and the Many Cultural District Advisory Committee.

Mayor Ken Freeman said he plans to attend and is looking forward to learning about opera so he can understand the art form better.

Last, but certainly not least, we wish our good friends Willie and Debbie Hillman Stewart of Florien a lifetime of happiness! The two were married on Monday, Sept. 9 in Magnolia, AR, and we were delighted to see them the very next day when we all attended the Ken Burns “Country Music” Preview at the Robinson Film Center in Shreveport on Sept. 10. It is wonderful to see two dear people find such a good, loving companion with which to enjoy life. After the presentation of “Country Music,” a panel of experts spoke, including Shreveport native Kix Brooks, pictured above center, with Debbie and Willie.

That’ll do it. Folks, this year is racing by. Hard to believe it’s already the end of September. Thanks for your faithful readership. If you have ideas for future Observations, call me at (318) 332-8653 or write an email to robertrgentry@gmail.com. To see recently archived Observations, follow the pages below. To see older ones, visit our Facebook page, where they are listed by date under Photo Albums. To save, send or print this week’s column, click on the appropriate icon below.