Funny how our so-called system of justice works. In fact, maybe that headline should read “on the inside looking out.”
Take a high-profile case like the death of George Floyd driven by public outrage and you get a reasonably quick trial, conviction and sentencing.
Then there is the equally tragic death of Ronald Greene at the hands of Louisiana State Police and because the only available video is in the possess of those same State Police, it takes 16 months for the story to surface and while there have been a couple of firings, there is still no trial.
And the two homicides, that of George Floyd and Ronald Greene, were only a couple of months apart but still no formal charges, much less a trial in the Greene case.
Take the case of BERNARD NOBLE, an African-American lacking the right political connections. He was stopped by New Orleans police while he was riding…a bicycle. On the ground was a small bag of marijuana the equivalent of two joints. He was sentenced to 13-and-a-half years in prison and actually served seven before an outpouring of support and publicity about his case.
But when there are sexual harassment charges at a highly-visible institution like LSU, or the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, those at the top close ranks to protect the school or office and in the process, the alleged offenders and the cases drags on interminably.
DEREK HARRIS of Abbeville is another of those lacking the financial resources to engage a high-priced defense attorney. Consequently, when the unemployed Gulf War veteran was arrested for selling $30 worth of weed to an undercover agent, his sentence appeared a little disproportionate to his sin.
His trial was postponed (continued, in legal parlance) for three years and he chose to be tried before a judge rather than a jury. The judge handed down a 15-year sentence on June 16, 2012, but that didn’t satisfy the district attorney, who then filed a habitual offender bill of information (a bill of information is executed by the DA without benefit of a grand jury hearing the evidence) based on Harris’s prior arrests and on Nov. 26, 2012, he was popped with a life sentence without benefit of parole.
Seven years later, JOHN PAUL FUNES, who did have the benefit of highly-paid legal counsel, received a 33-month sentence for embezzling nearly $800,000 from a children’s hospital foundation.
I’ll repeat that: $800,000. From. A. Children’s. Hospital. Foundation. 33 months.
But not to worry, Derek Harris is tucked away for life.
And now we have the case of Baton Rouge physical therapist Philippe Veeters that’s been hanging around for two years with no indication that anyone at the East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney’s office is in a hurry to get the inert case moving.
Veeters is accused of inappropriate touching of female patients and inappropriate comments about their bodies.
Veeters, besides operating his own facility, Dutch Physical Therapy, also was affiliated with The Spine Diagnostic Promotional, LLC.
The Spine Diagnostic Promotional, LLC has two officers according to Louisiana Secretary of State corporate records: Veeters and Dr. J. Michael Burdine.
Burdine is the former president of the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners.
While the State Board of Medical Examiners has no jurisdiction or regulatory authority over physical therapists – they are licensed and regulated by the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board – it never hurts to have the former president of the State Board of Medical Examiners as a business partner.
In fact, the State Board of Medical Examiners and the Louisiana Physical Therapy Board once shared the same legal counsel – George Papale – until he was TERMINATED by the physical therapy board following complaints about the way the board handled …sexual misconduct cases involving physical therapists.
One of his accusers has voiced her anger at what she perceives as foot-dragging by prosecutors.
“We still have no trial,” she said. It’s currently set for march but I’m doubtful. The defense still has not released her [answers] to the D.A.
“The judge again allowed him to travel in December and January to his vacation home.”
“The judge ruled in favor of Veeters that no additional criminal charges will be allowed. We had been waiting for this answer for months!
“All the while he is free and traveling because he has money and the power to hire an attorney to drag this out, there were many men in shackles on lesser charges waiting for a trial because they can’t afford an attorney.
“The criminal justice system is sickening for victims where the defendant has money. They are allowed to drag it out so much you want out. I want my life back and I want closure. It’s so horrible he can travel all over the last few years with no restrictions.
“And no one cares. A physical therapist who has [multiple] charges and multiple ones which fall outside the statute of limitations and he is a free man and the court allows him to drag it out for four years? Where is the justice for the victims?”
Louisiana Voice 
Thanks for the article and yes State Police has had many new hicups lately. I have always supported State Police because of their narcotic department being the ONLY ONE I trust with any info I have collected that is credible. I used to work undercover and give my info to a trooper who passed away after he had his last meal in a Houma resturant. HUMM. I always was really suspicious about this one. I would leave film, info at a place he told me to leave it and baba, bing they were busted. I NEVER TRUSTED TERR.PAR.SHERIFFS OFFICE EVER. I knew to much about J.L.’s past to make that mistake.
I don’t like seeing what is going on with the Greene case but I wasn’t there so I can’t say for sure what happened or didn’t happen. The video should be shown and clear this us good or bad for the LSP. The truth is always the most importanat final thing. Nothing but the truth and then justice for the victim and punishment for the wrong doer is my motto. I may be older but my morals haven’t changed. You do the crime you do the time and I don’t give a rats azz what your badge states. Straight up law enforcement on none at all for anyone.
Mr. Tom, I have been diagonsed with full plegded Chrones disease and they don’t know HOW to treat me because no one my age gets this st this stage of life. I am an odd ball, lol. We had some damage for the storm and I had emergency surgery on my hand. I never forget how hard you worked on reporting the truth on every parish where it happens. When they had the flood again in Baton Rouge, I prayed that you and your family were safe from harm because I know you got hit hard the first time and it wasn’t many months apart. God is trying to tell us to love everybody no matter who they are and people just won’t listen. I know you fight for the right cause I will always respect you for that.
This has been a terrible year for a lot of people. The down the bayou folks are in pitaful shape and need help and I hope the Federal people come down here with more help soon. I don’t know how they are surviving. I can’t help out with manuel labor because of my hand so I sent money and pray as much as I can. There is so much turmoil in the world and I am scared for the first time in my 74 years. I was never scared of anything before in my life but now I worry about our children and grandchildren and where the world is taking us. I pray a lot and cuss a while and pray some more and over and over. Crazy is as crazy does but it soothing for a while at least.lol.
Good hearing from you and we can’t seem to catch our breath over here with all this cleaning up and fixing back but at least we have something left to clean up and fix back so we were blessed.
Take care and God protect you and your family because I know you have the kindest heart any human being could ever have and some grit when someone does anything unjust to another person. I know I sure wouldn’t want you after me for anything. I wpuld dig a hole in the ground and never come out again. LOL. That is HOW GOOD YOU ARE WITH DISHING OUT JUSTICE!!!
lOVE ALL OF YOU, bARB
Thanks for the kind words. Take care of yourself.
I’m regards to the Veeters case the woman accusing has a history of trying to blame men for assault for money. She accused an 8 year old of sexually assaulting her daughter and went around to every house in the neighborhood asking them to sign a petition to send the 8 year old to juvie but that’s not in the news is it. Hopefully the court proves him innocent because she is crazy and needs help. Unfortunately I know her personally and hope she get the care and attention she needs. She’s also changed her story about 5 times and will continue to lie but has governmental connections so can manipulate to get her way, such a shame. I wish she could be arrested for spreading defamatory claims but in a situation like this that is not possible. Something should be done to punish women like this.
Thank you for this insight. As much as I support the me too movement women like this cannot accuse men with no reason. It reminds me of the Amber heard and Johnny Depp case. So sad that women will go to these lengths. Hopefully the law can punish women like this.
Wow, maybe you should read the consent order at the board of physical therapy before you make a post like this. I’m not sure who you are but clearly you don’t know me nor anything about me as what you wrote makes absolutely no sense. Sounds like the telephone game and you mixed up a bunch of information to twist it into a really interesting story. Too bad it’s all untrue. Posts like this are what make women not come forward!
It’s actually rather scary that someone would have so much hate toward a victim who had the courage to come forward and fight for justice.
Please feel free to read the consent order at the LA Board of Physical Therapy. Or even the second one with 7 more victims.
And the trial has been pushed back again but is now scheduled for September 2022
Hello, all. I am the second woman who filed credible charges against him in 2012 (in which he ADMITTED to the board of physical therapy that he inappropriately and without consent pulled my pants down, and reached down beneath my underwear and touched my privates with his nasty, bare hands), so please take your slander and victim-blaming somewhere else. Honestly, you’re probably an acquaintance or family member of his, so I won’t even get bent over it. (You’re probably getting sued for that comment, as well!)
Many of the news articles published by The Advocate and WBRZ are followed by comments from other past patients who were appalled by his nasty behavior and inappropriate touching. This vile medical and sexual abuse is absolutely reprehensible and it is completely unacceptable that he somehow got to plea bargain out of registering as a sexual offender! There is no way in hell they should get away with this, that man should be serving time and the Louisiana Board of Physical Therapy should be held liable, as well.
If you were the 2012 victim who went to the board and you were the second one, who was the first and when and who did they report it to? I’ve always felt the la PT board should be liable as well. They knew and did nothing. I thought you were the first one who went to the board.
I couldn’t imagine being one of the other survivors and reading these remarks. Cherry-picked opinions are poor excuses for ignoring how pervasive and under reported sexual assault is in this country. Please know that there are still plenty of people in the world who believe you and don’t have contingent empathy.
Thank you! It makes my stomach hurt to read her post. It’s amazing to me how people can write such horrible untrue things when they don’t know the story. Clearly they didn’t do their research very well. It’s hard but I know the truth will come out and he will never hurt another woman again.🙏The trial is now scheduled for September 12th.