Louisiana Voice

It’s got to be the lingering effects of Agent Orange’s trailer park cage fight on the White House lawn. There can be no other logical explanation.

Whatever it is, a trio of men representing the institutions of law enforcement, the judiciary and most recently, spiritual inspiration have engaged in various forms of fisticuffs and mud ‘rasslin’, two of which appear to have been helped along with the aid of devil al-ke-hol.

And it’s cost one of those involved his career with the plea bargain of St. Tammany Parish SHERIFF RANDY SMITH who agreed to resign from office following an encounter May 29 in which he pounced on social media critic Bobby Couvillion in a Madisonville restaurant after running up a courage-boosting $346 bar tab.

Lost in all the hoopla over Smith’s confrontation with Couvillion was the simultaneous resignation of Smith’s Chief Deputy, Jeff Boehm, who stepped down Monday “in the best interest of the agency…”

That prompted the immediate question: Why is his resignation in the “best interest” of the sheriff’s office? All we could find online was a single sentence that said, “His departure comes amid significant internal turmoil within the office.”

Bret Ibert was promoted to Chief Deputy upon Boehm’s resignation and will now move up to interim sheriff until an election can be held for a permanent sheriff–permanent being a somewhat relevant term in St. Tammany Parish.

From over here in Livingston, two parishes removed, it would appear the St. Tammany Sheriff’s Office is in dire need of a general housecleaning. The previous sheriff was defeated for reelection by Smith and his subsequent arrest in 2019 on state charges of rape, incest and indecent behavior with a juvenile.

But, hey, that’s ancient history when we have ongoing brawls to turn our attention to, right?

Like 23^rd JDC JUDGE STEVEN TRUEAU, who back on 2023 got involved in his own altercation that ended with his honor and two women sprawled amongst the garbage and mud behind a Gonzales restaurant. The story became current again when the Louisiana Judiciary Commission set a September hearing date to consider charges against the robed rogue.

AND NOW LAAAAY-DEEEES and GEN-TEEEL-MEN—the main event of the evening! In this corner, in dark blue pinstriped suit, red tie and holding a Bible, here to protect his sheep…..REV-REND TONNNNEEE SPELLLLLL!

And in the other corner, the emerging challenger, the 20-year-old mystery man.

Spell, pastor of Life Tabernacle Church, REFUSED TO TURN THE OTHER CHEEK and instead, charged his adversary following a not-so-Christian exchange during which Spell says the neighbor, in the bravado of pre-fight hype, threatened to rape and kill his family. A video of their neighborly encounter appears to show the younger man throwing the first punch but it was Spell who finished matters, pummeling his younger opponent convincingly enough get the good reverend arrested for second-degree battery.

“I’m a pastor who shepherds his flock,” he said. “It’s not the job of the sheep to attack the wolves; it’s the job of the shepherd to protect his sheep.”

Back at his Tuesday night services after bonding out of jail, Spell told his congregation that he fulfilled the scripture by laying hands on the sick. “I don’t know how much recovery they’re going to have, but I laid hands on them.”