Race for The Feliciana’s new district attorney
Candidates discuss juvenile crime, child sex crimes and campaign funding in the Felicianas
ST. FRANCISVILLE, La. (WAFB) - This race is a classic matchup between a trial attorney and a prosecutor, hoping to shape the future of crime fighting in East and West Feliciana parishes.
Ken Fabre, an assistant district attorney in the Felicianas until he retired in 2023, and Cy D’Aquilla, a criminal defense attorney, outlined their plans for the district attorney’s office, including how each would address juvenile crime, child sex crimes and campaign funding.
Backgrounds and experience
Fabre said his focus would include juvenile delinquency and truancy in West and East Feliciana parishes.
“We have to try cases and convict bad guys, but we have to also be concerned about the young people,” Fabre said. “My objective is to slow down juvenile delinquency and juvenile truancy in West and East Feliciana Parish. If I can do that, we can slow down adult criminal activity.”
D’Aquilla is a criminal defense attorney and a distant cousin of former District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla. D’Aquilla said he has won five not-guilty verdicts in his last six jury trials in the district over the past couple of years.
“As a defense attorney, that’s almost unheard of for a criminal defense attorney,” D’Aquilla said. “That should speak volumes to my ability to step in on day one and try jury trials.”
Child sex crimes
Both candidates said cracking down on child sex crimes is a major issue in the rural parishes. Their approaches differ.
Fabre said it is crucial to keep the child away from the home where the abuse is taking place. He said he would assign an assistant district attorney specifically for sex crimes.
“I can tell you, well north of 50% of everybody I meet with has expressed concerns in that area, and that tells me a lot,” Fabre said.
D’Aquilla said the office does not need a prosecutor designated for those cases and would work to coordinate available state and local resources to make sure a child is not overly invovled in the criminal investigation to reduce harm.
“You don’t need one specifically designated for that in this district,” D’Aquilla said. “All your prosecutors should be well versed in every aspect of all crimes in this district.”
Youth offenders and pretrial diversion
Both candidates said they would work to improve pretrial diversion programs, especially for youth offenders, by working with community leaders in churches and schools, for example.
Fabre said diversion could apply in cases such as drug possession, but that the office must protect life from all forms of violence.
“When someone sucks the life out of somebody, the only issue there is whether or not we charge them as an adult or juvenile, and of course we want to do that judiciously, cautiously and fairly,” Fabre said.
D’Aquilla said he would start crime prevention work as early as kindergarten.
“Since I was knee high to a grasshopper, I’ve had a gun in my hand, hunting and fishing. I mean, hunting primarily with a gun,” D’Aquilla said. “I respect firearms. I think if we instill that same respect in our youth, they won’t do the same thing in the future.”
D’Aquilla also said parents should be held accountable. Both men want to continue to crack down on violent crime and saw the law is clear on when to try a juvenile as an adult.
Campaign finances
Fabre’s campaign has been entirely self-funded, with upwards of $10,000 in campaign funds. How he spent the money is left blank on his most recent campaign finance report.
Fabre said he has not read the report and that someone else is handling it.
“At this point, if I get something, I’ll address it. This is the first time it is brought to my attention,” Fabre said.
D’Aquilla was asked whether trial attorneys supporting his campaign mean he would be beholden to them.
“You should make your decisions based upon facts, the evidence and the law, not political influence, not personal agenda,” D’Aquilla said. “The DA’s office should not be a vindictive office.”
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