Six-time Bienville Parish sheriff candidate most likely will not be attempting to qualify for a seventh shot this year following his arrest on Thursday, May 18.
James Keith Bates of Castor turned himself into the Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office (BPSO) yesterday afternoon, facing multiple charges, a couple of which are felonies.
He was booked into the Bienville Parish Jail at 3:47 p.m. on two counts of aggravated assault with a firearm, false imprisonment and one count of aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce.
Bates’ daughter, Hannah Taylor, along with his son-in-law, Brian Lane Taylor, both of Castor are also facing similiar charges. Hannah Taylor was charged with simple criminal damage to property and two counts of simple battery of persons with infrimities. Her husband, Brian, was charged with aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce. Both were charged with two counts of false imprisonment, as well.
These arrests were made following an incident that took place earlier this week, on Monday, May 15, on Hickman Road in Castor.
According to BPSO Sheriff John Ballance, the three allegedly interfered with the repossession of a leased vehicle following a 10-day notice from the car lease company. The vehicle was in possession of Hannah and Brian Taylor at the time. Two representatives from the car company, age 65 and 67, showed up to the Castor residence in a personal vehicle. The pair were blocked in by Bates and both of the Taylors in an attempt to get them from taking the leased vehicle.
Bates retrieved a gun, waved it at the representatives and allegedly threatened them with it.
According to arrest records, Hannah reportedly poked one of the representatives in the forehead and chest and forecfully grabbed the arm of the other. She proceeded to hit the personal vehicle that they showed up to the residence in.
Her husband, Brian, and father, Bates, blocked both sides of the highway to prevent the two from exiting the residence.
Both of the Taylors posted bond the same day of their arrest in the amount of $150,000 and $125,000. The bond for Bates was set at $175,000.
Last election cycle, Bates lost out on his sixth attempt to fill the Bienville Parish Sheriff seat, receiving just over 10 percent of the parish’s vote.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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