Former sheriff pleads not guilty to disturbing peace, violating permit

courtesy photo

Julius Sellers

Former St. Charles Parish Sheriff Julius ‘Ducky’ Sellers, Jr. pled not guilty to disturbing the peace and violating a concealed handgun permit on Sept. 11 in Judge Emile St. Pierre's courtroom.

According to police reports, Sellers displayed a weapon to two courthouse employees and then  pointed the weapon at a picture of St. Pierre after making some harsh remarks.
Sellers, 71, apparently has a permit to carry a concealed weapon, but wasn't aware that it couldn't be carried in the courthouse.

He was released on a $10,000 bond last month.
Sellers must now undergo a psychological evaluation on Nov. 5. According to the instructions of the court, Sellers will show up on that day and a panel  of psychological examiners chosen by the court will conduct the evaluation.

The judge appoints the panel to  prevent biased selections from the prosecutor or the defense attorneys involved in the case.

Although the incident occurred on July 29, Sellers wasn’t arrested until July 31.
According to the St. Charles Parish Sheriff's Office, on July 29 Sellers arrived at the courthouse for a meeting with St. Pierre. While waiting for St. Pierre, Sellers began accusing the government of being corrupt and then produced and showed off a handgun he had in his front pocket, which alarmed several employees.

Two workers from the parish, who have now been identified as Bobby Donaldson and Rusty Walker, spoke to Sellers and escorted him into an office to calm him down.

St. Pierre arrived at the courthouse and attempted to speak to Sellers, but according to the police report, Sellers spoke to St. Pierre in a “loud, offensive manner.”
Court security arrived and was able to persuade Sellers to hand over the gun.

Sellers was later arrested for disturbing the peace and carrying a concealed weapon into the courthouse without a permit.

Bond was set at $10,000 and Sellers was asked to surrender all handguns, shotguns, rifles and any other weaponry in his possession to the sheriff's office.

Renee Allemand, public information officer for St. Charles Parish, says that the parish has no plans to increase security measures around St. Pierre, but instead plans to increase overall security at the courthouse.

“We are currently meeting with sheriff's office officials and judges to implement a number of new security measures, which may include metal detectors and heightened security at courthouse entrances,” Allemand said.
Sellers must not have contact with any of the witnesses involved in the case.

No one was injured in the incident.