Suspect tried to force teen into car at gunpoint, police say
The case against a 21-year-old Reserve man accused of trying to kidnap a Hahnville student at gunpoint will move forward after a ruling by the state’s 5th Circuit Court of Appeal.
Devin D. Donald, 21, of Reserve, was arrested last April in connection with an attempted kidnapping that took place outside of a Boutte nail salon.
A teenage girl told deputies that she was waiting for a ride in a parking lot off of Highway 90 when she was approached by a man armed with a gun. The man grabbed the teen and tried to force her into his car, but she was able to fight him off and escape to a nearby gas station to call 911.
Though the girl did not know her assailant, detectives say they were able to link Donald to the crime through the victim’s cell phone, which she reportedly dropped in the car before getting away.
After the crime occurred, a man used the cell phone to make a call. The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office says they were able to identify Donald as the gunman once they discovered the number that was dialed.
After his arrest, Donald was picked out of a photo lineup by the teen.
However, former Judge Michelle Morel agreed with Donald’s defense attorney that the photo lineup should not be used as evidence in court.
Donald’s attorney argued that his client’s picture had a small border around it, which may have influenced the teenager to select Donald.
After Morel’s ruling, the St. Charles Parish District Attorney’s Office filed an appeal with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeal. The court ruled that the photo lineup can be used as evidence in Donald’s trial.
“Suspects pictured in the lineup appear to be African-American males of the same age, build and features; their pictures are similar in size; and all are wearing similar white shirts,” the ruling said. “We find that any suggestiveness based on the line of demarcation surrounding defendant’s image would not amount to a substantial likelihood of misidentification.”
A status hearing is set for Donald’s case this week.
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